While most plants disperse seeds far away, some have evolved a mechanism to keep them close and better ensure their survival. These geocarpic species actually deposit their own fruits in the soil. Last year, a botanist in rural Brazil named a newly discovered species Spigelia genuflexa, after its tendency to bow towards the ground, burying its seeds. Read More »
Looking for a gift idea for the arborist who has everything? Three years after its popular debut, a birdcage-shaped treehouse in a remote New Zealand redwood forest is for sale. Read More »
Photographer Klaus Enrique has revived a Renaissance classic: the surreal botanical portraits of 16th-century Milanese painter Guiseppe Arcimboldo—now, rendered through the lens, not the brush. A modern perspective gives the work new meaning: rather than "From what far off land did that gourd arrive?" we ask "Is that a hybrid or an heirloom?" Instead of "The painter is nuts," we think "The photographer must eat very healthy." Read More »
Glass gem corn was bred years ago by a part-Cherokee farmer and master seed-saver. Yes, it's real, and, as an heirloom, its seeds will grow true. Today, glass gem corn seeds are saved at Seeds Trust, who anticipate more available next month. Glass gem is an extreme iteration of corn's natural tendency towards different-colored kernels, as each kernel has its unique genetic set for color and size. Read More »
How a love for eating mushrooms led to a livelong obessession with finding them. Read More »
An interactive sculpture that sheds leaves with handwritten notes. Read More »
Photographer Alexander James, who has worked with floral subjects for over 15 years, will go to any lengths necessary to get the shot, including submerging bouquets & fruit in a dark tank, rigging an underwater light, and even breeding butterflies in his studio. In this Q&A, he talks about his latest series, 'Glass,' for which he's developed a process that replaces color pigment with purified water. Read More »
With the cooler months upon us, we turned our attention to some brand-new outdoor furniture that looks just as great indoors. But it’s not just a matter of good looks: It’s the savvy balance of form and function here that makes these new designs entirely interior-worthy. Bring a lightweight woven lounge chair or a streamlined rolling serving table out to the patio when that’s where the action is, or use them inside when winter entertaining calls for extra seating or more serving space. ... Read More »
The private garden of master collector Dan Hinkley. Read More »
