… too. We have two large compost piles way in the back of our 1-acre garden. The contents seldom get turned (as is usually recommended), but I continuously add grass clippings, small twigs, … garden debris. And I put a bucket of water on it from time to time because even microorganisms get thirsty while they are working to process all that debris. Composting makes me feel good—I’m … landfills, and facilities that burn everyone’s trash are out-of-sight, out-of-mind topics for many. But, it all stays right here. On planet Earth. The amount of waste—including food …
Type: Blog
… rakes to remove unsightly mats of algae and invasive shoreline weeds. See the water quality for yourself: at this rare break in the shoreline plantings, you can walk right down to the … species, have become not only part of the shoreline infrastructure but also important habitats for fish, frogs, turtles, and birds. Arranged in eye-pleasing drifts, some plantings extend out … This is a beautiful building. Your walk is an act of conservation in itself. Enjoy your visit! View Conservation Walk #2 …
Type: Walks
… up from a nap! We can go and take care of the plants right away and know they will look good for our visitors.” The brains of the system, a computer that the horticulturists have nicknamed, … office at the south end of the Garden. Each morning, the supervisors check in with Hal-lie and get a download of messages from the plants in their gardens and a list of chores. This saves the … far, Hal-lie’s response to program enhancement has been “I’m sorry, I can’t do that, Davina.” For now, the gardeners are happy that the information seems accurate and Hal-lie cannot read …
Type: Blog
… your thoughts Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center Green Roof Garden To get away from it all, head to our Green Roof Garden on the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant … love seat—one of eight at the Garden as part of our summer celebration Love in Bloom ; look for nature-based poetry on each tête-à-tête bench. As you settle in at The Rookery, treat … of bilingual poetry: Weweni and Gijigijigikendan: What the Chickadee Knows . Gardens for Peace Last year’s Gardens for Peace raking at the Malott Japanese Garden. Video courtesy of …
Type: Blog
… makes them waxy, durable, and less prone to wilt or tear. These leaves are also less likely to get diseases or be browsed by critters. But the main reason that a perennial has evergreen leaves … Carex. While they are grass-like, they differ in having triangular stems. One popular species for gardens and containers is Carex oshimensis . Most varieties of Japanese sedge have variegated … self-seeding may occur. Scope out lenten roses in the Shida Evaluation Garden on your next visit. Liriope muscari ‘Big Blue’ is green all summer—and winter—long Big blue lilyturf ( …
Type: Blog
… is just plain fun. Here’s a look at some popular planting themes. Of all the creatures that visit our gardens, butterflies are certainly the most exotic and magical. On warm summer days, … are just as fun to attract and to watch. A butterfly garden is simply one that offers nectar for the adults and certain plants for their caterpillars. Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid that butterflies, bees, and other …
Type: Plant Info
… at the Chicago Botanic Garden. “It’s really cool to see how there’s a cult-like following for this plant.” The scientist’s mail bins overflowed with leaves of native pawpaw trees. … from the seeds Pawpaw trees in Ithaca, New York, in the fall The plant has been around for millions of years, and has been used for centuries by Native Americans and others as food and … but can be found as far west as eastern Nebraska. Learn more about the pawpaw growing range, visit the related Plant Information page. “It will be interesting to see where our research …
Type: Blog
… of the fruits they’ve eaten. Weed ruthlessly in spring and early summer, rather than waiting for weeds to grow—they’ll be easier to remove, less likely to have spread, and won’t use up the … a thick mat and an extensive root system that overwhelms any garden bed—or even farm field. Get familiar with bindweed’s arrow-shaped leaf and search for the first tendrils at ground level … next year. An old-fashioned dandelion fork is a great tool for the job. And if you don’t quite get all the roots this year, let the survivors bloom for the bees next year before you tackle …
Type: Plant Info
… Director, Windy City Harvest @email Britt Calendo is the program director for Windy City Harvest. In this role she oversees our Apprenticeship, Corps, and Youth Farm … and run a community farm in collaboration with PCC Community Wellness. Britt was the manager for the VeggieRx program, Windy City Harvest's prescription produce program from 2018 to 2021. … diverse background working on a family-owned CSA farm—La Casa Verde in Northern Michigan, and for the University of Wisconsin agronomy department conducting organic vegetable variety …
Type: Page
… more budding new stars. Over time, the true classics will endure, but the process of looking for a beautiful new plant is something gardeners anticipate at the start of each new growing … Toad lily ( Tricyrtis sp.) Shade Garden Stars Toad lily ( Tricyrtis sp.) What a curious name for such a princely perennial that offers orchidlike flowers in autumn! Position this arching … chosen for their burgundy-purple foliage that is about as dark as any perennial's foliage can get. The statuesque plants grow between 2 and 4 feet but sport tall spires of light-colored, …
Type: Plant Info
