Plants
Types of plants, including flowers, trees, water plants and weeds- Explore more »
The Great Pumpkin
Competitive vegetable growers are closing in on an elusive goal—the one ton squash
October 2011 |
By Brendan Borrell
The Evolution of the Orchid and the Orchid Bee
Which came first--the plant or its pollinator?
September 23, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
How To Choose What To Plant For Biofuel
Some species proposed for bioenergy have the potential to become invasive
September 15, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
The List: Five Study Nooks in and Around the Smithsonian Museums
Calling all students, finding it hard to concentrate on your studies, we recommend five cool places to hit the books
September 14, 2011 |
By Megan Gambino
Seeking the Origins of Amber
By studying the chemical signatures of living trees, Smithsonian's Jorge Santiago-Blay intends to reconstruct ancient forests
August 2011 |
By Megan Gambino
How to Trademark a Fruit
To protect the fruits of their labor and thwart "plant thieves," early American growers enlisted artists
August 2011 |
By Daniel J. Kevles
The Beer Archaeologist
By analyzing ancient pottery, Patrick McGovern is resurrecting the libations that fueled civilization
August 2011 |
By Abigail Tucker
The Vine With Its Own Bat Signal
Specially shaped leaves lure the flying mammals. The bats get a meal, and the flowers get pollinated
July 29, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
A New View Into California’s Kelp Forests
Satellite imagery is providing new insight into an important ecosystem just off the California coast
May 27, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
Making the Best of Invasive Species
Garlic mustard and Asian carp can wreak havoc on their ecosystems, but do they have a future on your dinner plate?
May 25, 2011 |
By Kristin Ohlson
The List- Five Must-See Butterfly Spots Around the Mall
It is said that April showers bring May flowers. So what do May flowers bring? Pollen, which attracts bees (and attacks the sinuses), and nectar which feeds the butterflies, emblematic of the welcome change in seasons. We know it's spring when we start to see butterflies again, but how do butterfli...
May 12, 2011 |
By Arcynta Ali Childs
Weekend Events: Asian Pacific American Heritage, Garden Fest, Mother's Day
Friday, May 6 Garden Fest!Family-friendly celebration of plants, gardens and gardening. Add to a garden mural, build a puppet, make a miniature Japanese garden and take home seeds for your garden. Saturday will include live music and a stilt walker. Location: Enid A. Haupt Garden, south of the C...
May 06, 2011 |
By Michelle Strange
It's Time to Garden at the Smithsonian
April showers bring May flowers. Or maybe, just mosquitoes. But the horticulture folks who bring you the Smithsonian gardens want you front and center tomorrow and Saturday (May 6 and 7). Bring your wellies and gloves to this year's Garden Fest for tips and techniques to make your flowers and veggi...
May 05, 2011 |
By Madeline Andre
May 2-6 Events: Written in Bone, Smithsonian Garden Fest and More
Monday, May 2 Written in BoneFamily-friendly and hands-on. Forensic anthropology is not just for scientists! Meet at Natural History in the exhibition, "Written in Bone: Forensic Files of the 17th-Century Chesapeake," and learn to use human bones to solve mysteries. In no time at all, be an expert ...
May 02, 2011 |
By Michelle Strange
Going To The Park May Make Your Life Better
I may have grown up in the countryside, but I am more than content with my life as a city girl. That said, I find myself drawn to green spaces; for example, my vacations more often than not include trips to botanic gardens. And I like to walk to work when the weather's nice, taking advantage of Was...
April 22, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
Back Away From the Carnivorous Plant!
You might think that a plant that eats things should be able to take care of itself, but the sad fact is that more than half of the carnivorous plant species evaluated by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are listed as either vulnerable, endangered or critically endanger...
April 11, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
The Smithsonian Museums and The National Zoo Are Open
All Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are open.Don't miss out on all the events and happenings, all scheduled as planned. Tarantula feedings at the Natural History Museum. A special tour of the Kinsey Collections at American History. An Earth Day celebration at the American Art Museum.And he...
April 08, 2011 |
By Beth Py-Lieberman
A Flowering Plant, Set in Stone
Smithsonian readers may recognize the Liaoning province of China as the place where amazing fossils of bird-like dinosaurs have been found:In a pine forest in rural northeastern China, a rugged shale slope is packed with the remains of extinct creatures from 125 million years ago, when this part ...
April 08, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
The List: Five Secret Gardens Around the Smithsonian
It seems that the weather is finally breaking and spring temperatures might be here to stay. So, the ATM blog team has come up with a list of the five best kept secret gardens and getaways around the Smithsonian Institution. Get the jump on summer and discover some great new places to take in the b...
April 06, 2011 |
By Arcynta Ali Childs
