Header image: UK astronauts Rosemary Coogan, John McFall and Meganne Christian. Image credit: UK Space Agency
05.10.2023 - 10:03 / theunconventionalgardener.com / Emma Doughty
In the summer of 1863, a world-famous English botanist was pondering why the shoots of climbing plants twirl around as they grow. In this episode, join Emma the Space Gardener as she explores the fascinating world of plant movement, and what that has to do with the first plants that ever flew on NASA’s space shuttle.
01:39 An English summer with Charles Darwin
05:08 Exploring competing theories, with Allan H. Brown
06:21 Space Shuttle Columbia takes to the skies with the HEFLEX Bioengineering Test (HBT)
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Hello, and welcome to Gardeners of the Galaxy, the podcast for all of the sentient beings in the Universe who have a passion for plants. I’m Emma the Space Gardener, and I will be your host as we explore gardening on Earth… and beyond!]
Plants don’t move… do they? We’re used to the idea that plants are rooted in one spot, which botanists call sessile. But that doesn’t mean they don’t move at all, and we’re used to the idea of them growing and turning towards the light, although those movements are usually too slow for us to catch them in the act.
This episode started with a question (what were the first plants to fly on NASA’s space shuttle?), the answer to which takes us on a journey back in time to meet one of the world’s most famous botanists.
Before we get to that, I’d like to thank each and every one of you who supports the show, whether that’s via a financial contribution or by sharing it with friends and colleagues. Gardeners of the Galaxy wouldn’t exist with you! If you’d like to find out more about the different ways to help out, visit theunconventionalgardener.com/boosters.
Now if you’ll join me in the time
Header image: UK astronauts Rosemary Coogan, John McFall and Meganne Christian. Image credit: UK Space Agency
As the temperatures start to drop and sweater weather arrives, you may start to look sadly at your beautiful, lush garden plants. Like it or not, their days are numbered! When the first frost arrives, tropical plants are done for the season, and you’ll have to buy many of them again next spring.
Header image: Orionid meter shower, by Jeff Sullivan, via Flickr
Joyelle West
Why do plants get sick? The simple answer is for lots of reasons, many of them similar to the reasons why we humans do. Take, for example, poor diet. Just as it’s one of the root causes of disease, poor growth and reduced life expectancy in humans, so it is with plants.
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Header image: ESA’s Large Diameter Centrifuge (LDC) running at full speed. Image credit: ESA –A. Le Floc’h
Livistona Palm Varieties are great to add a tropical touch to home and gardens, thanks to their large fronds and evergreen nature!
The world of home decor is vast, and we’re constantly amazed by the designers, creators, and creatives who cross our paths. In an effort to learn more about the innovative eyes behind the scenes, we’ve launched a series that explores the sanity-saving tools, products, and services that keep our favorite designers and decorators focused on the job at hand. Welcome to Tools of the Trade.
Even though cannabis is now fully legal in 24 states, there’s often a smoky cloud shrouding its provenance. Dispensaries may charge a premium for heritage strains or sun-grown, organic weed, but a hazy supply chain can obscure a lot between seed and sale. “Consumers have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes,” says Eric Kennedy, co-founder of EMTRI Corp, a three-year-old company implementing blockchain technology into the cannabis industry.