Here in Redlands CA, ESRI employs 2000 and is a huge presence in our town. With hundreds of sycamore trees dotting ESRI’s campus, the tree is obviously a favorite of the company's founder, Jack Dangermond. “I like this tree. It makes people feel good when they are around them," says Dangermond. He …
What a Plant Knows: Do They Smell or See?
This is part two following my last write-up What a Plant Knows: Do they Feel or Hear?, which discussed whether plants feel or hear (In a nutshell, they’re pretty deaf but they do react to touch – think venus flytrap, the plant that traps insects that walk onto it). I recently finished What a Plant …
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What a Plant Knows: Do they Feel or Hear?
I just finished an interesting book, What a Plant Knows, by Daniel Chamovitz. I thought I would write up some highlights, which will also help me recall them better... I'll break it into two posts: this one will cover what a plant feels and hears. My takeaway : I can probably stop talking to my …
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Taking Care of Our California Native Oaks
9/5/14 Note: I've added an article on care of oaks during drought I love our majestic old native oaks here in California. And like many, I get distressed when I see one dying, especially from improper care. Background: There are nine species of native tree oaks in California - In SoCA most of our …
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GMO Food Concerns: Research to Ponder
It's taken me awhile to write this one because it's such a complex issue -- and I wanted to better understand it. I still have questions but what I've found so far is concerning. And too many people are not talking about it. It's the rising use of pesticide/herbicide use -- and resulting problems -- …
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Medicinal and Edible California Natives
My husband and I often test berries from native plants that we know are safe, especially after seeing birds and other wildlife eat them. Some of the past grazings have included native currant berries or hollyleaf cherry berries - both bright red and pretty good tasting. Sometimes it's non-natives, …
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