Does the name evoke images of steamy tropical romance? It shouldn’t. “Passion” refers to the Passion of Christ. 17th-century Spanish missionaries in South America saw the flowers as symbols of the crucifixion and named the plant accordingly. Passion...
You can’t see them. You don’t pay them. They work for free. Are we talking about nocturnal elves? Only if you’re a fairytale cobbler. In the garden, soil microbes are your champion workers and BFFs. They keep your plants healthy, boost soil...
Mark Twain called it “the most delicious fruit known to men.” He was referring to the cherimoya, a living fossil from the highland valleys of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Ripe cherimoya spoils quickly and is hard to ship, so it’s considered a luxury...
Nothing lasts forever. Civilizations rise and fall — none have endured more than a few thousand years. The sun will run out of usable hydrogen in roughly 5 billion years. The Milky Way will collide with the Andromeda Galaxy in ~4 billion years, forming a new galaxy....
“Coneflower” refers to the entire Echinacea genus, which includes about nine species. The most popular and studied one is Echinacea purpurea, with its striking purple blooms. Native American tribes used Echinacea for centuries to treat wounds, toothaches,...
