“Heart-stopping adventure sport” and “botany” aren’t words that are commonly found in a single sentence, but that combination is exactly what “The Wild Trees: A Story of Passion and Daring” delivers. Author Richard Preston follows a dedicated (and some might…
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Evergreen and ornamental, the Quercus suber is stripped for its thick, corky bark every 10-12 years. Medium-sized for an oak tree, this species is the primary source of wine bottle stoppers and cork-flooring making use of its spongy, breathable quality….
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A zoonotic disease is a disease that can be passed from animal to human. It includes parasitic diseases, viruses and bacterial diseases. Some of the world’s deadliest diseases are zoonotic diseases. West Nile Virus, the bird flu, and mad cow…
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Pines are one of the easiest to identify of the conifers and have a wide variety of uses. As you may already know, pine trees are not a single species, as there are many different species of pines that thrive…
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A recent exhibit in a Norway zoo displayed “homosexual animals” and promoted the display as proof that homosexuality is completely natural. Geir Soeli, the project leader of the exhibition, told Reuters, “Homosexuality has been observed for more than 1,500 animal…
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The cork oak is a magnificent tree to behold. Known botanically as Quercus suber, the cork oak is native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe and North Africa where it has been grown and cultivated for centuries. In comparison to…
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Cedars are very popular ornamental trees. You likely have one or two growing in your very own backyard. As you may already know, Cedar trees are not a single species, as there are many different species of Cedars that thrive…
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Slime molds are not plants or animals. Neither are they fungi, though they were long classed as such. These life forms are like animals in many ways. They move, for example, but they also have characteristics of plants and fungi….
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The secrets of the morel have been sought out for centuries. Where do they grow?When do they make their grand appearances? Indeed, only the morels themselves know the true answers to these questions, but I hope to share with you…
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The sycamore, Acer pseudoplatanus, is also known as the sycamore maple, Celtic maple, false plane-tree, great maple, Scottish maple and mock-plane. It is native to central Europe and southwest Asia. This tree has been cultivated, for centuries, in Europe. The…
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