The birth flower of October: Marigold

October marks the beginning of my favourite season. The days get colder, jumpers get woolier and drinks get warmer. It's perfect, then, that warming Marigolds are the birth flower for October. But what is a Marigold?

In the garden with Waheed Arshad

Dr Waheed Arshad is a Botanical Data Specialist from Candide Gardening. From pressing plants at school to graduating with a PhD, Waheed's journey as a botanist has been incredibly interesting, and he's just getting started.

Road tripping around England: Gloucester, Worcester and Shropshire

In my penultimate road trip post, I'll cover a few of the plants I spotted in Gloucester, Worcester and Shropshire, including a recipe for instant love, an unlikely member of a cathedral garden and a soul guiding fruit.

Plant science in Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign that aims to highlight research into breast cancer. Last month, my wonderful Mum was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. While she's undergoing treatment, I decided I would distract myself by doing what I do best - researching plants.

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Road tripping around England: Devon, Cornwall and Somerset

This post was comprised of three locations close to my heart for a variety of reasons. In Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, we meet an unlikely inhabitant of a burnt down church, one with a different reproductive system and one with a whole Japanese festival tied to it.

Road tripping around England: East Sussex, Wiltshire and Dorset

Moving round the coast to East Sussex, Wiltshire and Dorset, lets look at a few more plants, including one used in Victorian wine, one used in gin and a clarification on when an algae is a plant and when it's not.

Road tripping around England: Hampshire, Kent and Surrey

Let's take a look at some of the plants I spotted in Hampshire, Kent and Surrey, including one with cute names, one with unusual toxicity and one that proves beer can be medicinal.

The birth flower of September: Aster

In the Northern hemisphere, September means welcoming Autumn back while still clinging to the last of the Summer warmth. This dazzling September favourite is the perfect transitional plant as we move into Autumn, with their colourful, summery petals and warm, autumn coloured inflorescences.

Plant science in Pokémon

Pokémon (short for Pocket Monsters) is a game in which human characters capture and train Pokémon to battle each other. In this post, we're playing "Who's the Pokémon?" and meeting their real-life plant counterparts.

The birth flower of August: Gladiolus

With this August being the hottest the UK has seen for the last 17 years, it seems fitting that this fiery, energetic flower is its symbol. Gladioli have found worldwide fame and feature heavily in art, folklore and popular culture.