The mowing down of the garden in spring used to be straightforward – a crew would ride mulching mowers around the garden to make a clean palette for the anticipated crocus and tulips. While Lurie Garden’s first priority is maintaining the garden’s design beauty and accessibility for visitors, it also strives to increase its ecological […]
Every story of migration starts with an epic journey of how beings get from one place to another. It can be an easy journey or a tough one depending on the obstacles that await them along the way. The symbolism of the monarch butterfly is personal to many because of its unique behavior and migratory […]
Honey straight from a hive is full of unique flavor notes based on its location and season. With a little background information all of these delicate variations can be appreciated with the same respect and admiration as the tasting of wine. The squeezable, plastic bears you find in grocery stores are labeled as ‘honey’ but […]
Public gardens collaborate with scientists to study how global climate change impacts local plant growth, while also actively displaying the effects climate change. Public gardens have the opportunity to educate and engage the community and moderate an open, honest dialog about climate change. What is the difference between weather and climate change? Weather is impacted by climate and changes […]
Current research indicates that mixing some non-native plants* in a designed native landscape can increase pollinator habitat. Mixed native and non-native plants in a designed landscape (i.e., near-native landscapes) can contain a higher diversity of food resources over longer periods of time for pollinators and, therefore, containing more diverse pollinator communities. Lurie Garden is a […]
Seed left in the garden provides for birds, insects, and animals with nourishment throughout winter and special beauty for us. Gardeners most often associate seeds with the next generation—the “fruits” of this year’s labor and the hope for next year’s plants. We carefully collect seed in the fall for winter storage and in early spring, as […]