A Slightly Obsessive Guide to Raspberry Identification
If you came to this page for an easy answer for identifying the raspberries in your neighborhood, you may want to turn around. Raspberries present botanists with some of the most challenging identification problems in the world. As a layperson, using the simple term...
How to Grow and Use Nasturtium (for Health Benefits)
Even if you didn’t realize it, you’ve probably encountered nasturtium before. While some flowering plants in the garden offer a satisfying visual of color and geometry, nasturtium is as useful as it is beautiful. Learning to recognize, cultivate, and use this plant...
Top 5 Most Beautiful Cactus Flowers
Having become one of the most popular house plants, often because of their purported ease to care for, there’s another reason to appreciate these funky plants. In contrast to their globular shapes and spikey flesh, cactus flowers display an unparalleled beauty. Beyond...
7 Beautiful Flowering Trees and How to Identify Them
Flowering trees are everywhere - on the sidewalk, in your backyard, in parks, and deep in the forest! Flowering trees are types of angiosperms, a group of plants characterized by bearing flowers and fruit. These traits are not shared by gymnosperms, which include...
The 5 Most Famous Botanists in History
Botany is the study of plants - everything from plant anatomy, to ecology, to ethnobotany. By its modern definition, botany is a field that originates from the 18th century. Scientists started to create different classifications of plants and rigid systems by which to...
Helpful Tips for Tree Leaf Identification
Just like how knowing the names of neighbors makes you feel part of a community, identifying the trees in your yard or on nature hikes can similarly make you feel more connected to your local landscapes. But how do you start identifying trees? Botanists use everything...
Easy-to-Understand Angiosperm Lifecycle Example
Angiosperm lifecycles - sounds a bit intimidating if you’re not an aspiring biology teacher. No need to worry. Let’s break it down with some definitions and easy-to-understand examples. Before long, you might even become a neighborhood expert at spotting angiosperms...
Top Lemon Balm Uses
Lemon balm has been used as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments for hundreds of years. It was first utilized around central Europe and the Middle East several millennia ago. Since then, its utilities have expanded to its inclusion in food, beverage, and more....
Intro Guide to Identifying Wild Berries
Eating wild berries while out on a walk or hike is a summer delight. These juicy treats quench thirst on hot days, can be baked into decadent pies, and are packed with healthy vitamins and antioxidants. If you want to dive into foraging, there is no better place to...
Ginger Root Uses
Ginger is a beloved plant and trusted ally in any healer or chef’s toolkit. A flowering plant native to China, ginger root has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. It is packed with powerful compounds and nutrients that help both your body and...