The final supermoon of 2020 made an appearance in the night sky on Thursday night and stunned stargazers with its sheer size and brightness.The full moon will appear about six per cent larger than a typical full moon.

Roses, carnations and lilies are today among the most popular flowers people use to express sympathy and condolence. The simple act of sending flowers to […]

The post Funeral flowers in the Stone Age: Q&A with Smithsonian anthropologist Reuven Yeshurun appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

The post Conrad Labandiera, Smithsonian palentologist, studies fossils to learn how insects got along before flowering plants arrived appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Flowers are usually associated with butterflies, but not the Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia grandiflora). This deciduous vine, native to Brazil, has large flowers that emit an odor of decaying flesh, which attracts flies and beetles.

The post Video: Smithsonian horticulturalist Janet Draper discusses the pollination of the pelican flower appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Recent botanical exploration efforts in the rugged Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia) have increased the known flora of the archipelago by an impressive 20 percent. Field research and collecting in conjunction with the Vascular Flora of the Marquesas Islands and Flore de la Polynesie française projects have yielded 62 new species of ferns and flowering plants bringing the total native species to 360, of which 18 are newly described and illustrated in a special issue of PhytoKeys.

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Fulcaldea stuessyi is a newly discovered member of the Barnadesioideae, a subfamily of the Compositae, or sunflower family of flowering plants. It was found in northeastern […]

The post Fulcaldea stuessyi is newly discovered member of the Barnadesioideae, a subfamily of the Compositae, or sunflower family of flowering plants, appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

What plant species has just been discovered but is almost gone? Bidens meyeri–a just discovered flowering plant from the small South Pacific island of Rapa, […]

The post New South Pacific cliff flower is critically endangered appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Rattlesnake, zebra and peacock plants have a new wild relative, discovered by Rodolfo Flores, Panamanian botanist and intern at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). […]

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Pollination of intensively farmed, flowering crops could affect the pollination of wild plants in neighbouring fields, according to a study by German researchers. In their one-year study, they found fewer bees visited wild plants that are close to oilseed rape fields, although the longer-term picture is less clear. The researchers warn that increasing cultivation of biofuel crops could possibly reduce wild flower populations.

Falling levels of insect pollination are causing declining yields of important agricultural crops. However, new research from South Africa now indicates that planting small patches of native flowers in agricultural fields can be a profitable and sustainable method of increasing pollination and yield.

Planting early-flowering crops, such as oilseed rape, boosts the numbers of bumblebees available to pollinate late-flowering crops, such as sunflowers, according to recent research. Carefully managing the timing and coverage of flowering crops in the landscape could therefore ensure pollination services and increase yields, say the researchers.

The pollination benefits of planting field margins with wildflowers can outweigh the costs of set-up and maintenance, a new study suggests. On US blueberry farms wildflower strips resulted in double the number of wild bees on adjacent crops and significantly increased yield, the researchers found.

Among the ecological effects of climate change are changes to the timing of natural events, such as flowering. To understand why these phenological changes affect reproduction, this study manipulated conditions in a spring herb to prompt premature flowering. This exposed the flowers to frost, and resulting damage caused dramatic reductions in plant reproduction, suggesting that climate change may threaten plant survival.

Agri-environment schemes (AES) have been implemented throughout Europe to mitigate against the negative effects of agricultural intensification. Although these schemes have shown positive effects on the abundance and richness of certain species and taxa, the impact of AES on reproduction of target species at the local and landscape scale is poorly understood. This large-scale study looked for the effect of selected AE measures on bumblebee reproduction. Results indicate that bumblebee reproduction is significantly higher on sown flower patches when compared to conventional management. Although the increase is most pronounced at the plot scale, higher reproduction was found in landscapes surrounding larger sown plots (at least one hectare) compared to smaller sown plots.

A study of wildflower planting within agri-environment schemes has demonstrated that the practice can support a diverse array of economically beneficial insect species, not just prominent pollinators such as wild bees and hoverflies. The study demonstrates the high conservation potential of wildflower planting within agricultural landscapes and the value of insects outside the traditional focus of conservation efforts.

This study assessed the implementation of the ‘Flowering Meadows’ agri-environment scheme in France, a results-based scheme which encourages farmers to conserve meadows in the Bauges, Haut Jura and Vercors natural parks. While there was limited change in agricultural practices, the scheme did help to maintain meadow habitats. Farmers also welcomed the results-based payments approach, which gave them greater responsibility for and flexibility in managing their farms.

Grey has an iMac Pro, Myke has thoughts about vlogging, and they both have Yearly Theme updates.

Those taking their government-approved daily walk have been warned not to pick wildflowers - or risk facing an eye-watering £5,000 fine.

From rare orchids to a flower that lives for just a few hours, these blooms are the pick of the crop.

The stench of foul-smelling flowers attracts insects that aid in their pollination.

In addition to surreal garden installations, the Hampton Court Flower Show hosts talks and demonstrations focusing on environmental issues.

The vernal equinox marks a shift in seasons, and nothing says that better than flowers bursting into bloom.

Massive trees, towering over 250 feet, only flower once every 7 to 10 years.

Researchers trace back the origin of all flowering plants to a single ancestor using a sophisticated data crunch.

Chris Burley and Ei Ei Khin have an ambitious goal: Grow 1 million wildflowers to help threatened honeybee populations.

The apiarian artery is the buzziest infrastructure project in Scandinavia.

Just like 'Jurassic Park,' except with flowers instead of dinosaurs.

New guidelines limiting mowing along roadside strips help create wildlife corridors in the UK.

Researchers in the U.K. hope that prettying up fields with strips of wildflowers will attract pest-munching bugs.

Which flowers are the most environmentally friendly option: Organic, local, fair trade or silk?

The rediscovery of this hibiscus relative in Hawaii illustrates the growing importance of drones in wildlife conservation.

Paul Dillinger at Levi Strauss wants you to rethink the way you take care of your clothes — and he’s got a really good point.

For Earth Day, Easter or any seasonal meal, try this side dish made from seasonal vegetables and aromatic spices.

For Japanese artist Baku Maeda, honoring the natural world means whipping out some scissors and cutting plants up into pixel-like square bits.

These 9 edible flowers will boost your cold beverage game.

You can hang, press and even microwave a variety of flowers and keep them for years.

The USDA wants Americans to "Know Their Farmers, Know Their Flowers."

A hybrid that would be cold-hardy and suitable for outdoor planting may be available for home landscapes in a few years.

Thousands of dollars and many hours go into floral arrangements. Why not repurpose them for nursing homes and hospitals?

New rose will be less prone to wilting and will allow for longer lasting Valentine's Day bouquets.

Advancements in genetic engineering and selective breeding seem to crop up everyday. Now, floral geneticists are working on flower varieties that contain geneti

With the power of 5,000 suns, the real engineering breakthrough with the Solar Sunflower might be its cooling system.

The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California is ablaze with colorful wildflower blooms.

Add an extra dose of whimsy and bliss to your big day with a rambunctious pile of rescue puppies.

Don't buy popular rice cauliflower at the store when it's so easy to make it yourself.

Your beautiful blooms will look fresh longer if you add a little perk-me-up in their vase.

The bloom will only last for about one week before wilting.

Silent lawn mowers in the United Kingdom may spell a summer bonanza for bees.

Flowers bounce back quickly from just about any kind of injury. Perhaps we can learn from them.

It’s cool when a person has different hobbies. For instance, gardening and pets are typical addictions of those who live in private houses. Yet, it’s not always possible to combine these hobbies while cute pets are able to destroy flower beds in no time. However, it’s not a reason to give one of your obsessions.