By Laura Jennings Violets are not one of the first festive plants that comes to mind! In my experience they are one of the first plants to flower in the…Read More >
Herbarium RNG
#AdventBotany 2021 – Day 10 – And there was a low star in the West
By Alastair Culham Today’s blog starts with a misquote of Matthew 2:9 and then wanders away from botany and on to mycology. Yesterday I was sent a photo of some…Read More >
#AdventBotany 2021 – Day 9 – Christmas moss
By Alastair Culham We’ve already had some excellent moss blogs in past #AdventBotany years but there are still new species available. Today we have a moss from Australia through southeast…Read More >
#AdventBotany 2021 – Day 8 – Myrtus communis (myrtle)
By Alastair Culham “And waving wide her myrtle wand, She strikes a universal peace through sea and land.” brings us to another story. The common myrtle, Myrtus communis (Myrtaceae), is…Read More >
#AdventBotany 2021 – Day 7 – Ives has no names
By Alastair Culham Joseph Christmas Ives is perhaps best known for his exploration of the Colorado River published as Report upon the Colorado River of the West explored in 1857…Read More >
#AdventBotany 2021 – Day 4 – Garlic
By Alastair Culham Allium sativum L., or garlic, has not previously featured in #AdventBotany although it is an ingredient in many receipes. It’s also the fourth plant in our Christmas…Read More >
#AdventBotany – 2021 – Day 3 – Rosa ‘Paul Noël’
By Alastair Culham The third plant mentioned in our mystery Christmas entitled book is the rose. I’ve chosen ‘Paul Noël’ as the most appropriately named cultivar for an Advent blog…Read More >
#AdventBotany – 2021 – Day 2 – Ipomoea tricolor
By Alastair Culham I’m using my botanical knowledge to interpret ‘blue convolvulus’ as morning glory (Ipomoea tricolour Cav.). The second plant mentioned in this Christmas book is described as ‘clinging’,…Read More >
#AdventBotany 2019 Day 6: Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly…
By Claire Smith Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly… But not until Christmas Eve, otherwise you’ll have bad luck! Once your holly (Ilex aquifolium) and other festive evergreens are…Read More >
#AdventBotany 2018, Day 25: Naughty or Nice?
By Claire Smith Are you on Santa’s Naughty or Nice list this year? If all you’ve discovered in the toe of your stocking this morning is a lump of coal,…Read More >