In the Pursuit of Privet
Russians saying hello in my backyard, the curious link between cilantro haters and privet, and the intrepid Elizabeth Blackwell.
botany
The Shady History of Our Family Tree: Our Norway Maple
Connecting George Washington, Jung, Micro-bursts, Fungal Tar Spots, Slavery, and Germanic Folklore
Tomato Tariff Taxonomy
The Supreme Court in 1893: Science vs. Common Parlance
A Folktale of the Dolomites and the Origin of Edelweiss
This story explains the origins of the edelweiss flower and why the Dolomite peaks are so hauntingly bare.
Finding Nemo… or Nema? Gender Fluidity in Nature
Many of us delighted in the Disney film “Finding Nemo” Several of the traits ascribed to various fish shown in the movie are relatively accurate, but some of the more fascinating characteristics of clownfish received no mention. Clownfish have matriarchal societies and change their gender from time to time. With
Checking Under the Hood: A Brief Look at Little Hills, Flags, and Tickling
Yes, it looks like what you think. The first European description and reference to the plant was made in 1678 by a Polish naturalist Jakob Breyne, a brave naturalist who named it based on a resemblance to the clitoris. What’s in a Name? The Controversy Disturbed by the clear
The Oldest Tree in Mississauga
Although there might be an older tree in town, the white oak tree growing just off Clarkson Road North is likely the most ancient. Indeed, it is so old that it was designated as a Provincial Park! According to various sources, the typical lifespan of this particular type of white
Disappearing Queen Anne’s Lace
Until recently, Queen Anne’s Lace was a very common weed in the Mississauga area of Ontario. It was and occasionally is still found in ditches, along roadsides and generally in poor soils. The plant grows to a height of 2 to 3 ft. and blooms midsummer. Once the sun