Tag: feature
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Rose: Love is never the whole story
In central Asia, where the ancient Persians used to reside, there was a bird called Bulbul, the nightingale. A shrill, plain, palm-sized little thing, the nightingale could boast nothing about himself except for his pride. As he watched the other birds flaunt their beauty, talent, and mimicry, the nightingale resolved, that if heaven never gifted…
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Sweet Osmanthus: A Language Spread across Sky
Scientific Name: Osmanthus fragrans (odorous fragrant flower) The details of immortality are like a dream. No one knows where it starts and ends; no one can conceive of a world ungoverned by bookends or memory. Anything touched by the concept of infinity is often shrouded in confusion and misinterpretation. Yet on the grounds of Mount…
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Poppy: The Elixir of Life is Poison
How the flower of death factored into the Eleusinian mysteries and the Persephone myth. Scientific Name: Poppy Somniferum (Sleep-bringing swell) Opium/Bread-seed poppy In all the steamy drama, romance, and speculation that comes from re-tellings of the myth of Persephone and Hades, people often hide and ignore key elements of the story in favor of sweeter…
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Mimosa Pudica: It’s the Shy Ones You Should Look Out For
Deep in the forests of Madagascar, there lives a legendary tree called the “tepe.” Perhaps you’ve heard of it before. With a thick textured trunk and leaves of an agave plant, it has voracious tendrils sprouting and thrashing from the crown like a nest of angry vipers. If you draw too close to the intoxicating…
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Willow: The Mother of Korean Rebellion dipping her toes by the Shore
Scientific Name: Salicaceae Salix (“Near Water”) Common Names: Willows, Sallows, Osiers While many of the same willows sprawl across the globe, there are often several discrepancies in how each culture interprets them. When regarding the flowing branches of the famous weeping willow, for example, some people see a symbol of elegance and flexibility, while others…
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What Plants are Safe for my Pet Quaker Parrots / Monk Parakeets?
Quaker parrots, also known as Monk Parakeets, derive their name from their chubby cheeks and distinctive coloring reminiscent of a monk’s tonsure or a Quaker’s white collar. Despite their seemingly virtuous appearance, these parrots can be quite destructive, ravaging crops and local flora in rural areas and even causing havoc in homes where they are…
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Lobelia: America’s sweetheart is a clever witch
Spring is here, and it’s time to plant one of my favorite plants of the season. The lobelia. Specifically, Lobelia erinus. This fast-growing ground plant not only fills the shelves of the local nurseries at the beginning of the season, but it also spills over the edges of pots and borders in and outside the residents and…
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Mint: Dr. Frankenstein’s monster smells of love and shaving cream
Menthe (mint), from the family Lamiaeacea (jaws) Mint is a lovely, versatile garden plant that has rooted itself deeply into gardens worldwide— a distinct, vibrant personality setting it apart from its neighbors both subjectively and physically (being an isolated plant in garden beds). Its personality is so distinct that ancient Greeks had personified it in…
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Gotu Kola: Path to the Fountain of Youth
Gotu kola is a Southeast Asian waterside weed embellished by its supernatural ability to heal most bodily wounds— from skin conditions to blood circulation to mental health— which makes it an extremely coveted plant by herbalists and scientists worldwide. Best of all, it’s almost effortless to grow. The provisions for and from this plant make…
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Pomegranates: Planting infused with vitamins, minerals, and the meaning of life
Expensive, messy, and highly acclaimed for its health benefits, the pomegranate is stereotypically associated with rich wellness enthusiasts who care too much about questionable scientific research on chemical compounds no one can pronounce. And surely the pomegranate must not have changed its branding much since the beginning of time, with its association with rich pharaohs…