# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The ever-pervasive dandelion. It's one of the first plants to sprout in spring, when the ground is barely free of frost, and remains steadfast through the season with vibrant pops of yellow and downy balls of seeds so nostalgic of childhood wonderment.

The benefits of dandelion are many yet somehow, somewhere along the way, this humble plant that has fed and healed humanity for thousands of years became a blight on our landscape.

Dismissed as a weed, eradicated at all costs, cursed and scorned for its stubbornly long taproots that often refuse to give from the earth, it's earned a reputation for invasiveness and uselessness.

But I'm here to make a case for the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), which you might be eyeing right about now, weeder in hand, as a galaxy of yellow blooms starts spreading across your Kentucky bluegrass.

While you might consider it the bane of an otherwise perfectly manicured lawn, here are a few reasons why the lowly dandelion is the unsung hero of your yard.

Dandelions are not as invasive as commonly thought.

Though they're non-native to North America (originally hailing from Europe), dandelions are not considered invasive by federal agencies. An annoyance, perhaps, but far from being aggressively spreading plants that alter natural habitats, the hallmark of a truly invasive species.

Dandelions have naturalized throughout all 50 states (as well as most of Canada and even Mexico) and are believed to have been brought over by the Pilgrims, who planted the herb as a medicinal crop.

Dandelions add color to the drab landscape of early spring.

As soon as frost has passed, dandelions begin to dot the southern slopes, brightening the brown and gray landscape with pops of chartreuse.

In a matter of weeks, those same dandelions start to unfurl into a carpet of gold against all the new green - a brilliant bloom of color and texture, all without you sowing a seed or lifting a trowel.

Dandelions are an important source of food for wildlife.

When bees, butterflies, and other pollinators emerge in early spring, a tricky time with few other flowers blooming, they depend on dandelions as an early source of pollen and nectar. The flowers provide nectar for nearly 100 species of insects, while the seeds and leaves feed over 30 species of birds, chipmunks, and other wildlife.

Got backyard chickens? Let them go to town on a patch of dandelions after a long and dreary winter. The greens provide plenty of nutrients for rich golden yolks, and happy chickens scratching (and pooping) in the dirt means healthy aerated soil.

Dandelions encourage biodiversity.

Their presence alone attracts and supports several key species in the local ecosystem, including bees, butterflies, moths, and birds, which in turn pollinate fruits, vegetables, herbs, and other flowers that feed even more species.

Hummingbirds use dandelion down to line their tiny nests, and beneficial insects and lizards seek shelter under the low-growing leaves (which often rest on the ground in a dense rosette).

Dandelions protect the soil.

And they do so just by growing: the roots hold the soil together to help prevent wind and water erosion. Since the plants grow so quickly, they spread widely to cover bare soil and act as a natural mulch by providing shade and conserving moisture.

Dandelions aerate and condition distressed soil.

The long, strong taproots of dandelions push through into dry, cracked, compacted earth, helping to break it up, create channels for air and water to penetrate, and maintain a loose soil structure that allows earthworms to do their work.

The plants draw calcium, iron, and potassium from deep in the earth into their leaves. When they die and decompose, they leave behind mineral-rich organic matter that nourishes the soil.

(Gardening tip: To maintain their spread, cut the plants back before the seeds disperse into the wind. Tuck them under the mulch for a tidier garden, or let the plants compost in situ. Leave the roots in the ground. As a perennial plant they will often regrow, or eventually decay and enrich the soil food web.)

Dandelions also make great compost heap additions, but they can go to seed even after they're picked. If you don't want dandelions throughout your yard, turn the compost regularly so the heat of the mound can kill the seeds.

Dandelions are edible from root to flower.

Though we typically think of dandelions as flowers, the plant is a perennial herb and is one of the oldest herbs used for food and healing - since before Roman times! Every part of a dandelion is edible, from root to flower.

As a relative of chicory, dandelion root can be dried and roasted and used as a substitute for, or addition to, coffee. The root can also be peeled and cooked like a turnip.

Young dandelion leaves are among the most nutritious you'll find of any leafy green, and can be used in a salad, on a pizza, or in a pesto. Mature leaves can be sauteed or added to soups and stews. Ever tried dandelion chips? (You can make them like kale chips!)

(Here's a fun fact: The name dandelion is a corrupted pronunciation of the French dent de lion, or "lion's tooth," referring to the jagged leaves that are characteristic of the plant.)

As for the flower, it can be tossed with a salad, steeped into tea, or turned into wine.

Dandelions have medicinal value.

For thousands of years, various parts of the dandelion plant have been used to naturally detoxify the body and support healthy liver function and kidney function.

The herb is well-documented as a diuretic, hence its other French name, pis en lit (which sounds much more romantic than its English translation, "piss the bed.")

Dandelions have been used holistically to stimulate the appetite, settle upset stomach, improve skin issues, encourage breastmilk production, and treat a host of other ailments including heartburn, mastitis, inflammation, constipation, and hormonal imbalance.

Preliminary animal studies also suggest that dandelions may help normalize blood sugar and lower cholesterol.

Anyone under the age of 10 loves a good dandelion patch.

I remember skipping down the sidewalk and picking every dandelion globe in my path, giving a mighty blow and watching with delight as the puffs fluttered through the air.

Little did I know at that young age that I was inadvertently distributing the seeds far and wide. To me, the puffs were akin to fairy dust, or a mini snowstorm in my arid hometown of Las Vegas.

And who doesn't love the whimsy of a dandelion clock? You know: the childhood game where the number of breaths needed to blow away all the seeds is the hour of day. It might be three o'clock or ten o'clock or twenty o'clock, but no matter - you can try and try again until you get it right.

I also remember lying on the grass on a lazy afternoon with my friends, making dandelion crowns for ourselves and our dolls. Or dipping the flowers in paint and stamping them onto paper to make an abstract masterpiece for the fridge. Or picking a handful of flowers to bring home and put into a glass of water - something I still do to this day, as a cheery little bouquet of blooms always makes me smile.

I'm a bestselling author (my new book, The Backyard Fire Cookbook, is now out!), plant lover, and professional road-tripper (or so I like to call myself). I write about gardening, farm-to-table cooking, urban chicken-keeping, and outdoor adventuring - all that encompass a life well-lived outdoors. Beautiful Bend, Oregon, is my home.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Defending the Dandelion: It's Not Just Another Weed | Garden Betty

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The lowly dandelion is often dismissed as a weed and considered a blight on the landscape, but this common medicinal plant has fed and healed humanity for thousands of years. The benefits of dandelion are many: It provides a food source for pollinators, protects the soil from erosion, and aerates distressed soil.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Delivery Time: 15-20 days

Tracked Shipping

Secure Payments

14 Days Return

Personalize your stepping stone and create a family heirloom with Traditional style Letters and Numbers Stamps

Traditional Letter stamps include the full alphabet and all numbers, plus punctuation

Easy to use for all sorts of stamping from clay to concrete to cake decoration

The big, clear block letters look classic and clean

Shipment tracking ID will be provided after your product(s) is dispatched.

The delivery date stated is indicative and subject to availability, payment authorization, verification, and processing.

In case your product(s) is not delivered due to an incorrect or invalid address, we will not be able to process any claims. However, we will notify you if it is returned to us.

Return or exchange requests can be made within 14 days of the delivery date.

To return or exchange any items, please email us at info@homeloft.eu, clearly mentioning your order number and our customer support team will guide you on the process.

To be eligible for return, products must be in the exact condition you received them in. All packaging material must be undamaged and unused with the price tags intact.

Orders can be cancelled before dispatch. If the order has already been dispatched, cancellation fees might be charged.

Due to the nature of the products that we sell, we will not be able to replace or refund unwanted items if they have been opened or any seals are broken.

The refund will not include the import duties or the cost of delivery or return postage.

If your refund is approved, then it will automatically be credited to the original method of payment, within 7-10 days.

HomeLoft reserves the right to alter and enforce this Return and Refund Policy at any time without having to serve a prior notice to users.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Midwest Products Traditional Letters and Numbers Stepping Stone Stamps

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Personalize your stepping stone and create a family heirloom with Traditional style Letters and Numbers Stamps Traditional Letter stamps include the full alphabet and all numbers, plus punctuation Easy to use for all sorts of stamping from clay to concrete to cake decoration The big, clear block letters look classic an

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Does singing to plants really make them grow better? Find out!

Botanist Fernand Lequenne wrote, "If you really want to draw close to your garden, you must remember first of all that you are dealing with a being that lives and dies; like the human body, with its poor flesh, its illnesses at times repugnant. One must not always see it dressed up for a ball, manicured and immaculate." We give to our gardens and plants a sense of humanity and develop a bond with them. We delight in their growth and success and despair at their passing. Many ideas have been developed over the centuries about the proper and most successful way to nurture plants. One particularly common idea is the notion that singing to plants can help them grow.

In 1848, German experimental psychologist and professor of physics Gustav Theodor Fechner argued that plants have souls and that, like humans, they desired for and benefited from the companionship, conversation and nurture of others. Fechner believed that plants not only enjoyed the sound of music, but would be encouraged to grow better and bigger if they were spoken or sung to.

But is there truth behind the belief? Many studies have been done to test the hypothesis and though no consistent conclusion has yet been established, there has been evidence to suggest that plants that hear the sound of a human chatter are more likely to grow than those that don't.

Though they may not necessarily be growing specifically to the melody of Bach or Chopin, there is some science behind why a plant might grow if sung to. When you sing or talk to your plant you are expelling carbon dioxide which the plant needs to absorb to allow it to go through the process of photosynthesis and grow. In turn, the plant releases oxygen back to you, which is both beneficial and important for your health.

Some studies have also suggested that certain types of music are more productive for a plant's growth. Soothing, soft music, such as a lullaby, has been argued to make the plant grow the fastest, with some researches even suggesting that plants will lean into the source of the sound. Other studies have shown that loud, fast, and fiercely intense music can actually cause the plant to wilt and die. Researchers also argue that pronouncing words or utilizing songs that will cause you to breathe heaviest on the plant will distribute more carbon dioxide to the plant, in turn causing it to grow faster.

Whether we can conclusively deduce that plants do, in fact, grow faster when spoken or sung to due to science or some deeper connection between human and nature, one truth has shown itself to be evident throughout time, that developing a close relationship of nurture and care for a plant can bring only joy and happiness for both you and your plant.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Does singing to plants really make them grow better? Find out! Botanist Fernand Lequenne wrote, "If you really want to draw close to your garden, you must remember first of all that you are dealing with a being that lives and dies; like the human body, with its poor flesh, its illnesses at times repugnant.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
May 1, 2020

Dandelion Seed 2

Here is a dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) seed at 40x magnification. This seed weighs only about half a milligram.

Equipment used: AmScope M150C microscope with Raspberry Pi camera module V2 (8MP).

&nbsp&nbsp

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. blog comments powered by

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Here is a dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) seed at 40x magnification. This seed weighs only about half a milligram. Equipment used: AmScope M150C microscope with Raspberry Pi camera module V2 (8MP). &nbsp&nbsp Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. blog comments powered by

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Select Your Cookie Preferences

We use cookies and similar tools that are necessary to enable you to make purchases, to enhance your shopping experiences and to provide our services, as detailed in our Cookie Notice. We also use these cookies to understand how customers use our services (for example, by measuring site visits) so we can make improvements.

If you agree, we'll also use cookies to complement your shopping experience across the Amazon stores as described in our Cookie Notice. This includes using first- and third-party cookies, which store or access standard device information such as a unique identifier. Third parties use cookies for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalised ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. Click 'Customise Cookies' to decline these cookies, make more detailed choices, or learn more. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie Preferences, as described in the Cookie Notice. To learn more about how and for what purposes Amazon uses personal information (such as Amazon Store order history), please visit our Privacy Notice.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Wandefol 48 Mini Glass Bottles with Corks, 10 ml (5 cm x 2 cm) Small Glass Bottles with Cork Stopper and 30 m Yarn, Wedding Invitation, Jewellery DIY Projects, Crafts Glass Vials

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Wandefol 48 Mini Glass Bottles with Corks, 10 ml (5 cm x 2 cm) Small Glass Bottles with Cork Stopper and 30 m Yarn, Wedding Invitation, Jewellery DIY Projects, Crafts Glass Vials : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This is a map of all the past and present community gardens hosted by community groups, churches, and nonprofits as well as large scale urban farming over an acre in size. There is a great amount of opportunity in Detroit for urban growing, but it is not without it's challenges. More recently, a number of large scale operations have reported multiple break-ins and theft of equipment.

Read more in the full 2017 Detroit Food Metrics Report here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Map: Community Gardens and Urban Farms in Detroit 2017

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This is a map of all the past and present community gardens hosted by community groups, churches, and nonprofits as well as large scale urban farming over an acre in size. There is a great amount of opportunity in Detroit for urban growing, but it is not without it's challenges.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Wild Plants, Foraging, Food, Art and Culture

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Next we present some basics, like how to make dandelion root coffee. It is super easy, have a look at the visual recipe here or click on the image<<

The basics are:

Harvest the root whole, you will need digging tools as it goes quite deep.
Clean the root thoroughly scrubbing away all of the dirt.
Chop up the root in even sizes.
Put in the oven at the lowest setting for about 45 minutes.
Keep checking on it because if you burn the roots your coffee will not taste good.
Store in an airtight container.

And what about the flowers?

Let me entice you with Dandelion flower fritters, Appalachian style or Dandelion flower jelly? See here.

WARNING: This is a bitter herb, and lots of people find it challenging. If you are not one for bitter flavours I suggest you cook it rather than have it raw. Nothing some salt, lemon or chilly can't fix. That said, I think we should just bring back bitter greens in our nutritional landscape for obvious health reasons including digestive aid, vitamin and mineral intake and retraining our tastebuds (let us move away from sugar please!). See here for some words about it>

Dandelions as medicine

Dandelion is regarded as the King of Detox in herbal medicine due to its abilities as a mild diuretic and laxative.
Dandelion infusions are regularly prescribed in cleansing programs and are extremely beneficial as liver and kidney tonics, but there is so much more. Dandelions are respected as a good source of anti-oxidants; they reduce cholesterol; regulate blood sugar; reduce inflammation; lower blood pressure; aid weight loss; reduce risk of cancer; boost the immune system; aid digestion and keep your skin healthy. Have a look at this website for the details and scientific data of all of this, or just go here, for a full run of what is growing in your backyard.

Let's finish off with a great recipe for dandelion infused oil. This simple home remedy is easy to do at home, just collect the flowers and infuse them in oil. The resulting balm can be used on irritated skin to soothe sore joints or just to keep your skin healthy and toned.

So much you can do!

If you are still not confident about the plant and would like to confirm identification I suggest you post a picture on social media and tag me in. See here for Instagram and here for Facebook.

Or if you want to get a booklet detailing dandelion along with 15 more common edibles, have a look here> Only $15 + postage.

And finally, if you really want to drill down to get all of the information about what is growing in your yard, I provide Edible Backyard Mapping.
I come to you, assess your yard, name the valuable plants growing there, map them and provide a full report with details on each including recipes and remedies. Details here>

Your garden is full of wonderful things. You just need a name and take the time to get to know them!

Woohoo! I love weeds!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
5 recipes for your dandelion weeds. - Wild Plants, Foraging, Food, Art and Culture

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Next we present some basics, like how to make dandelion root coffee. It is super easy, have a look at the visual recipe here or click on the image Dandelion is regarded as the King of Detox in herbal medicine due to its abilities as a mild diuretic and laxative.Dandelion infusions are regularly prescribed in cleansing programs and are extremely beneficial as liver and kidney tonics, but there is so much more.

# data[].attributes.headline
One o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock.....children's rhyme

# data[].attributes.subject
One o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock.....children's rhyme

# data[].attributes.headline
Thinking about pressing dandelions at various growth stages into clay circles....

# data[].attributes.subject
Thinking about pressing dandelions at various growth stages into clay circles....

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Find out about Herbarium, Seed Banks and Fungarium
​in botanic gardens, mueums and botanical and horticultural societies around the world Banner Image: Inside the Old Herbarium Building at Kew - where lighting used to be by gas lamps! Matthew C. Pace, assistant curator at the Steere Herbarium at The New York Botanical Garden, explains what you need to know about herbariums.

The Herbarium Handbook
Paperback: 348 pages
Publisher: Royal Botanic Gardens Kew; Third Edition, edition (5 Sept. 2000)

This is the commonly recognised standard reference manual for how to create herbarium specimens from plant material.

BUY THIS BOOK

The Pressed Plant: The Art of Botanical Specimens, Nature Prints, and Sun Prints
by Andrea DiNoto and David Winter

​ This is a book which was first published in 1899. It looks at how you can create artwork by pressing and preserving plant material.

Part one, The Plant Collected - shows real plants that have been collected, pressed, and mounted by botanists or by amateurs, as single sheets or bound into books called herbaria.

Part Two, The Plant's Impression - shows / describes rare and classic examples of both nature prints, in which the plant is inked, pressed, and printed, and sun pictures, produced when a plant is placed on light-sensitive paper and exposed to the sun.

The final part looks at how botanical materials are used in unusual works by leading contemporary artists

Detailed appendices describe methods of botanical specimen collecting and mounting, materials and suppliers, and botanical institutions and museums worldwide.

H ardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (October 18, 1999)

How to press, dry, mount and preserve plant material

After collection and pressing, the next step in preserving a specimen is to make sure that all the moisture is removed from the plant. Any moisture remaining in a collection can result in the eventual rotting of that specimen, rendering it useless for scientific purposes. In a herbarium, plants are dried in a forced-air plant drier that approaches temperatures of 100°C.
Pressing and Drying | Plant Collecting: How-To | The Botanical Research Institute of Texas

The best conditions for storage include low temperature (from 50-65ºF), low humidity, low light, and infrequent handling. Roaches and certain beetles will destroy plant specimens. You can kill insects in dried plant specimens by freezing them for three or four days, and keep them pest-free in a tightly-sealed plastic bag.
Preservation & Storage | Plant Collecting: How-To | The Botanical Research Institute of Texas

RBGE Herbarium: Basic Plant Collecting and Pressing: Filmed at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, this video provides a thorough introduction to collecting and pressing plants to make herbarium specimens.

A recommendation too good not to pass on!

Average Customer Rating for out of 5 stars (for 9 inch press):

UK: 4.6 based on 195 customer ratings

USA: 4.7 based on 197 customer ratings

This was recommended to me by somebody who did a lot of flower pressing. The main advantage is that

Holes in the top and bottom platens allow for steam to escape and to allow flowers to press with the best possible uniformity.

this method apparently preserves the colour of the flowers much better.

it comes in two sizes 5 inch (pictured) and 9 inch

the nine inch weighs 885 g and measures 22.9 x 22.9 x 2.5 cm.

There's also a book of instructions - and refill packs for the materials used for pressing.

you can get replacement accesories from the main website

BUY THIS FLOWER PRESS (two sizes 5" and 9" available)

Microfleur 9" Microwave Max Flower Press

Herbarium Mounting Techniques

Mounting specimens for storage in the Kew Herbarium from parcels received from collectors in the field. Newspaper is a readily available material world which helps to dry a plant specimen when it goes into the plant press in the field.

Filmed in the Herbarium of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, this video provides an introduction and practical guide to the art of mounting pressed, dried plant specimens for scientific study.

Covers how to attach plants to a mounting card and a simple collection storage option. (Suitable for children)

Display of different Mounting Techniques in the Herbarium at Kew Gardens

Herbariums, Fungariums and Seed Banks - in the UK
​

Herbaria are one of the most fantastic botanical resources I know. And one of the most under-used and under-appreciated.
Chris Metherell, BSBI President 2017-9

Botanic Gardens in the UK - England

he oldest specimen dates back to 1696. ​ The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
​
The Kew Gardens Herbarium has more than 7 million specimens collected from all over the world which represent nearly 98 per cent of all of the genera in the world. T
​Besides being a basis for research, the herbarium also provides the raw pressed plant material for scientific botanical illustrations.

The first video (below) explains the history of the Herbarium at Kew Gardens. Originally named Hunter House, the 18th century building was occupied by the King of Hanover until his death in 1851.

This next video provides you with a tour of the Kew Herbarium.

The next video (below) explains the purpose of a Herbarium. The Kew Herbarium concentrates on the floristics of non-temperate parts of the world, British and world non-lichenized fungi, grasses and orchids

Storage of Seeds and Fungi
​

The Millennium Seed Bank Library at Wakehurst Place in Sussex ("Kew in the country") stores material on seeds, plant physiology, seed storage and seed germination. The work of this seed back involves collboration with various Botanic Gardens all over the world.

The Fungarium at Kew was founded in 1879 provides access to an estimated 1.25 million specimens of dried fungi

The video below explains how Kew produces Seed Guides for different species in different parts of the world using the informstion from specimens housed in the Kew Herbarium.

Botanic Gardens in the UK - Scotland
​

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh
Herbarium in UK Universities

Herbaria of Botanical and Horticultural Societies in the UK
​

The RHS Herbarium holds the UK's largest collection of cultivated plants, with more than 86,000 dried plant specimens.

Herbarium in UK Museums
​

The Natural History Museum concentrates on the flora of Europe (including the UK), Central and North America, together with British and world lichenized fungi, algae, mosses and liverworts. Natural History Museum

The British and Irish Herbarium is one of the most comprehensive collections of plants from a particular area anywhere in the world.

The Natural History Museum has a range of botanical collections in their Herbarium. ​These include:

The plant collections held in the British Antarctic Survey's herbarium (international code AAS) consist of over 40,000 plant specimens from Antarctica, the sub-Antarctic Islands and surrounding continents (especially Fuegia and Patagonia). Over 2000 species are represented, comprising predominantly mosses, liverworts and lichens with smaller collections of vascular plants, macro-algae and macro-fungi.Herbarium - British Antarctic Survey
​
ote: British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).]

Herbarium in Europe
​

Herbarium in the USA
​

Herbarium in Botanical Gardens in the USA​
​

A time lapse video of what it takes to create new and storage meeting contemporary standards for a herbarium
​With support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the herbaria received new storage that will allow for 20 years of plant and fungal collection growth. The Sam Mitchel Herbarium of Fungi is the most active and largest macrofungal herbarium in Colorado. New York Botanical Gardens Barbara Thiers, Ph.D., Director of the The William and Lynda Steere Herbarium at the New York Botanical Garden, reveals the inner workings of this unique collection of over 7 million dried plant specimens.
The C. V. Starr Virtual Herbarium - an electronic gateway to the collections of the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium (c. 7.3 million plant and fungi specimens). The project to digitise the collection currently comprises c. 1.3 million herbarium specimens and 225,000 high-resolution specimen images.
Harvard University

Harvard University Herbaria - Home - The Harvard University Herbaria, with more than 5 million specimens, is one of the 10 largest Herbaria in the world in number of specimens, and along with the library, form the world's largest university owned herbarium and the 3rd largest herbaria in the USA.

The Glass Flowers | Harvard University Herbaria - The Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants, popularly known as the Glass Flowers - commissioned in 1886 to aid in teaching and serve as the premier botany exhibit. 847 life-size models representing 780 species and varieties of plants in 164 families as well as over 3,000 models of enlarged parts.

Herbarium in Universities in the USA
​

California
South East USA University of Melbourne Herbarium (MELU)
SERNEC (SouthEast Regional Network of Expertise and Collections) is a consortium of 233 herbaria in 14 states in the Southeast USA - spanning 150 years of botanical data. The aim is to provide herbarium specimen images and metadata from one of the most botanically diverse regions of the earth with the goal of facilitating better research, better management planning and a more well-informed public. Contains access to digital records of State Floras

Front facade of Harvard University Herbaria building, 22 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Herbarium and collaborating institutions in the USA
​

Herbarium in Australia
​

Queensland

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find out about Herbarium, Seed Banks and Fungarium ​in botanic gardens, mueums and botanical and horticultural societies around the world Banner Image: Inside the Old Herbarium Building at Kew - where lighting used to be by gas lamps! Matthew C.

# data[].attributes.headline
Idea Gathering...inspiration from other artists work

# data[].attributes.subject
Idea Gathering...inspiration from other artists work

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A Rain Walk is a performance that takes the form of a walk through your own neighbourhood in the pouring rain. You are guided on your walk by the voices of children, who invite you to observe, imagine and play in the familiar streets around your home.

Each new version of the project is created with a group of young people from different places, either places within the same country or places in different countries entirely. Each child is separately sent a recording device and a set of activity packs full of things to go out and record, and we meet each day for workshops via Zoom to talk together about the project. We then edit these recordings together into a single audio track, with a soundtrack created for the project by artist and musician Christopher Brett Bailey.

The show is designed for an audience of both adults and families. Their first encounter with the show is a small box that arrives in the post containing a beautifully designed booklet, a glass vial for catching the rain and a link to a webpage where they can download the audio track. Then they have to wait, until a time when it is raining and they can begin their walk.

Conceived and first created during the coronavirus pandemic, A Rain Walk is an invitation to experience the banality of a rainy street with a different kind of concentration and an attempt at connectedness and empathy in a moment of profound change. The project uses our shared experience of the rain as a way of bringing people together across divisions of geography, age and culture, asking all of us to temporarily give ourselves up to the natural rhythms of the weather as a way of re-imagining our relationship to the world around us.

The first version of the project was created in collaboration with children across Ireland and the UK. A second version of the project was later created with children in Australia and New Zealand, with support from Melbourne Festival, Art Play and Festival of Colour, Wanaka.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Rain Walk - Andy Field & Beckie Darlington

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A Rain Walk is a performance that takes the form of a walk through your own neighbourhood in the pouring rain. You are guided on your walk by the voices of children, who invite you to observe, imagine and play in the familiar streets around your home.

# data[].attributes.headline
Go!… commit to sow! Go!… what can we grow?Go!… commit to sow! Go!… fresh seeds of hope!

# data[].attributes.subject
Go!… commit to sow! Go!… what can we grow?Go!… commit to sow! Go!… fresh seeds of hope!

# data[].attributes.headline
No!… don’t let them go! No!… let fresh air flow No!… don’t let them go! No!… commit to sow!

# data[].attributes.subject
No!… don’t let them go! No!… let fresh air flow No!… don’t let them go! No!… commit to sow!

# data[].attributes.headline
Human Perspective…Wildlife could grow very strong; if we will help, help it along;All we need is to show some care with the things we consume and the things that we wear. Sisters, brothers, all join as one; creating change, changing what's wrong. The need is great and we can't delay there is no time to lose, make changes today! 

# data[].attributes.subject
Human Perspective…Wildlife could grow very strong; if we will help, help it along;All we need is to show some care with the things we consume and the things that we wear. Sisters, brothers, all join as one; creating change, changing what's wrong. The need is great and we can't delay there is no time to lose, make changes today! 

# data[].attributes.headline
Why?…. Why should I die? Why?…. No air supply?Why?…. Why should I die? Why?…. Why, oh why?       

# data[].attributes.subject
Why?…. Why should I die? Why?…. No air supply?Why?…. Why should I die? Why?…. Why, oh why?       

# data[].attributes.headline
Tree Perspective…Hear my voice; the message I bring; and listen to the song I sing; Is this world gonna be OK, when the last of my leaves have fallen away? Brothers, sisters all cut down; I’m on my own, as nature drowns Don’t chop me down, don’t you cut away; unsustainable price you are going to pay!   

# data[].attributes.subject
Tree Perspective…Hear my voice; the message I bring; and listen to the song I sing; Is this world gonna be OK, when the last of my leaves have fallen away? Brothers, sisters all cut down; I’m on my own, as nature drowns Don’t chop me down, don’t you cut away; unsustainable price you are going to pay!   

# data[].attributes.headline
“Once, I was a seedling; And from the ground I started to sing… sing... sing!”   

# data[].attributes.subject
“Once, I was a seedling; And from the ground I started to sing… sing... sing!”   

# data[].attributes.headline
Bridge          Think what we could do, if we renewed; Our world with seeds of life again! Think what we could grow, if we would sow; Our world with seeds of hope again!

# data[].attributes.subject
Bridge          Think what we could do, if we renewed; Our world with seeds of life again! Think what we could grow, if we would sow; Our world with seeds of hope again!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Set of 24 Large Heart shaped seed paper. 100% tree free 100% recycled paper. Will sprout flowers if planted.

These are die cut from paper made in Seattle, Washington. They measure 2.85" wide by 2.5" tall.

The seed list and planting instructions are on the packaging.

Our wildflower blend papers contain all of the following US origin wildflower seeds:

Snapdragon, Petunia, Beardtongue, Daisy, Thyme, Poppy, Foxglove, Catchfly, Maiden Pinks, Chamomile

The plants tolerate partial shade and need 4 hours a day of direct sunlight. Will grow to about 3'. The blend of seeds we have selected to include in our papers was chosen to ensure that regardless of your growing region some of the plant seeds embedded in our paper will flourish. Germination may begin as quickly as one week or may take up to six weeks depending on your regional growing zone. If you plant this paper in a pot, or in your garden please cover with just 1/8" of soil and keep moist until established.

Click here to order envelopes and planting guides for these hearts: https://www.etsy.com/listing/608514100

Learn more about this item

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Large Recycled Fiber Seed Paper Hearts 2.85w X | Etsy Ireland

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Set of 24 Large Heart shaped seed paper. 100% tree free 100% recycled paper. Will sprout flowers if planted. These are die cut from paper made in Seattle, Washington. They measure 2.85 wide by 2.5 tall. The seed list and planting instructions are on the packaging. Our wildflower blend papers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
These seed paper sets come in packs of 10 sheets of plantable paper in your choice of designer color blends. From holiday colors to earth tones or neutrals, you’ll love picking your favorite palette to craft with.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Throw & Grow Native Irish Seed Bomb Recipe Includes 27 Native Irish Wildflower Species, many of which are in decline, some are endangered, some classed as extinct! All are selected with care and purpose, to FEED the native wild life of Ireland and create environmental biodiversity and balance.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
100 Wildflower Seed Bombs - Wildflower Native Seed Bomb

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
10 Seed Bombs, Available across Ireland. Throw & Grow Native Irish Seed Bomb Recipe Includes 27 Native Irish Wildflower Species, many of which are in decline, some are endangered, some classed as extinct! All are selected with care and purpose, to FEED the native wild life of Ireland and create environmental biodiversity and balance.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We're always a little hesitant to poke even gentle fun at people's misconceptions on the internet, lest we trip on a crack in our own understanding of the world.

Even in this information-addled age, no one can know everything about everything. But it seems the gold-tressed wonder that is the dandelion really should file some sort of grievance against humanity. This flower has been consistently misunderstood since the day it first dared flash its sunny smile - and was promptly declared a weed.

The Dandelion Life Cycle

The latest slight to this noble flower?

A time-lapse video, originally published in 2010 by renowned U.K. photographer Neil Bromhall, has recently resurfaced. In it, a dandelion's life cycle over the course of a month is detailed. It bursts from bud to golden glory before curling up again. Then it lets slip the withered outer shawl - and emerges a white-haired senior, all dressed in seed-bearing fruit and everywhere to go.

Those wispy whites, called pappi, will sail in the breeze to make new roots in the earth.

And the internet - it was posted on both YouTube and Reddit - greeted the whole mesmerizing journey with a resounding "HUH?"

Indeed, for dozens of people, the dandelion's double life is a revelation.

One commenter: "DANDELIONS AND FLUFFY WHITE HEADED WEEDS ARE THE SAME THING?! SINCE WHEN??"

And another: "Thanks, now my friends are mocking me for not knowing that the white blowy things are the same as the yellow flower things."

Common Misconceptions About Dandelions

Now, if you've been following the history of dandelions, you'll know it's been dogged by myths and misconceptions from the beginning.

First, despite its bold, bright bloom, it has been labeled a weed, and an invasive one no less.

It's true, dandelions were brought to North America by European settlers. But that's because they do a lot of good for our bodies, as well as the environment.

But even if dandelions weren't so packed with nutrients - even if their stems couldn't be used to make sweet, sweet music - who could behold that sun-dappled mane and not see a flower?

Maybe it's a conspiracy among pesticide companies. Dandelions are, after all, gloriously abundant. If they're deemed weeds, Americans can declare war on them and companies can reap the profits.

(And you thought that was just America's foreign policy.)

So making war on weeds is good business. We get it, pesticide companies. But honestly, what's our excuse for consistently not knowing what a dandelion even looks like?

Here's one:

And here's another:

Of course, not everyone who commented on the post was bewildered by the dandelion's transformation. Many more people stepped up to offer a spirited defense of the plant. Some still condemned it as an invasive weed - a yellow scourge!

Others welcomed the yellow polka dot patterns they bring to their lawns.

But we'll leave it to a Redditor, with the apt moniker UnsubstantiatedClaim, to give the regal dandelion its due - and describe that life cycle with the poetry it deserves:

"First, they turn yellow like the sun. So bright and cheery. What you don't see is the dandelion's serpentine root growing further and further into the ground, well below the roots of your lawn. Then it closes up for a bit of a nap. Nighty night, sweet dandelion. The yellow slowly turns white, the root drilling further and further down, striking oil and fueling up for the next step. It opens again. Gone is the yellow flower, replaced by white seed parachutes which slowly drift away in the cool spring breeze. By this time the root has dug all the way to china and broken through the surface. Do you know what has popped out the other side? A yellow flower. So bright and cheery, and ready to start the process again."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Dandelion's Natural Cycle Causes Chaos and Confusion on the Internet

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We're always a little hesitant to poke even gentle fun at people's misconceptions on the internet, lest we trip on a crack in our own understanding of the world. Even in this information-addled age, no one can know everything about everything.

# data[].attributes.headline
DiDonato’s passionate belief, and the driving force behind EDEN, is that a collective return to our “best selves” is needed to not only address our current climate crisis, but the crisis of heart, as well. By examining our relationship to the natural world and our unique place within it, EDEN invites the listener to explore and search for answers about belonging, purpose, and healing.

# data[].attributes.subject
DiDonato’s passionate belief, and the driving force behind EDEN, is that a collective return to our “best selves” is needed to not only address our current climate crisis, but the crisis of heart, as well. By examining our relationship to the natural world and our unique place within it, EDEN invites the listener to explore and search for answers about belonging, purpose, and healing.

# data[].attributes.headline
Every audience member to receive a seed to plant as they’re asked:   In this time of upheaval, which seed will you plant today?

# data[].attributes.subject
Every audience member to receive a seed to plant as they’re asked:   In this time of upheaval, which seed will you plant today?

# data[].attributes.headline
Eden explores our individual connection to nature and its impact on our world

# data[].attributes.subject
Eden explores our individual connection to nature and its impact on our world