Some of the most visually striking organisms bear a resemblance to their extinct prehistoric relatives. They transport our imaginations to a time when the land beneath our feet looked very […]
Collections Reveal Traces of Living Animals
What if there were a way to look back in time and observe living animals interacting directly with their environment? Natural history collections preserve the remains of organisms and the […]
The Ghosts of Prairies Past: Uncovering Yesterday’s Truths with Museum Collections
From expansive cities to agricultural fields, it may come as a surprise that Illinois was once covered in millions of acres of prairies and forests. In 1820, about 22 million […]
Women in Science: Anna Pedersen Kummer
As Women’s History Month comes to an end, we’re taking a closer look at Anna Pedersen Kummer, former honorary curator of botany and a lover of all plants! She was a […]
Caring for houseplants in the winter
Give your houseplants the best care this winter. Our manager of horticulture, Seth Harper, has laid out some great tips to make sure that your plants look their best all […]
Exploring leaf litter
Have you ever stopped to take a close look at the soil leaves that crunch under our feet as we walk outside? These leaves and loose soil that sit atop […]
Mounting plant specimens at home
Pressing plants at home is an easy activity and a fun way to learn more about the plants in your yard or neighborhood. This guide will show you how to […]
How to press plants at home
Pressing plants at home is an easy activity and a fun way to learn more about the plants in your yard or neighborhood. Supplies Needed Plants Paper Heavy books Cardboard […]
Taking a look at plant anatomy
Let’s take a closer look at the parts of a plant. Plants usually have three main parts: roots, stems, and leaves. Let’s go part by part and learn more about […]
