Loved this article Joseph. And all this time I thought my husband and I were the only two plant nerds that used the term "botanizing". We hiked the entire Appalachian Trail over 15 years. Could have finished in 6 months but we spend SO much time botanizing on the trail and to all the nearby gardens. we would spend a week on the trail in a week checking out, botanical gardens. Nirvana! it started right out of the gate in Georgia… We weren't a mile into the trail and I was just swooning over a stand of Carolina Silverbells. Still love those little trees.
It's good to know about leaves and hepatica. For the last several years I have been putting in three (count 'em) hepatica bulbs, (corms?). So have about 15 in place now with another three coming this spring. I didn't know they did not do well under a heavy leaf layer. Just this year I've been leaving the leaves in my shady back area where I have a lot of ephemerals. I'm watching closely to see them emerge. Seems it's taking longer this year but that might be expected since they don't get as much sunlight and so warmth under the leaf litter. We'll see how it goes. In the past I have raked out the beds where they are, shredded the leaves and put them back into the beds to build up the soil but now know that just leaving the leaves in place is better. It does also save a good bit of time for me in leaf raking time is which is much appreciated.
Really appreciate your blogs! Now I know why I’ve had a hard time with Hepaticas. Leaving the leaves is not always a good thing! Fortunately I uncovered my remaining one soon enough for it to recover.
I love multi-tasking botanizing while birding and pondering the connections between these communities of living things. I'm making a visit to Indiana Dunes in May in my quest to visit all the National Parks. I'm looking forward to learning about its plant life! Thanks for a great article.
True, I never heard of botanizing as a hobby. So you had opened my mind. It's surely a hobby that I planned to try and I believed that it's going to be part of my life and soul. 🫀👻
What a wonderful article, I didn’t realize that I’ve been botanizing my whole life. I’ve always just dubbed it “finding magic”. I have a photo album of all my found treasure’s. My favorite time to treasure hunt is in the spring, as I believe it is extra magical to find flowers pushing through the decay of the winter.
Loved this article Joseph. And all this time I thought my husband and I were the only two plant nerds that used the term "botanizing". We hiked the entire Appalachian Trail over 15 years. Could have finished in 6 months but we spend SO much time botanizing on the trail and to all the nearby gardens. we would spend a week on the trail in a week checking out, botanical gardens. Nirvana! it started right out of the gate in Georgia… We weren't a mile into the trail and I was just swooning over a stand of Carolina Silverbells. Still love those little trees.
Yes, hiking with plant lovers is slow... but more fun!
It's good to know about leaves and hepatica. For the last several years I have been putting in three (count 'em) hepatica bulbs, (corms?). So have about 15 in place now with another three coming this spring. I didn't know they did not do well under a heavy leaf layer. Just this year I've been leaving the leaves in my shady back area where I have a lot of ephemerals. I'm watching closely to see them emerge. Seems it's taking longer this year but that might be expected since they don't get as much sunlight and so warmth under the leaf litter. We'll see how it goes. In the past I have raked out the beds where they are, shredded the leaves and put them back into the beds to build up the soil but now know that just leaving the leaves in place is better. It does also save a good bit of time for me in leaf raking time is which is much appreciated.
Railroad right of ways are an interesting place to look for remnant plant habitats, especially in the prairie states.
Interesting... I'll have to explore some!
Thank you for the informative article. I loved it!!
I love it when my friends come to visit snd we go out into the Sonoran Desert to hike and botanize.
I've botanized that area around Cincinnati, and Dayton as well. The metropark system is a treasure! I miss that where I live now.
Really appreciate your blogs! Now I know why I’ve had a hard time with Hepaticas. Leaving the leaves is not always a good thing! Fortunately I uncovered my remaining one soon enough for it to recover.
Usually leaving the leaves is great... but some plants do appreciate not getting buried!
Thank you, Joseph’
I love multi-tasking botanizing while birding and pondering the connections between these communities of living things. I'm making a visit to Indiana Dunes in May in my quest to visit all the National Parks. I'm looking forward to learning about its plant life! Thanks for a great article.
I love that this has a term. I botanize all the time!
I love botanizing. I have never seen so many trilliums! Here in Northern CA, they come in the Redwood forests, but not like that!
True, I never heard of botanizing as a hobby. So you had opened my mind. It's surely a hobby that I planned to try and I believed that it's going to be part of my life and soul. 🫀👻
Do you use plant identifier apps? They have completely transformed my relationship to my neighborhood.
My eyes LOVE botanizing
Thank you for bringing this word back into popular vernacular.
I've been botanizing since I was a kid. When I was asked what I was doing I just said I was adventuring and taking field samples.
What a wonderful article, I didn’t realize that I’ve been botanizing my whole life. I’ve always just dubbed it “finding magic”. I have a photo album of all my found treasure’s. My favorite time to treasure hunt is in the spring, as I believe it is extra magical to find flowers pushing through the decay of the winter.