Why PlantSnap’s Flower Identification is a Perfect Educational Tool
Learning how to identify flowers is one of the easiest (and prettiest) ways to get kids interested in nature. Given how busy teachers are, it’s always nice to learn about a new educational tool to help engage students in the classroom. It’s even better when the tool...
Learn How PlantSnap is Shazam for Plants
With nearly 400,000 species of plants on the planet, it’s hard to feel confident learning to identify plants. Even if you can learn to identify the wildflowers in your area, there are garden flowers and invasive plants to worry about. It’s all really overwhelming. It...
What Do Plant Veins and Leaves Actually Do?
When you’re peering at leaves through the lens of your camera, trying to identify a cool new plant in your yard, you might notice some weird lines along the leaves. These lines are called veins, and not just because they look like your veins. Plant veins are actually...
How Plants Get Their Nutrients, and What Nutrients Plants Need to Survive
Plants and animals alike need nutrients to survive. But without mouths, how do plants get the necessary nutrients and energy for life? You might be vaguely aware that plants use their roots to absorb nutrients - and plants need sunlight, right? But how do roots and...
Seven Benefits of Eating Wild Plants
Eating organic and local produce is a noble goal - but can be financially or logistically difficult in many areas. Eating wild plants can reduce the financial burden of organic foods while giving you many of the same benefits - and more. As we discussed in our article...
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...