… table…but have you thought about a centerpiece yet? A cornucopia, or horn of plenty, is a classically beautiful, easy, and crowd-pleasing way to pull together a centerpiece without a lot of fuss or expense. I taught a fall cornucopia … is basically the same. Once your supplies are gathered, it should take less than an hour to put together. Essential tools include pruners, floral foam, and a hot-glue gun. Gather the …
Type: Blog
… of Aquatics I work with the Assistant Ecologist, Lakes and the team of Aquatic Seasonals to maintain our lake systems and the 240+ native plant species that help stabilize our shorelines. To maintain this large area, we focus on efficient methods of invasive management while evolving … closer to people in urban settings by giving them a taste of what was once here and what is possible. …
Type: Staff bio
… and distribution of fungi and the factors influencing these patterns. Thus, in addition to spearheading survey and inventory projects in China and Latin America and undertaking … of Laccaria – Hydnangium clade and other model taxa, I have investigatied how fungi respond to anthropogenic stress and restoration efforts in the Chicago area, conservation practices in … China, and past geological events like the Great American Interchange. Fungal conservation is currently a major focus of my efforts. This includes capacity building, raising awareness, …
Type: Staff bio
… To most people, the word “pollinator” is synonymous with the word “bee,” but only a fraction of plants are pollinated by bees. In … pollinators—bats, birds, beetles, moths, and more. As part of National Moth Week , we wanted to highlight our work on a very special group of moths: the Sphingidae, or hawkmoths, which …
Type: Blog
… the Grounds department since 1991, when he started out as a seasonal employee. He was promoted to Grounds crew leader in 2009. Patino has broad expertise in landscaping, particularly in … shrubs. You can see his work at the Linden Allée—he does almost all the pruning. Also, Patino is the lead employee on the team that puts outdoor lights on the large trees for Wonderland …
Type: Staff bio
… the overall health of all of the turf areas with an integrated pest management program that is designed to reduce the use of pesticides. Fritz grew up in Kankakee, just south of Chicago. He received an … at the Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Illinois. From there, he continued to grow his love for the turf industry at numerous golf courses throughout the Chicago area. …
Type: Staff bio
… forests of the Missouri Ozarks? And why did we need a desiderata? The first question is easy—we were on the trail of specific wildflowers and woody plants to preserve and add to our collections. Collections trip horticulturists Michael Jesiolowski, Tom Weaver, Josh …
Type: Blog
… colored squeeze bottles, and grab-’em-by-the-handful packets, Americans are at last tuning in to the taste of homemade condiments. The time has come for homemade mustard—and you won’t believe how easy and tasty it is. Start with the Basics As always, we turned to program horticulturist Nancy Clifton to learn the how-to’s. Within five minutes of starting …
Type: Blog
… in our Semitropical Greenhouse. Spike brought the nation’s—and even the world’s—attention to the Garden, as we waited for our first-ever flowering titan to open up in all its stinky and colorful glory. The event—and I am proud to call this an … 24/7, day and night…and I became “Titan Tim,” for sure. The power of one plant… Wow! “When is he going to bloom?” That was the number one question on everyone’s mind, both at the Garden …
Type: Blog
… Chicago high school students from the Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy (IHSCA) sought to find the answer. The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Healing Environments Ambassadors Learning … launched in April 2019. The program connects high school students, their schools, and families to the health-promoting benefits of nature. Over the course of a spring-to-spring year, including … the entrance of the Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy (IHSCA). The program’s leader is Vincent Gomez, manager of horticultural therapy services at the Chicago Botanic Garden. “The …
Type: Blog
