Nature

Beans are what seeds of the legume family are usually called. The beans are found in pods, and typically each pod contains many different seeds or beans. Each bean is capable of germinating and...

Seed plants include not only flowering plants, but also conifers. Scientifically known as angiosperms and gymnosperms, these plants are distributed worldwide and now dominate the plant kingdom.

Spores and seeds are both methods of plant reproduction. Spores are produced by plants that produce asexually, seeds by those that use methods of sexual reproduction. Both are meant to scatter...

Corn is a warm weather plant and needs plenty of sunlight to grow and produce good sized, sweet ears of corn. Corn seeds get their best start when the soil they are planted in has all that they...

The part of a plant that shelters seeds until they mature is called the fruit. Apples and pears are examples of fleshy fruit; peas and nuts are examples of dry fruit. A plant's fruit not only...

Flowers produce an abundance of seeds to ensure the survival of the species. In order to germinate, the seeds first need to be dispersed. Then all the conditions must be right for the seeds to...

So, you want to try growing your own garden this year? There's nothing like eating fresh strawberries, lettuce or tomatoes from your own home. Perhaps vegetables or flowers? Save some money by...

The ko'oloa'ula, or Abutilon menziesii, is an endangered flowering mallow. The plants grow wild throughout the Lanai, Maui and Oahu islands and Hawaii. It is an endemic species with remaining...

Onions are among the most common ingredients in savory dishes. Their aromatic smell and distinctive flavor make them essential in many soups, curries, stews and casseroles. In addition to their...

While it may be hard to believe, most of the food a young plant needs to get its start is stored inside the seed that it grew from. Until the plant can produce leaves and make its own food, it is...

Birds will fly for many miles in a single day to find the right seeds to eat. The need to breed, travel, fatten up for the winter and stay alive drives them to people's feeders. Knowing how to...

Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalsis) are beautiful bright red (males) to reddish-brown (females) birds which are medium in size and are known for their distinctive singing voice. They are native to...

When we think of gardening, most people think of an activity that takes a lot of work, but it doesn't have to be. Growing a sock garden is so easy since nature does most of the work. All you have...

Most seeds are dispersed by wind, water and animals. Some blow away in the breeze like the familiar dandelion. Some can float for great distances protected by strong coverings, like coconuts and...

All plants whether fruit, flowering, vegetable or tree, go through many of the same stages of life. They start as seeds, germinate, become sprouts or seedlings, grow and develop into adults,...

Silk trees are a variety of legume, belonging to the Fabaceae or pea family, and are also known as mimosa or sometimes acacia. Traditionally they have been valued for their smooth bark and...

Mullein is a tall, leafy herb that grows wild in many places in the United States. Mullein is a biennial, with a life cycle that spans two years, but the plant's seeds can survive for decades.

The sycamore is a readily recognizable tree because of its bark, which resembles camouflage. The sycamore possesses large leaves and makes a wonderful shade tree, typically growing on the banks of...

The Jatropha curcas shrub, also known as the physic nut tree, is a member of the Euphorbiaceae or spurge family. It grows wild and is cultivated for the oil of its seeds, which are being used to...

Only the most complicated plants--those with vascular systems and highly developed structures--can produce seeds. While these are the largest and most noticeable plants, there are also several...

Trees belonging to the genus ipomoea and the species arborescens are commonly referred to as morning glory trees. The name arborescens aptly means, "becoming tree-like." Morning glory trees are...

Many human foods not only are acceptable to feed to wild birds in the winter, they are foods the birds themselves prefer to eat. Feeding helps the birds make it through hard times. In turn, they...

Like other seeds, the seeds of trees come in many different sizes and shapes, from cones and berries to fruits and gliding seeds. Seeds come in these varying forms because certain trees benefit...

The Great Sunflower Project is a Citizen Science project that involves planting sunflowers. But the larger goal is much bigger, to learn and understand more about how bees feed themselves, and...

Birdseed bells come in a wide variety of sizes from miniature bells merely two inches across to bells that are four to six inches in diameter. Designed with specific birds in mind, these may...

You can easily grow orange trees with the paper towel method. In about 10 to 14 days, the seed grown with this method will develop a root, stem and a couple of tiny first leaves, or cotyledons....

Starting grapefruit plants on your windowsill.

A chia pet is a clay animal figurine covered with sprouting seeds. The chia pet name is owned by Joseph Enterprises, Inc., a California company that developed the collectible animal figures in the...

If your an avid outdoors person then you have probably seen this innocent little plant on the trail. It is called Ginseng and with today's market in herbs you can really make a little bit of money...

Ever dreamed of sitting on a brick patio, sipping lemonade while watching beautiful, iridescent butterflies flutter from flower to flower in your garden, yet you don't want to have to do a ton of...

Plants are essential to the survival of the planet. Not only do they provide food for all the animals and people who live here, they also filter toxins out of the air. Green plants even process...

Anyone who has spent any amount of time in American discount stores during the holiday season has undoubtedly seen the newest crop of Chia Pets. For more than two decades, these planters, dubbed...

A carrot grows from tiny, fine seeds in well-tilled, moist soil. It is a root vegetable, which means the widely eaten part (the recognizable, orange part) of the plant is the taproot, although the...

Psyllium is a seed that is cultivated mainly for the gelling agent that can be obtained from its coating. Research into the seeds have also found it to be healthy and a great source of fiber....

The reproductive cycle of seed bearing plants has several stages. Plants flower, fruit, and produce new seeds. Inside each new seed there is a tiny plant embryo that looks like a tiny stem and...

The white, yellow, blue or brown kernels of corn that you eat are really seeds. Corn doesn't like to be too cold or too wet so it must be planted after the last frost date in your area when the...

Coniferous plants are usually evergreen, and many have needles instead of leaves. Most important, coniferous plants reproduce by growing seeds inside of cones. These cones ripen over the course of...

If you have ever grown canna flowers, you know that after the showy blossoms there is a seedpod that develops that carries very hard brown seeds. You can collect these seeds and shine them up to...

You're lost somewhere along the coast of East Asia. You've been wandering for days. Luckily, you've been able to find plenty of fresh water. I mean, look at all the streams you've crossed....

You're lost in the Caribbean--and have been for several days now. Finding fresh water was easy; a fast-flowing stream and a small spring both provide you with drinking water. You've spent the last...

You are lost in tropical Southeast Asia. For several days now, you haven't been able to say with any certainty where you are, and no sign of civilization has been forthcoming. Luckily, sources of...

A mini biodome is the perfect solution for people with not-so-green thumbs. It allows the seeds to sprout in an environment that recycles its water through condensation and evaporation, thus...

This is a fun and unusual way to grow a plant. Make one in your name and make one for a friend as a gift. Read on to learn how to plant your name.

Fill your child's curious mind with facts about how plants and tress grow.