Flowers
Uncovering the Secrets Behind Hummingbirds' Extreme Lifestyle
Here's how the aerial acrobats are able to survive on a nearly all-sugar diet, fly higher than many helicopters can and migrate over the open ocean
Heat Waves Can Make Bumblebees Lose Their Sense of Smell, Study Finds. Here's Why That's a Problem
Female worker bees, which forage for the whole colony, struggle more to detect scents in the heat than males do, per the recent research
Georgia O'Keeffe's Breathtaking New York City Paintings Are Finally Getting the Attention They Deserve
The artist's cityscapes, once dismissed as too masculine, would later influence the floral artworks that became central to her iconic style
This Massive New Guidebook Will Forever Change the Way You Look at Trees
Written by Smithsonian botanist W. John Kress, the book details more than 300 North American tree species in words, maps and photographs—and why we shouldn't take them for granted
Scientists Identify the Gene Behind Thorny Roses and Other Prickly Plants
A recent study could pave the way to cultivating various thornless plants, making them easier to grow and potentially more widely available
Static Electricity May Help Butterflies and Moths Pick Up Pollen
A new study measured the insects' electrostatic charges and used computer simulations to show that the charges were strong enough to lift pollen
Rare 'Absolutely Tiny' Plant, Not Seen for More Than a Century, Found in Vermont
The last time a botanist recorded a sighting of false mermaid-weed in the state was in 1916
Celebrate Spring With Terrific Tulips
These 15 Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest images give top billing to the beautiful blooms
Behold 15 Beautiful Photos of Cherry Blossoms in Bloom
These 15 picture-perfect cherry blossom images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest are pretty in pink
158 Cherry Blossom Trees Will Be Cut Down in D.C. in Effort to Withstand Sea-Level Rise
The National Park Service's restoration project will reconstruct a protective seawall and plant 274 new cherry blossoms when work is complete
This Is When Washington, D.C.'s Cherry Trees Are Predicted to Bloom This Year
"Peak bloom," which typically falls in late March or early April, refers to the day when at least 70 percent of the trees have blossomed
Fantastical Art Joins Hundreds of Blooming Orchids to Shed Light on Conservation Efforts
Smithsonian Gardens’ 28th annual orchid exhibition is underway at the Kogod Courtyard
Air Pollution Makes Flowers Smell Less Appealing to Pollinators, Study Suggests
Nocturnal hawk moths are less likely to visit primroses in air polluted by nitrate radicals, which break down important wild fragrances, researchers find
Seven Natural Phenomena Worth Traveling For
You need to be in the right place at the right time to see these celestial and earthly wonders
The Ten Best Photography Books of 2023
Our favorite titles this year will make readers feel the power of visual storytelling
See the Rediscovered Still Life by Forgotten 17th-Century Master Clara Peeters
The painting by the influential Flemish artist could sell for as much as $883,000 at auction
The World's Largest and Smelliest Flower Is at Risk of Extinction, Scientists Say
Researchers are calling for urgent protections for corpse flowers in the Rafflesia genus, which live only in remote rainforests of Southeast Asia
Stunning Fields of Sunflowers Are Blanketing North Dakota
Sunflower seekers can consult an online map to determine where the best views can be found
England's 'Well Dressing' Tradition Features Striking, Elaborate Floral Murals
Also made with other natural materials, the artworks are used to decorate wells and water features around the Peak District
See the Rancid, Blooming Corpse Flowers Attracting Hundreds in California
The plants' rare and pungent blooms happen once every few years and last only a couple of days
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