… As days get shorter in fall, the diminishing hours of sunlight trigger processes that turn summer-green … chlorophyll gives leaves their green appearance throughout the growing season. Chlorophyll is the only pigment involved in the process of photosynthesis — the absorption of light energy and its conversion to sugars, which are then converted into usable energy by plants. It is relatively unstable and degrades easily in sunlight or cool temperatures. The progressive …
Type: Plant Info
… like ours where fires were natural and many species require fire to survive, burning regularly is critical to the health of our natural areas.” That’s because periodic fires—ignited by … with so much working against them,” said Jim Jabcon, prairie ecologist at the Garden. Fire is an effective tool for keeping natural areas healthy because, over time, the cycle of burning, … and are rapidly declining. Our work shows that it’s worthwhile to burn smaller remnants, you get a big bang for your buck.” The Echinacea Project team—which includes scientists, students, …
Type: Blog
… with Little Bulbs Their basic requirements are just like a daffodil's: plant in fall, so they get a good winter's chill; sun; and fertile, well-drained soil. Some can tolerate more shade than … to bloom earlier, before the trees leaf out. They need moisture to bloom, but they usually get it in a Chicago spring. With their light texture, little bulbs can romp charmingly between … many years. Challenges In the erratic midwestern climate, the biggest danger to all bulbs is a treacherous thaw in mid- or late winter that tricks them into blooming too early. Not every …
Type: Plant Info
… studies have shown that eating local honey might help alleviate allergy symptoms—and honey is known to have medicinal benefits ranging from reducing inflammation to antimicrobial … Greece to the Mayan civilization, and beekeeping has a long and fascinating history . Iris is learning her beekeeping skills from Fred Daniels, site coordinator at Windy City Harvest’s Rodeo Farm, who has been beekeeping since 2012. Rodeo …
Type: Blog
… from the bottom up. All roses, young and old, want to be open at ground level—the better to get a good dose of sunshine. An overgrown rose is thick and congested at ground level, which results in lots of fuzzy tip growth instead of … Know your rose Our most frequently asked rose question ("My rose only bloomed once. How do I get it to bloom again?") has its origin in the fact that there are two basic kinds of roses: …
Type: Plant Info
… seem to be entering areas with piles of dirt along our walkway. What are they and how do we get rid of them? A.The large wasps you’re seeing are called cicada killer wasps ( Sphecius … They are short-lived adults, living one to two months after emerging. One new generation is produced per year. Both males and females feed on tree sap and flower nectar. Female wasps …
Type: Plant Info
… thriving. If he sees yellow nutsedge, he knows to check for poorly draining soil. The nutsedge is an indicator weed, whose presence can indicate a condition that might be a problem for your … is not conclusive evidence by itself, but it might prompt you to dig down and investigate or get a soil test. "Any time you see a lot of weeds in your lawn, it's an indication you're not … or at least choose plants that like their feet wet. Maybe that low place in the lawn is a good site for a river birch. Weeds that can indicate poorly draining soil, such as clay, include …
Type: Plant Info
… and allyl sulfides, as well as thiosulfinates. Those are complicated words, but what they mean is that these compounds are being studied for their effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, and … ) Here’s how antioxidants are thought to work: Reactive and unstable molecules called free radicals enter our bodies when we inhale cigarette smoke, breathe polluted air, or even eat … http://www.agriculturejournals.cz/publicFiles/48446.pdf http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/tc/antioxidants-topic-overview http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f1378 …
Type: Blog
… plant-parasitic nematode and weed suppression in Florida and Haiti. Although her first love is the soil, she gained a taste for the sea racing sailboats on the Gulf coast, living aboard a … the coordinator of the Buehler Enabling Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden. She delivers on-site therapeutic horticulture programs, maintains the Enabling Garden, and oversees the Veteran … are the many intersections between health, nutrition, community, and social equity. In his free time, Marcus likes to go biking in the woods, skateboard around the city, and find new …
Type: Page
… The Chicago Botanic Garden is helping increase the supply of native seed at the local, regional, and national … forest preserves to massive wildfire recovery efforts in the western United States, the Garden is helping get the right native seed to the landscapes that need it. Andrea Kramer, Ph.D., senior …
Type: Research
