By Andrew Bewsey, Jordan Bilsborrow, and Maria Christodoulou Mahleb is used many festive bakes for its aromatic properties. Found in texts dating to the medieval times, its popularity increased through…Read More >
Advent Botany 2015 – Day 14: the Olive
By Louise Denning An olive branch shown with a dove is often depicted on Christmas cards to symbolise peace and goodwill amongst men. Where this concept of the olive branch…Read More >
Advent Botany 2015 – Day 13: Putting Christmas on the map
By Rachel Webster I wonder whether a ship captain was pleased to spot land on an auspicious day? I can imagine that assigning names according to the calendar might remove the challenge…Read More >
Advent Botany 2015 – Day 12: Anyone can grow paperwhites but their taxonomy is a different story
By Dawn Bazely Paperwhites, Narcissus papyraceus, are one of the most fragrant Narcissus species. Although they’re native to the Mediterranean region, the bulbs have become naturalized in other regions with mediterranean…Read More >
Advent Botany 2015 – Day 11: Sweet Chestnuts
By Mary Williams My December buzzes along to the tune of “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…,” otherwise known as The Christmas Song; Nat King Cole’s beautiful rendition will get…Read More >
Advent Botany 2015 – Day 10: Rice Pudding
By Jana Vamosi and Sarah Walshaw Rice is the seed of the grass species Oryza sativa (Asian rice) or Oryza glaberrima (African rice) Although we have evidence of rice being…Read More >
Advent Botany 2015 – Day 9: Reindeer Moss
By Andrew Doran It’s not a moss, it’s a lichen! Cladonia rangiferina and Cladonia portentosa are both known as reindeer moss or reindeer lichens. This lichen takes its specific epithet…Read More >
Advent Botany 2015 – Day 8 – Wassailing
By Yvette Harvey and Maria Christodoulou After last year’s relatively well behaved advent plants, it is time for the more obscure and yet omnipresent ingredients of a good Christmas. Time…Read More >
Advent Botany 2015 – Day 7: Saffron: A light in the darkness
By Charlie Campbell In Scandinavia, particularly Sweden and Norway, Saffron is associated with advent, Christmas, yule and especially Saint Lucia’s night. The convoluted history of solstice celebrations may be read…Read More >
Advent Botany 2015 – Day 6: White Cedar
By Dawn Bazely Eastern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) is popular in garlands and ropes used for door and window decorations during the Christmas holiday season in Canada. White cedar fronds are floppy,…Read More >