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The Seven Rules for Foraging for Wild Foods
The more you learn about the wild plants around you, the more you realize that foraging for wild foods is possible even in suburban environments. Look around you. The dandelion greens are great for tea while the thistle leaves are a delicious salad topping. Wild...
What Are Invasive Plants and Why Are They Bad?
The term “invasive plants” brings to mind a small army of green shoots, marching towards the forest to wreak havoc, a la Fern Gully. If that’s what you think of, you’re not all that far off. Invasive plants are one of the harder aspects of human influence on the world...
Look Out for These 9 Common Garden Pests This Summer
Just as your garden plants are really starting to bloom, you notice black spots on the leaves. Or maybe you find chewed-up petals or a whitish fuzz along your roots. Garden pests are no joke. They can kill your garden very quickly, undoing all of your hard work....
What Do Botanists Do?
When I say botanist, you might think of a white-bearded man scampering around the woods collecting flowers. Maybe you think of a slightly nutty woman a la Professor Sprout in Harry Potter. Or perhaps you just shrug at me. What is a botanist and what do botanists do?...
A Guide to Garden Flower Identification
It’s exciting to watch new shoots pop up in springtime and new blooms emerge. But what is growing in your garden? Maybe you just moved in and have no idea what the last owner planted in your garden. Or perhaps you’re forgetful (like me) and just can’t remember what...
How to Enjoy Botanical Gardens
Botanical gardens can be a beautiful, quiet activity almost any time of year, but it takes a bit of preparation to fully enjoy botanical gardens. Botanical gardens are a great place to learn about flower and tree identification, local sacred plants, and rare plants....
Why Tree Identification Is Easier Than Ever
Tree identification can be a fun way to learn more about the plants around you. It also can be frustrating and cumbersome thanks to the world’s incredible array of plant species. On top of that, field guides can be a pain to carry around, and aren’t always...
Seed Banks During Drought: How Plants Save During a Recession
California wildflowers build seed banks during drought the same way a prudent employee saves money during a recession. According to a study published in Ecology in March of 2018, California’s wildflowers increased seed production over 200% during the 2012-2015...
How to Grow a Medicinal Garden
Growing a garden is a fun and rewarding pastime. Cultivating medicinal garden plants takes your backyard dirt patch to a whole new level. Luckily, it’s easy to plan a medicinal garden that’s both lovely and useful. Many common garden plants have medicinal qualities....
Have you ever heard of the Corpse Flower?
The Corpse Flower, scientifically known as Amorphophallus titanum, is a fascinating and unusual plant. Native to Sumatra, Indonesia, the Corpse Flower is famous for its large size and pungent odor, which has been described as similar to that of rotting flesh. Despite...
How a Parasitic Plant Hacks the Genes of its Host
Plants are a lot more devious than we once thought. Scientists recently discovered that Dodder, a problematic parasitic plant that causes millions of dollars of damage each year to crops, can basically hack into its host’s genes. You read that right. A parasitic plant...
Haben Sie schon einmal von der Titanenwurz gehört?
Die Leichenblume, wissenschaftlich bekannt als Amorphophallus titanum, ist eine faszinierende und ungewöhnliche Pflanze, die weltweit die Aufmerksamkeit der Menschen auf sich zieht. Ursprünglich aus Sumatra, Indonesien, stammend, ist die Leichenblume für ihre große...
Avez-vous Déjà Entendu Fafflesia Arnoldii?
La Fleur Cadavre, connue scientifiquement sous le nom d'Amorphophallus titanum, est une plante fascinante et inhabituelle qui a captivé l'attention des gens du monde entier. Originaire de Sumatra, en Indonésie, la Fleur Cadavre est célèbre pour sa taille imposante et...
How to Find, Use, and Identify Common Sacred Plants
Almost every culture and religion out there make use of sacred plants. People revere these sacred plants for their medicinal qualities, culinary use, healing power, or cultural purposes. Learning about the history and culture of plants is part of the study of...
How Botany Twitter and a Bumblebee Rediscovered a Rare Plant
In June of last year, botany Twitter made a pretty big discovery. Rather than squabbling about politics or sharing ridiculous memes, botany Twitter actually made a contribution to science. It all started when Professor Chris Martine shared a photo of a bumblebee on...
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