By Dawn Bazely The first Advent Botany post, on December 1st, 2014, was about ivy, that most classic of British festive season species. English Ivy, as it’s known in North America…Read More >
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#AdventBotany Day 4: The Glastonbury Thorn
By Karen Andrews Botanists are no strangers to muddy boots. Glastonbury conjures up an image today of muddy wellingtons at its famous pop music festival. The town also possesses a…Read More >
Advent Botany 2016 – Day 24: Professor Vernon Heywood
By DrM Dr M introduced to #adventbotany this year, #adventbotanists, botanists whose birthdays fall within advent. The first featured Erasmus Darwin a great botanical mind from a bygone age. Dr…Read More >
Advent Botany 2016 – Day 22: Crataegus mexicana (Tejocote)
By Megan Lynch Traditions are made by people. We do something at a certain time and then we repeat it when that time rolls around again. There are young traditions…Read More >
Advent Botany 2016 – Day 19: Christmas Gourds
By Dawn Bazely Prince Albert, who moved to England from Germany, to marry the young Queen Victoria, led the Victorians in inventing much of today’s Christmas aesthetic that dominates Britain…Read More >
Advent Botany 2016 – Day 18: The Madonna Lily
By Robbie Blackhall-Miles Not realising the hope they give me, through their winter rosettes of green, the bulbs of the Madonna lily (Lilium candidum) sit snugly in the soil year…Read More >
Advent Botany 2016 – Day 16: Raphia: a string for all seasons
By Yvette Harvey RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB Forget the gorgeous Madagascan bags, the baskets, the hats, the dates, the coconuts, the wine, the patterned mats and shoes,…Read More >
Advent Botany 2016 – Day 15: Carob Santa Is On the Way!
by Megan Lynch At this time of year chocolate is imbibed as hot cocoa, eaten as a confection pressed into the shape of Santa or snowmen, and baked into a…Read More >
Advent Botany 2016 – Day 14 – Caraway
By Emma (the unconventional gardener) Cooper It’s possible to grow up in the UK and never consciously encounter caraway as a spice – I certainly did. And yet this versatile…Read More >