Tag Archives: plant of the month

Plant of the Month: July 2018

Posted on 27/07/2018 by carolinemmurray

I had vaguely hoped that during my recent sojourn in Florida I might see a catalpa in (almost) its native habitat. Its usual southernmost range is further north in the state, but I had plans to visit botanic gardens, until … Continue reading →

Posted in Bibliography, Biography, Botany, Cambridge, Gardens, History, London, Natural history, Printing and Publishing | Tagged Cambridge University Botanic Garden, catalpa, Mark Catesby, plant of the month | 1 Comment

Plant of the Month: January 2018

Posted on 21/01/2018 by carolinemmurray

The first problem I have in considering the hazel (apart from the minor detail that, in the last few days when I have been confined to bed/the house, it has been bright and sunny – ideal photographic weather – and … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Classics, Gardens, Italy, Natural history | Tagged botany, climate change, ctakins, hazel, hazelnut, plant of the month, spring | 2 Comments

Plant of the Month: June 2017

Posted on 21/06/2017 by carolinemmurray

There is no doubt that, for a very long period, the pineapple was THE evidence, across Europe, of your wealth, your taste, and your ability to choose a head gardener for your estates who could manage a stove-house. This exotic … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Botany, Exploration, Gardens, Museums and Galleries, Natural history | Tagged Chelsea Physic Garden, Fitzwilliam Museum, hot house, Parks and Gardens UK, pineapple, plant of the month, still life | 4 Comments

Plant of the Month: April 2017

Posted on 24/04/2017 by carolinemmurray

The forget-me-not is one of those plants which are ‘only a …’. But like so many apparently over-familiar pieces of nature, it repays closer examination. It must be one of the most widespread (and toughest) plants in the northern hemisphere, … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Gardens, History, Literature, Natural history, Printing and Publishing | Tagged botany, forget-me-not, Henry IV, Linnaeus, Myosotis, plant of the month, Sir John Hill | 4 Comments

Plant Of The Month: October

Posted on 20/10/2016 by carolinemmurray

This may sound a perverse choice, given all the possibilities, not least autumn-flowering bulbs and corms (and even ivy, the flowers of which are still attracting bees and butterflies), but here goes, anyway.

Posted in Botany, Gardens, Natural history | Tagged daisy family, pellitory, plant of the month | 6 Comments

Plant of the Month: July

Posted on 31/07/2016 by carolinemmurray

Though it’s difficult to select a subject in July (too much choice!), I decided to write about pinks – as opposed to carnations, sweet Williams, or any others of the Dianthus tribe – but the most superficial investigation shows that … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Botany, Cambridge, Gardens, Natural history, Venice | Tagged carnations, Dianthus family, pinks, plant of the month | 4 Comments

Plant of the Month: June

Posted on 18/06/2016 by carolinemmurray

The obvious plant would be the rose (which seems to be having a wonderful year in general, though I’m cheerfully expecting my ‘Félicité Perpétue’ flowers to turn into blue, mildewed mush, as it always rains in June just as their … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Cambridge, Gardens, History, Natural history | Tagged bracts, Cornus family, Cornus kousa, plant of the month, plants | Leave a comment

Plant of the Month: May

Posted on 27/05/2016 by carolinemmurray

At the beginning of May last year, wisteria was flowering its head off in Venice. This year, at the same time, it was almost over, except for some plants on very shadowed or north-facing walls. And back at home, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Botany, Cambridge, Exploration, Gardens, Natural history | Tagged Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Chinese plants, Claude Monet, Japanese plants, plant of the month, wisteria | 1 Comment

Plant of the Month: March

Posted on 27/03/2016 by carolinemmurray

Far be it from me to suggest that great minds work alike, but on returning from a happy expedition to photograph the species tulips in the alpine house at CUBG, I found that the Garden’s own ‘plant of the month’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Cambridge, Exploration, Gardens, Natural history | Tagged Cambridge University Botanic Garden, plant names, plant of the month, species tulips, taxonomy | 2 Comments

Plant of the Month: November

Posted on 27/11/2015 by carolinemmurray

It’s the beech! But why? Surely it’s at its best in spring, when the pale green, downy leaves unfurl from the elegant, tapering buds? At this time of year, buttery Gingko biloba, the exotic Osage orange, or even hazel, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Cambridge, Gardens, History, Literature | Tagged beech, Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Gilbert White, New Forest, plant of the month | Leave a comment