Articles for category: Plants

Garden pollinators

The Best Plants to Grow in Your Garden for Pollinators (And Why It’s Important)

Annette Uy

Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other insects, play a crucial role in the ecosystem by assisting in the reproduction of many flowering plants. This process not only contributes to biodiversity but also supports agricultural production. Without them, many of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts we consume daily would struggle to survive. However, pollinator populations ...

woman in white long sleeve shirt holding bouquet of flowers

How Gardening Can Boost Your Mental Health: The Healing Power of Plants

Annette Uy

In our fast-paced, digitally-driven world, finding solace and tranquility can be a challenge. However, a growing body of scientific evidence points to an unexpected ally in enhancing our mental well-being: gardening. The simple act of nurturing plants can have profound effects on mental health, transforming our minds just as we transform the soil beneath our ...

Prague’s Alchemy and Skeletons: The City Where Science and Sorcery Collide

Prague’s Alchemy and Skeletons: The City Where Science and Sorcery Collide

Trizzy Orozco

Imagine a city where cobblestones glow with centuries-old secrets, where golden spires reach for the sky, and where every shadow might be hiding remnants of a forgotten magic. Welcome to Prague, a city that hums with mystery and pulses with the strange marriage of science and sorcery. Here, ancient laboratories hide behind gothic facades, skeletons ...

A group of adults engaging in indoor gardening with potted plants, promoting diversity and teamwork.

How Gardening Can Be a Gateway to Learning About Ecology and Sustainability

Trizzy Orozco

Gardening, often seen as a relaxing hobby or a means to beautify surroundings, serves a much broader purpose. It acts as a gateway to understanding complex ecological interactions and sustainable living practices. While tending to a garden, individuals can learn about biodiversity, soil health, water conservation, and the cyclical nature of ecosystems. This exploration enhances ...

Why the Coral Reef’s Clock Matters

Coral Farming: Could Underwater Nurseries Restore the World’s Reefs?

Trizzy Orozco

Imagine gliding through turquoise waves only to find the once-colorful underwater cities—coral reefs—reduced to ghostly skeletons. It’s enough to make any ocean lover’s heart sink. Coral reefs, often called the “rainforests of the sea,” are vanishing at an alarming rate. But what if hope could be found in the gentle sway of underwater nurseries, where ...

Nerium oleander, beautiful and dangerous plants

10 of the Most Beautiful and Dangerous Plants in the World

Annette Uy

Oleander (Nerium oleander) is a stunning ornamental shrub renowned for its vibrant flowers, which can be pink, red, white, or yellow. It thrives in warm climates and often adorns gardens and public spaces. However, its beauty masks a dangerous secret: every part of the oleander plant is highly toxic. If ingested, it can cause severe ...

Black Forest with sunrays creating a serene atmosphere in Freiburg, Germany.

The Black Forest Myths of Freiburg: Wolves, Witches, and Very Real Science

Trizzy Orozco

When you step into the Black Forest near Freiburg, the air feels heavy with secrets. The trees rise like ancient sentinels, their dense canopy weaving a tapestry of shadow and light. Whispers of wolves, witches, and mysterious happenings drift through the mossy undergrowth. For centuries, these woods have fired the imagination—spawning spine-tingling legends, but also ...

Dense green ferns with mist in a tropical rainforest setting, creating a fresh and lush atmosphere.

Ferns That Grow From Lava: How Plants Colonize the Harshest Landscapes

Trizzy Orozco

Imagine standing on a field of black, razor-sharp rock, the ground still warm from an eruption years ago. It looks like nothing could ever survive here—yet, in the cracks and crevices, a flash of green catches your eye. This is no ordinary plant. It’s a fern, delicate and ancient, defying the odds by thriving where ...