Plants & Gardens Blog

In the summer installment of Ask a Gardener, Rock Garden curator Laura Powell answers your questions about mulching, watering, and plants that bloom after spring. Read › Ask a Gardener: Summer Edition

You'll see plenty of this weed all summer. The good news is that it can be used to soothe mosquito bites. Read › Weed of the Month: Broadleaf Plantain

The relationships between pollinators and their tree hosts deserve a closer look. Read › Intimate Associations: Pollinators and Their Trees

The stories of Harriet Tubman, Doctor Caesar, and Emma Dupree remind us that herbal knowledge has always been part of the Black experience. Read › The Influential Black Herbalists Who Inspire Practitioners Today

We spoke with Dr. Shalene Jha, associate professor in the department of integrative biology at the University of Texas-Austin, about urban habitats, “bee bread,” and gardening toward a better future. Read › Dr. Shalene Jha on Community Gardens as Biodiversity Havens

Part of the fun in learning about the plant world is experiencing it with your own eyes. Read › How to Identify Plants Without an App

Araucaria araucana is “like a mother,” says researcher Karina Speziale. “They feed the community. Many, many animals and humans depend on it.” Read › A Closer Look at the Monkey Puzzle Tree

People might think of plants as being removed from politics. “But they come with a lot of history,” says Chelsea Forgenie, co-curator of the exhibit Trees of Little Caribbean. Read › Celebrating Caribbean Trees

This daisy-like native wildflower is in bloom now. Look closely and you'll see its flower heads are made up of many smaller flowers. Read › Weed of the Month: Fleabane

This Arbor Day, take a moment to notice your local trees’ spring blooms. Read › All Eyes on the Redbud, and Other Trees in Bloom