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Tidy Up the Hidden Spots

Whether in our homes or workplaces, we all have a routine for cleaning things. But often apart from our routine, there are those hard-to-reach places where dust or other bits collect. Over time, the buildup of debris can be a shock when the existence of these neglected spots is finally realized. Today at the U of M Conservatory greenhouse, where I am a volunteer indoor gardener, I spent my 3-hour shift reaching into out-of-the-way spaces to sweep, rinse, or wipe away fallen debris. I focused my efforts on the public area of the conservatory where new guests are more likely to see dusty surfaces that have escaped recent routine maintenance. A similar form of untidiness is the sudden realization that a particular plant has grown immensely since the last time you noticed it. The leaves have overspread the space and blocked much of the sun light for everything below. It is time to prune away the excess. My task for today included pruning the largest plant in the collection, a tree fern nat...
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Recent posts

Scrubbing Cycads with a Toilet Bowl Brush

It seems my efforts as a volunteer in the greenhouse often involve cleaning plants that have been infested by damaging insects. I know I've not been singled out for this task. It takes non-stop team effort from everyone on the staff of the University of Minnesota Conservatory to help control pests from overwhelming the plant collections.  The greenhouse staff rightly favors the use of biologic pest control over the use of toxic chemicals. The biologic controls are usually in the form of predatory critters. But the beneficial predators alone are not enough to keep plants healthy indoors. Along with "beneficials," a multi-prong approach is needed. It includes the use of physical removal of pests from the plants - usually scrubbing with soap and water. Another prong is the use of essential oils which are noxious to the pests, the oils are sprayed onto the leaves to deter the pests from spreading. A solution of peppermint and clove oil are commonly used.   My tasks today bega...
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Plantulary: Botanical Dance

The title of the dance performance was Plantulary. The theme, botanical. On a whim, my partner suggested we attend a performance of a new dance work by a small immersive arts collaborative, Aniccha Arts. Through the arc of a single year—from growth through to dormancy—the dancers describe the story of plant life using percussive dance rhythms, music, literary, and various vegetable props. For me, this dance performance was a challenge to appreciate; it was no Swan Lake. I didn’t fully understand the connection between many of the sound and dance elements. But, curiously, the memory of it has stuck with me for the past few days. To set the scene, the stage consisted of a simple dark room lit by spotlights and early evening sunlight coming in through large windows. Along the baseboard of the stage were narrow trays of green seedlings lit by fluorescent grow-lights, forming the outer limit of the performance space. To further imbue the stage with plant life, several moss balls (kokedama-l...
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Invasive Plants in the Conservatory Greenhouse

One of the many delights of being a volunteer at the U of M's Conservatory Greenhouse has been the constantly changing display of plants and projects. My shift this week included work on a new display of plants considered highly invasive in Minnesota. The staff at the Conservatory Greenhouse have recently collaborated with another department called the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plant and Pest Center (MITPPC). The partnership will introduce the subject of invasive plant species to the students and public guests at the Conservatory Greenhouse. The purpose of the MITPPC, established in 2014, is to research the prevention, detection, and control of terrestrial invasive species in Minnesota. The Center has an informative and interesting website . Recently added display of non-native plants highly invasive in Minnesota Several examples of highly invasive plants were sent to the Conservatory Greenhouse for display from the MITPPC. My specific task this week was to re-pot some of the ...
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A Thames River Walk Through Time: Repurposing Tow Paths

I love it when old technologies are repurposed to solve entirely different problems. A perfect example is the extensive system of canals and tow paths throughout England. Before the Industrial Revolution and the advent of railways, these canals were built to transport goods between cities and towns. Narrow boats pulled by horses or mules along tow paths were a common sight. Today, however, these tow paths have found a new purpose: recreational walking. They offer picturesque routes through the English countryside, allowing people to explore the beauty of the canals and rivers. The commerce that once flowed along these waterways may have shifted to railways, but the paths themselves continue to serve a valuable function. This year, I had the privilege of joining three other hikers on a journey along the River Thames tow path, from the city of Oxford to its source, a distance of about 50 miles. Farther upstream, the river gradually narrowed, eventually transforming into a swollen creek b...
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Thames River Path, London UK

Walking has to be one of life's greatest joys. What better place to do it than a well-tended trail? The UK is blessed with an abundance of great walking trails, partly due to the historic laws which protect the public's rights of way to walk across private land. This year I had the opportunity to walk parts of the Thames Path which runs through London and up the river for 180 mile to its source. There, water bubbles up from a small spring out in the countryside. I've divided my walk into two blog posts, each focusing on part of the path: first through the London boroughs, and then from the city of Oxford to the source of the Thames. Thames Path through London There are many resources and guides describing the layout and topographical details of the Thames Path. Probably the most authoritative is the National Trails website . But, frankly if you only have a few hours in London then Google Maps will adequately display the trail along the river, including transportation optio...
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Chelsea Physic Garden at the 350th Anniversary

More than 350 years ago a 4-acre walled garden was established on the north bank of the Thames river by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries. The garden was used for the production of medicinal herbs by the members of the apothecary guild. Prior to the guild, the walled garden had been in private hands - which at one time included Sir Thomas More, who eventually lost his head for his opposition to Henry VIII. Three hundred years later the garden was finally opened to the public in 1987. In 2023 I had the privilege of visiting the garden shortly after the Victorian-era, teak-framed glass houses had been restored to like-new condition. Many of the plants were past-peak in September, but some color remained here and there. Senna corymbosa, long used as a laxitive St. John's wort, used to treat infections and inflammation Wide-angle view of offices to the far left, and glass houses on the right. Chelsea mansions stand in the distance. Plumbing and window crank detail in a glass house...
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