Why All the Latin? Taxonomy, Binomial Nomenclature and Carl Linnaeus
When you visit the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, you will notice signs identifying the plants. In the Japanese Garden, for example, you will see signs that read “Acer palmatum (Japanese maple).” Many people know that the part of the name in italics is the formal name of the plant, written in Latin (more or less.) Some people might even know that Acer palmatum is the genus and species of the tree more commonly known as Japanese maple. But why? What is the purpose of giving plants names in a dead language?
Newly Described Species of Begonia Named after VP of Research & Conservation Peter Fritsch
Botanists working in the Philippines recently described a species of begonia new to science and named it in honor of Peter Fritsch, the Garden’s vice president of research and conservation.
The Botany of Bluebonnets, Texas’s Favorite Flower
The bluebonnets are in bloom across North Texas, splashing waves of blue across hillsides and plains. Conditions this year were just right for brilliant display of color, and you can expect to see families plunking their kids down in the middle of blooming patches for photos all weekend.
How Orchids Helped Charles Darwin Understand Nature—and How Darwin Helped Scientists Understand Orchids
Charles Darwin is known for his work in the Galapagos Islands, his study of birds and insects and the development of the theory of evolution as presented in his 1859 book On the Origin of Species. What is less well-known is Darwin’s work as a botanist and the important role that orchids played in the development of his ideas.
PRESCRIBED BURN PLANNED FOR BRIT PRAIRIE
In conjunction with the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge, Fort Worth Botanic Garden is hosting an Urban Prescribed Burn Workshop tomorrow Friday March 3. This professional education event will involve a live controlled wildland burn activity on the Botanical Research Institute of Texas prairie at the corner of University and Trail Drive at 2 p.m.
Book Signing and Workshop Discuss Finding Spiritual Solace through Gardening
Join the author and illustrator of the new BRIT Press title My Father is the Gardener for a panel discussion, book signing and workshop for insights into the plants and flowers of the Bible and how they can bring meaning to every day life.
Art and Science Meet in New Exhibition “Illuminations”
The worlds of art and science interact in fascinating ways in a new exhibit opening Feb. 17 at the BRIT Building. “Dornith Doherty: Illuminations: Past, Present, and Future of Fern Research” presents new large-scale artworks that engage with the past, chronicle the present and project our possible ecological futures.
Dornith Doherty Art Exhibition Opens Feb. 17
The Fort Worth Botanic Garden is pleased to present “Dornith Doherty: Illuminations: Past, Present, and Future of Fern Research,” an art exhibition free and open to the public from Feb. 17 through Jun. 30 at the Madeline R. Samples Exhibit Hall in the BRIT building at 1700 University Dr. Fort Worth, Texas 76107. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, please call (817) 332-4441.
Herbarium Reaches Transcription Milestone with 52,000-plus Specimens Fully Digitized
The herbarium is the heart of research at the Garden. A major priority of the herbarium is to digitize the collection by photographing the specimens and transcribing the related information recorded by botanists. Staff and volunteers made significant strides in reaching this goal last year. “The herbarium ended 2022 with complete transcriptions of 52,674 specimens,” says Herbarium Collections Manager Ashley Bordelon.
FWBG Experts and Volunteers Digitize Records of Renowned Botanist in Cutting-Edge Project
Botanist Sherwin Carlquist (1930-2021) was a legend in his field, a prolific researcher who made major contributions to plant systematics, plant anatomy, island biology and wood anatomy. He traveled the world collecting plant specimens, photographing plants in the field and collecting data about ecosystems. Hard work by our experts and volunteers means scientists interested in studying Carlquist’s work will soon have a new type of digital resource giving them unprecedented context for his findings: an extended specimen network. Assuming, that is, that they can decipher Carlquist’s handwriting.