My sensory herb garden

Having a sensory herb garden is both grounding and comforting. This little garden has meant having my own little patch of cultivated space, even when I lived in rented accommodation.

Plant science in Avatar

Bioluminescent plants, giant Hometrees and plant communication might seem like science fiction, but you might not have to travel from one star system to another to experience the joys of Pandora.

Common Columbine

Recently on the blog, we looked at English bluebells, so this week it seemed only fitting to move on to American bluebells. With an incredibly long history in a variety of cultures, Columbine is a treasured flower in the wild and in gardens. Its shape teaches an important lesson about evolution, and its symbolism has conflicting naughty and nice origins. 

The Ecosystem of Humanity

In 2017, I was invited back to my secondary school as a guest speaker for an annual diversity and inclusivity event. This speech was a milestone in my career as a plant scientist and I am excited to share it with you.

Going bananas with Melanie Baughman

Meet Melanie Baughman, a master's student from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA, studying the floral formation of bananas and educating people on the beauty they can find around them.

English Bluebells

English bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) are enchanting flowers, they grow in ancient woodlands all over the UK and are often associated with magic and fairies. This flower is very close to my heart and an iconic symbol of the English countryside that's steeped in folklore and ancient mythology.

Plant science in heavy metal

Arabidopsis cleaning up bomb sites? Carrots mining for gold? Black Sabbath encouraging bigger blooms in lilies? This might seem like the stuff of science fiction, but in this blog post, I'm going to be talking you through all three.

Camellia: tea from your garden

What started out as a morning scroll on Twitter, turned into a productive little experiment. Researching Camellia japonica, I realised I could not only make tea from my plant, but I could do it in less than a day and with minimal effort - ideal!

Plant science in Animal Crossing

With the recent release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, I wanted to explore the many plants featured in this viral sensation. Discover the science behind the medicinal, parasitic and toxic plants growing in your virtual garden.

Common Dog Violet

If you're taking a walk through the woods, instead of admiring the majesty of the tree canopy, take a look at the meek, ground-dwellers below. Among them, you may come across the common dog violet (Viola riviniana). Flowering from April to June, this wonderful little plant is of great ecological importance.