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 >
#Advent Botany
#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 Day 4 – Mahleb, Prunus mahaleb L.
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 during…Read More >
#AdventBotany 2020 – Day 2 Mulled Wine
By Jonathan Mitchley (heavily edited by Alastair Culham) The first #Adventbotany post by @DrMgoeswild was an exciting medly of fruit, spices and wine. Dr M offers a botanical extravaganza with…Read More >
#AdventBotany 2019, Day 1: Clementine, Satsuma, Tangerine; what’s the difference?
By Alastair Culham Welcome to #AdventBotany 2019 and the start of another journey into quirky, curious, hostorical and, above all, botanical information about the plants associated with the winter season….Read More >
AdventBotany 2018, Day 12: the story of Amaryllis
By Eirini Antonaki Today’s advent botany blog will focus on a popular seasonal ornamental, Amaryllis, with its vibrant colouration ranging from pink, to purple and occasionally red. Etymologically, the name…Read More >
#AdventBotany 2018, Day 8: the hyacinth
I was sitting at my breakfast table this morning thinking ‘what plant should be next for #AdventBotany2018″? The rich smell of the blue hyacinth in front of me was filling…Read More >
#AdventBotany 2018, Day 7: Reindeer Games
By Claire Smith We all know what to leave out for Father Christmas – a nice mince pie and a glass of sherry. Or maybe milk, if you don’t want Santa…Read More >
#AdventBotany 2018 Day 6: Christmas Bells
Christmas bells is the name for a colourful South African geophyte (plant with an underground storage organ), Sandersonia aurantiaca, due to the appearance of its bell shaped flowers appearing in…Read More >
#AdventBotany2018, Day 4: The Golden Bough
By John David Not an obvious topic for Advent, but bear with me, the connection will become clear. The Golden Bough is most famously the title of a book written…Read More >