Alicia Foxx is a second-year Ph.D., student in the joint program in Plant Biology and Conservation between Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Her research focuses on restoration of native plants in the Colorado Plateau, where invasive plants are present. Specifically, she studies how we can understand the root traits of these native plants, … Continue reading 60-Second Science: Plants’ Roots Helped Them Move to Land
Hear “vanilla” and what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Ice cream, right? While we were researching vanilla for our annual Orchid Show, we kept discovering new scoops on vanilla ice cream. First we learned that one-third of all the ice cream that Americans eat is vanilla. Next, we learned about vanilla beans’ different flavors—at … Continue reading Our Scientist Takes on Thomas Jefferson
For this year’s Orchid Show, we’ve gathered stories about the most famous orchid of them all: the genus Vanilla. (Yes, vanilla is an orchid.) One unusual story comes from Ph.D. student Lynnaun Johnson, whose work in our doctoral program in Plant Biology and Conservation took him to Mexico, the native land of edible vanilla. … Continue reading Vanilla inhabitants: The search for associated bacteria and fungi
Increasing attendance at the Chicago Botanic Garden and sister institutions around the country supports my conviction that public gardens are more relevant than ever to peoples’ lives. Our living museums are uniquely positioned to meet the pressing challenges of our time—climate change, a need for improved physical and mental health, workforce training, stress, and more. … Continue reading Growing the Garden
In 1860s New Hampshire, botanical artist Ellen Robbins perched before her canvas, creating wildly popular watercolors of fall leaves. Books of her paintings sold well, landing in the hands of high society members such as fellow artist Gertrude Graves, a cousin of poet Emily Dickinson. Graves presented her copy of one such volume, Autumnal Leaves, … Continue reading Clicking Through Time
