Invasive Plants Don’t Stand a Chance Against their Floppy-Eared Nemeses: Goats in the Garden
Guests arriving at the Native Texas Boardwalk in early April will find the Garden has employed some unusual temporary staff of the four-legged variety. Goats are coming to the Garden.
Enjoy Strawberry Shortcake, Guacamole, Wine, Chocolate and Coffee? Thank a Pollinator!
Pollinator populations are on the decline around the world. What would life be like without butterflies, bees and hummingbirds?
Journey to the Jurassic When You Explore the World of Ferns
When dinosaurs first walked the earth, non-flowering plants dominated the planet. That means if you want to picture dinosaurs in their natural habitat, you need to imagine lots and lots of ferns.
Where in the World Is the Research Team in 2024? Look for Our Botanists in Madagascar, Madrid, Manila and Beyond
The Research program has a busy year planned involving international travel, conference presentations and new projects starting as ongoing projects wrap up. Here’s a look what 2024 holds for our botanists.
Photoperiodism, Promotion, and Poinsettias: The Botanical History of a Holiday Favorite
The poinsettia is a quintessential part of typical holiday decor. It’s a plant with a curious history that stretches from the Aztecs to a pioneering American diplomat and a family of plant-savvy Californians. Learn all about the holiday favorite, poinsettia.
So Why Do Trees Lose Their Leaves? There’s More Going On than You Might Expect
It’s a fact so obvious that we named an entire season after it: fall leaves fall from trees. But what’s going on within the plant during that process? A lot more than you might think.
New Library Exhibit Shines a Spotlight on Trailblazing Texas Botanists
The botanists of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden stand in a long line of scientists who study the plants of Texas. A new exhibit at the BRIT Library, “Voyages of Discovery: Trailblazing Texas Botanists,” tells the story of these pioneering naturalists and their contributions to science.
Armchair Botany and the Andes to Amazon Biodiversity Program: Volunteers Make Scientists’ Hard Work Accessible
Important botanical science happens in the field. Researchers tramp across habitats, sometimes in remote and rugged regions of the world, collect plant samples, document the distribution of species and study ecosystems in action. Later those scientists return to the lab with boxes of specimens, and a new and equally important phase of research begins. Scientists label, mount and digitize specimens to make them accessible to the global science community. They become a resource that can be studied in multiple contexts–as part of an ecosystem or as a member of a particular plant family, for example.
Survival of the Heat-Tolerant: How Plants Cope with Hot, Dry Conditions
Our hot, dry summer continues, and humans aren’t the only ones struggling. Plants suffer, too–yet some thrive despite the persistent 100-degree-plus temperatures, even without supplemental water. What’s their secret?
Tales from the Conservation Trenches : Saving the Small-headed Pipewort
A well-known issue in global conservation efforts could be described as the Panda Problem. Programs that promote the protection of large, well-known mammals raise more funds than programs for smaller, less “charismatic” species. Yet even the smallest, nondescript species are part of the big picture of life on this planet–and deserve protection.