Mystery Plant! #724 John Nelson Posted 5/25/23By John Nelsonjohnbnelson@sc.rr.comFoul words and frowns must not repel a lover;What though the rose have prickles, yet 'tis pluck'd. William Shakespeare, “Venus and Adonis”; 592.When I was a senior in college, my very final semester, I took an English class named “Shakespeare’s Comedies”. I loved the...
Mystery Plant 723
Mystery Plant 723 John Nelson Posted May 17, 2023 By John Nelson johnbnelson@sc.rr.com The other day I was busying around in the herbarium when a gentleman from the little town of Wagener, SC dropped by, carrying a bucket. Inside the bucket was a good bit of water, from his pond,...
Mystery Plant! #722
Mystery Plant! #722 John Nelson Posted 5/10/23 By John Nelson johnbnelson@sc.rr.com All of the maple trees of the world belong to a genus which has been named “Acer”. There are well over 100 different species, and practically all of them are native to the northern hemisphere. Maples play an important...
Mystery Plant 714
Mystery Plant! #714 John Nelson Posted 3/16/2023By John Nelsonjohnbnelson@sc.rr.com“And, most dear actors, eat no onions nor garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath…” Midsummer Night’s Dream. Act 4, scene 2.You probably remember James Cagney in the 1935 film version of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream. It’s a classic! Cagney played Nick...
Mystery Plant 712
Mystery Plant! #712 John Nelson Posted March 1, 2023By John Nelsonjohnbnelson@sc.rr.comSpring is finally here, I think…and this wildflower is proof. It is one of the earliest blooming woodland species we have. And, I think you will agree, it’s one of the prettiest. Folks, I’m telling you that this spring seems...
Mystery Plant 711
Mystery Plant! #711 John Nelson Posted Feb. 22, 2023By John Nelsonjohnbnelson@sc.rr.comSome of you, such as myself, really like to see the end of winter roll around each year. As with all the other seasons, this process is rather gradual, and, there are many signs of spring’s coming, sometimes these working...
Honey locust
Mystery Plant! #705 John Nelson Posted Jan. 10, 2023By John Nelsonjohnbnelson@sc.rr.comIt's the branch of a tree, but this tree is no good for a tree house.Take a look at the thorns, which can be found up and down the trunk, and also potently arming the branches. You won't beinclined to...
Mystery Plant! #699
Mystery Plant! #699 John Nelson Posted December 29, 2022By John Nelsonjohnbnelson@sc.rr.comWinter hasn’t even started yet, but it sure looks like it in my backyard. Practically all of the leaves are fallen, and we’ve had two hard frosts here in central South Carolina. I am grateful that in my part of...
Mystery Plant! #701
Mystery Plant! #701 John Nelson Posted December 29, 2022By John Nelsonjohnbnelson@sc.rr.comSome of my best botany field trips have been to supermarkets and produce stands. There's always something interesting to see, and it makes an easy way of bringing classroom botany close to home (and the kitchen). Now, I’ve never taken...