Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
Unavailable
Unavailable
Unavailable
Ebook452 pages7 hours
A Garden of Marvels: How We Discovered that Flowers Have Sex, Leaves Eat Air, and Other Secrets of Plants
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars
()
Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this ebook
In the tradition of The Botany of Desire and Wicked Plants, a witty and engaging history of the first botanists interwoven with stories of today’s extraordinary plants found in the garden and the lab.
In Paradise Under Glass, Ruth Kassinger recounted with grace and humor her journey from brown thumb to green, sharing lessons she learned from building a home conservatory in the wake of a devastating personal crisis.
In A Garden of Marvels, she extends the story. Frustrated by plants that fail to thrive, she sets out to understand the basics of botany in order to become a better gardener. She retraces the progress of the first botanists who banished myths and misunderstandings and discovered that flowers have sex, leaves eat air, roots choose their food, and hormones make morning glories climb fence posts. She also visits modern gardens, farms, and labs to discover the science behind extraordinary plants like one-ton pumpkins, a truly black petunia, a biofuel grass that grows twelve feet tall, and the world's only photosynthesizing animal. Transferring her insights to her own garden, she nurtures a "cocktail" tree that bears five kinds of fruit, cures a Buddha's Hand plant with beneficial fungi, and gets a tree to text her when it's thirsty.
Intertwining personal anecdote, accessible science, and untold history, the ever-engaging author takes us on an eye-opening journey into her garden—and yours.
Unavailable
Author
Ruth Kassinger
RUTH KASSINGER is the author of Paradise Under Glass and A Garden of Marvels, as well as a number of award-winning science and history books for young adults. She has written for the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune,Health magazine,National Geographic Explorer, and other publications. She is a frequent speaker at conservatories, arboretums, and garden clubs, and has been featured on radio shows and Voice of America.
Read more from Ruth Kassinger
Slime: How Algae Created Us, Plague Us, and Just Might Save Us A Garden of Marvels: How We Discovered that Flowers Have Sex, Leaves Eat Air, and Other Secrets of Plants Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsParadise Under Glass: The Education of an Indoor Gardener Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Build a Better Mousetrap: Make Classic Inventions, Discover Your Problem-Solving Genius, and Take the Inventor's Challenge Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to A Garden of Marvels
Related ebooks
Weeds: In Defense of Nature's Most Unloved Plants Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A New Garden Ethic: Cultivating Defiant Compassion for an Uncertain Future Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Natural History of North American Trees Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Wild Flowers of California: Their Names, Haunts, and Habits Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMaking More Plants: The Science, Art, and Joy of Propagation Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Gardener's Year - Illustrated by Josef Capek Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Curious Gardener Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Organic Garden Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Darwin's Most Wonderful Plants: A Tour of His Botanical Legacy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wildscape: Trilling Chipmunks, Beckoning Blooms, Salty Butterflies, and other Sensory Wonders of Nature Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAn Orchard Invisible: A Natural History of Seeds Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5All About Weeds Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Thoughtful Gardener: An Intelligent Approach to Garden Design Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Pioneer Gardening in Toronto: the trees, plants, & lore of George Leslie Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Gentle Plea for Chaos Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5In Defense of Plants: An Exploration into the Wonder of Plants (Plant Guide, Horticulture, Trees) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hybrid: The History and Science of Plant Breeding Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Reason for Flowers: Their History, Culture, Biology, and How They Change Our Lives Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Kingdom of Plants: A Journey Through Their Evolution Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Revolutionary Genius of Plants: A New Understanding of Plant Intelligence and Behavior Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ferns Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Trees in My Forest Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Botany for Gardeners - With Chapters on Plant Structure, Plant Breeding and the Life of the Germinating Seedling Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Secret Life of Fungi Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Latin for Gardeners: Over 3,000 Plant Names Explained and Explored Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5In Search of Mycotopia: Citizen Science, Fungi Fanatics, and the Untapped Potential of Mushrooms Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Practical Botany for Gardeners: Over 3,000 Botanical Terms Explained and Explored Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Scentual Garden: Exploring the World of Botanical Fragrance Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPlant Disease Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Personal Memoirs For You
I'm Glad My Mom Died Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Everything I Know About Love: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Solutions and Other Problems Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Be Alone: If You Want To, and Even If You Don't Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Son of Hamas: A Gripping Account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Stolen Life: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Just Mercy: a story of justice and redemption Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: the heartfelt, funny memoir by a New York Times bestselling therapist Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Diary of a Young Girl Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Bad Mormon: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Serial Killer's Daughter: My Story of Faith, Love, and Overcoming Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Choice: Embrace the Possible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Glass Castle: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Taste: My Life Through Food Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5You Could Make This Place Beautiful: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dry: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Gulag Archipelago [Volume 1]: An Experiment in Literary Investigation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mommie Dearest Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Stash: My Life in Hiding Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Yes Please Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related podcast episodes
The Evolution of Beauty 0% found this document usefulEpisode 75: The Science of Soil with Dr Mark from Metrolina Greenhouse: with Dr Mark from Metrolina Greenhouses 0% found this document useful133 – Unveiling the Art and Science of Plant Breeding - David Roberts 0% found this document usefulIn-Ground Gardening Basics with My New Plant Friend, Melody 0% found this document usefulEpisode 44: Aroid 101 (Part 1): with NSE Tropicals 0% found this document usefulGround Ivy with Val Alcorn + Upper Respiratory Tincture 0% found this document useful
Related articles
What I’ve Learned HorticultureArticle
What I’ve Learned
Oct 20, 2022
4 min readEvergreen Ferns Gardens Illustrated MagazineArticle
Evergreen Ferns
Oct 12, 2021
4 min readDouglas Tallamy HorticultureArticle
Douglas Tallamy
Feb 24, 2022
8 min readThe Full Monty BBC Gardeners' WorldArticle
The Full Monty
Mar 16, 2023
If I knew I were to die in six months’ time, what would I do in the garden? Perhaps the notion of planting for a future I could not share would seem pointless. But I doubt it. Gardening transcends time. Gardens never exist in any one moment. They are
3 min readA Ray Of Hope HorticultureArticle
A Ray Of Hope
Aug 26, 2021
3 min readThe Dark Side of the Houseplant Boom The AtlanticArticle
The Dark Side of the Houseplant Boom
Apr 20, 2021
American culture is becoming more and more preoccupied with nature. What if all the celebrations of the wild world are actually manifestations of grief?
12 min readThe Free Plant N Garden Stand A Community Initiative MOTHER EARTH NEWSArticle
The Free Plant N Garden Stand A Community Initiative
May 12, 2023
7 min readSteve Foltz HorticultureArticle
Steve Foltz
Aug 26, 2021
AS THE DIRECTOR of Horticulture for the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (CZBG), Steve Foltz leads the planting of animal exhibits and beds that enhance visitors’ experience. He also oversees CZBG plant trials and projects that benefit the surroundi
7 min readFascinating FUNGI BBC Wildlife MagazineArticle
Fascinating FUNGI
Sep 24, 2020
7 min readFungi’s Lessons For Adapting To Life On A Damaged Planet Literary HubArticle
Fungi’s Lessons For Adapting To Life On A Damaged Planet
May 12, 2020
9 min readA Pot Of Patience HorticultureArticle
A Pot Of Patience
Oct 20, 2022
2 min readPlants We Love HorticultureArticle
Plants We Love
Aug 26, 2021
3 min readHe’s A Blooming Talent Country LifeArticle
He’s A Blooming Talent
Apr 22, 2020
3 min readReduced Tillage For Organic Matter Organic NZArticle
Reduced Tillage For Organic Matter
Aug 23, 2020
3 min readFerment Your Compost MOTHER EARTH NEWSArticle
Ferment Your Compost
Sep 17, 2021
5 min readThe FUTURE is WILD HorticultureArticle
The FUTURE is WILD
Apr 21, 2022
5 min readThe First Gene-Altered Squid Has Thrilled Biologists NPRArticle
The First Gene-Altered Squid Has Thrilled Biologists
Jul 30, 2020
3 min readHoya Gardens Illustrated MagazineArticle
Hoya
Apr 1, 2020
3 min readSmall Steps To Big Changes BBC Gardeners' WorldArticle
Small Steps To Big Changes
Nov 18, 2021
4 min readDig In Gardens Illustrated MagazineArticle
Dig In
Nov 9, 2021
3 min readCASSIAN SCHMIDT'S resilient plants Gardens Illustrated MagazineArticle
CASSIAN SCHMIDT'S resilient plants
Jan 3, 2023
24 min readThe Bee Lawn HorticultureArticle
The Bee Lawn
Feb 24, 2022
3 min readLearning From The Past HorticultureArticle
Learning From The Past
Aug 25, 2022
3 min readBotanical Names Garden GateArticle
Botanical Names
Feb 1, 2022
Asclepias spp. and hybrids Senna hebecarpa Gypsophila paniculata Veronica chamaedrys Calendula spp. and hybrids Chrysanthemum spp. and hybrids Cosmos spp. and hybrids Taraxacum officinale Helleborus spp. and hybrids Sinapis arvensis Cl
1 min readAll Hail the Beaver, Mighty Linchpin of the Natural World Literary HubArticle
All Hail the Beaver, Mighty Linchpin of the Natural World
Sep 30, 2020
10 min readNo Ordinary Lawn HorticultureArticle
No Ordinary Lawn
Aug 24, 2023
7 min readMake The Switch HorticultureArticle
Make The Switch
Apr 20, 2023
5 min readEvoking The Natural: Dan Pearson Landscape Architecture AustraliaArticle
Evoking The Natural: Dan Pearson
Feb 4, 2019
5 min readHelen Macdonald: The Things I Tell Myself When I’m Writing About Nature Literary HubArticle
Helen Macdonald: The Things I Tell Myself When I’m Writing About Nature
Aug 25, 2020
5 min readNovember Plants Gardens Illustrated MagazineArticle
November Plants
Nov 9, 2021
5 min read
Reviews for A Garden of Marvels
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars
0 ratings
0 ratings0 reviews