Ecologist Joan O’Shaughnessy explains how she and her team conducted a controlled burn along the Skokie River Corridor in early December.
Category: Plant Science & Conservation
Conserving plants is one of the most significant challenges of our time—and a major focus at the Chicago Botanic Garden. From studying soil to banking seeds, from restoring habitats and protecting endangered plant species to developing new ones, Garden scientists are fighting plant extinction, pollution, and climate change through diverse and exciting research.
First Graders Visit The Plant Science Center
This fall a group of local first graders toured the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center. Associate scientist, Pati Vitt, gave them a tour of the seed bank and answered their questions about plant science.
Growing a Scientist: Kay Havens talks about her work at the Garden
Being given her own garden at age 9 grew Kay Havens’ desire to become a Botanist and Plant Conservationist. This video is part of our video series highlighting the scientists working at the Garden. View more of our scientists working (and on video) at the new Rice Plant Conservation Science Center.
Rainwater Glen with Bob Kirschner
Bob Kirschner tells us how the Rainwater Glen that surrounds the Plant Science Center functions to preserve water quality at the Garden.
Plants of Concern
We went to a virgin prairie remnant in south suburban Chicago and talked with Susanne Masi about the Plants of Concern project. Susanne and her research associates work with a team of dedicated volunteers to monitor the Chicago Wilderness region’s rarest plants, assess trends in their populations, and provide important data used to conserve our rapidly declining floral heritage.
Plants of Concern is coordinated by the Chicago Botanic Garden, having strong partnerships with local, state, federal and non-profit agencies. Currently, this project is funded through a grant program supported by the USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry, and the US Fish & Wildlife Service, in support of Chicago Wilderness. USFWS and USFS grants of federal monies are administered by the Illinois Conservation Foundation & Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie–USDA Forest Service.