Photograph of a Sunflower

The tender yellow petals on the common Tomato plant: Solanum lycopersicum, before fruiting. Although thought of as a harmless fruit or indeed vegetable from the nutritionists perspective, the genus Solanum refers to the deadly nightshade family Solanaceae to which Tomatoes belong. This family contains the famous Atropa belladona ‘Deadly nightshade' - used as an assassins poison and a killer of Kings... Thankfully, the deadly compounds found in Deadly Nighshade called Atropine

Berberis darwinii. Darwins berberis has vibrant, rich, orangey red buds which make it an unmistakable member of Berberidaceae. However, unlike the more common thunbergii cousins, it has evergreen holly like foliage. It’s been a long winter, and this little shrub really defrosted my soul Jack Llewellyn (@growing__man) • Instagram photos and videos #horticulture #plants #gardening #gardeningblog #gardener #garden #nature #science #plantscience #horticulture #botany #botanic #hi

The colossal statues of Ramesess II, carved in situ before the temple of Abu Simbel, Egypt (The Landscape of Man, Jellicoe). After a recent visit to the Tutankhamun exhibition, one can only marvel over the impressive geometry encapsulated in these massive Egyptian designs. A real testament to the beginnings of civilisation. Fabricating their own world into the natural landcape to be remembered for eternity in a state of immortality. As Egyptians beleived their soul would surv

Nectria cinnabarina can be found on the dead branches on a variety of trees and shrubs. This includes a wide range of different host species, which can be from different families also. Nectria cinnabarina has been described as having amalgamations of pinhead sized salmon pink cushion like pustules throughout the year, which invariably gave rise to its common name ‘Coral spot’. The a-sexual salmon pink pustule perithecia then copulate upon drying resulting in dark red fruiting

Cranefly or Tipulidae, are from the true flies order of Diptera, and not to be mistaken for their 8 legged arachnid friends as captured above (friend or foe?). Adults emerge from their lawn eating leather jacket larval stage in late August to mate and they can then lay up to 300 eggs! Interestingly, true flies are two winged flies, as their hind wings have evolved into modified halters. You can see the modified halters swinging back and forwards with the wings. They act as ti

The genus Rheum, commonly known as Rhubarb has a rich historical nomenclature, dating back to ancient times where its root was used as a medicinal herb. Some believe ‘Rheum’ or ‘Rhu’ came from ‘Rha’, originating from ‘sreu’, translating as ‘River to flow’ in Indo-European protolanguage, and in historical trading relating to the Rha river, or Volga river which separated Europe or Romans from the barbarian lands where Rhubarb is thought to originate. These Barbarians or ‘barbar

The microscopic world on the underside of a Dicksonia antarctica frond. Pteridophytes or Ferns date back to the Carboniferous period – almost 360 million years ago. This understandably results in very different life cycle mechanisms to your average garden plant. An example of this is the bizarre mode to which they procreate through spore dispersal. Special spore containing sporangium (which look like maggots) are dotted across the underside of the fronds. They begin to open u

Prunus dulcis 'Robin' The Flowering Almond. It is beleived Almonds originated in Iran and central Asia. Merchants would have eaten them whilst travelling along the silk road. There is even mention of Almonds in the Bible's book of numbers. Interestingly, in Sweden, an Almond is hidden in the Christmas pudding. This is similar to the British custom of hiding a silver six pence peice in the Christmas pudding, with the finder receiving good luck. Today Almonds are imported globa

The microscopic world on the underside of a Polypodium vulgare frond. Looking directly at the sorus, one can see immature sporangium. These spherical spore containing structures eventually split open under favourable abiotic conditions, catapulting spores away from the frond. My previous upload shows the sorus after spores have been dispersed on the underside of a Dicksonia antarctica frond. Pictures of fern gametophyte (baby ferns) still to come #horticulture #plants #garden

Drosera capensis. Commonly known as Sundew. These interesting plants are covered in mucilagonous glandulous trichomes which secrete sticky dew like droplets. In the 12th century they were used in remedies for coughs, and have been found to have similar properties to cough syrup. Like most carnivorous plants, Drosera feeds upon insects as a supplement for poor nutrients due to it's common growing habitat in the acidic bogs of South Africa. However, they can be found in the UK

The dragonfly from the family Odonata has veiny wings which are corrugated, making them robust and inflexible, resulting in a high aerodynamic performance. They may also have favourable inertial pitching movement whilst in flight to give further advanced manoeuvrability, to which all the main stress occurs around the base of the wings. To deal with this pressure, strut like veins interlock the main wing veins, creating a strong bracket like compression resistant structure. #h

Nematoda includes the largest population of animals on earth, with an estimated million unclassified species. Descriptively, they are worm like, unsegmented organisms, with specialised respiratory and circulatory systems, all contained within a rounded body and protected by a rigid outer cuticle, to which the entrance point is the mouth, and the exit point is the anus. Nematodes may occur in nearly all environments all over the world, and may parasitize nearly all plants and

The beautiful flowers on Magnolia stellata - a spring white explosion!! Brought in to the UK from Japan in the late 1800's #magnolia#stellata#white#white⚪️#spring#explosion#macro#nature#flower#flowerstagram#instaflower#plants#plantsofinstagram#pic#picoftheday#plantlove#flowerpower#macro#life#outdoors #horticulture #plants #gardening #gardeningblog #gardener #garden #nature #science #plantscience #horticulture #botany #botanic #history #blogger #horticulturist #plant #insects

image: Home | Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum (OBGA) is the oldest surviving botanic garden in Britain, occupying the same location in central Oxford since 1621.. Originally set up by Sir Henry Danvers, 1st Earl of Danby as a ‘Physicke’ medicinal garden during the English Civil War. Eventually being re-named a Botanic Garden in 1834. OBGA hosts and protects over 6000 plant species, aiming to teach people about botany and conserve plants

The vibrant autumnal colours of Rubus fruiticosus, or Bramble! Highlighted by the afternoon sunlight hitting the woodland floor. Brambles p rovide a wealth of food all year to wildlife. The blackberries, which ripen in late July, were found in the stomach of a neolithic man, which is a testament to their entanglement in our evolutionary diet. Bursting with bioflavanoids and antioxidant effects, Rubus fruiticosus is undoubtedly an essential component to the British flora. #hor

Propagating Begonia rex by the three methods of vegetative propagation. Using a mix of peat free compost and perlite. Stamp cuttings, where the lamina is cut in to segments containing veins. The veins then begin to root wounding, where the lamina is wounded. The wounded tissue then begins to root Petiole cutting. This is where the petiole is cut and placed in the growing media. It then begins to root #horticulture #plants #gardening #gardeningblog #gardener #garden #nature #s

A sketch of the domed mosque in Istanbul in appreciation of the Ottoman empire, and Islamic style of architecture in Turkey. Islamic gardens often look to encapsulate paradise on earth. #horticulture #plants #gardening #gardeningblog #gardener #garden #nature #science #plantscience #horticulture #botany #botanic #history #blogger #horticulturist #plant #insects #fungi #trees #gardeners #outdoors #understandingnature #istanbul #mosque #ottoman #architecture

My garden design contribution towards the britishbeekeepers association (#BBKA ) apiary. The dense herbaceous #perennial borders act as as a natural barricade between the #beehives and spectators, whilst also providing an abundance of food for #pollinators, whilst increasing #biodiversity.————————————- #horticulture #plants #gardening #gardeningblog #gardener #garden #nature #science #plantscience #horticulture #botany #botanic #history #blogger #horticulturist #plant #insect

Saprolegnia parasitica. A ‘Water mould’ which prays on fish. Under the microscope x400 #horticulture #plants #gardening #gardeningblog #gardener #garden #nature #science #plantscience #horticulture #botany #botanic #history #blogger #horticulturist #plant #insects #fungi #trees #gardeners #outdoors #understandingnature #saprolegnia #parasitica #parasite #watermould #fish #microscopic