Celebrating Plants and the Planet:

Last month's stories about sunbirds, red flowers, and the Amazon forest as a source of atmospheric carbon struck me. This month there is more to tell in related stories.

May links at www.zooplantman.com  (NEWS/Botanical News) return to the concepts presented in April (available at www.zooplantman.com by clicking "archived stories" on the Botanical News page), along with a couple of new up-beat stories.

·         As reported last month, the Amazon forests release vast amounts of carbon into the atmosphere when drought or fire kills trees. When North American forests are devastated by hurricanes is it the same story?

·         April's story on South African sunbirds feeding on nectar from a good perch gets more interesting. Hummingbirds (New World) don't perch, they hover to feed. What do South African birds do with South American flowers? They learn to hover. (Cool video included.)

·         Last month's story on red flowers warning off predatory insects isn't the end of the story. Biologists find that red autumn leaves may be doing the same thing! Maybe red is the "new black."

·         If the way to appreciate a fine vintage wine is to savor the aroma, why should it be less true for the richest nectar? It's a technique bees use to great advantage.

·         Don't ignore the spice rack! Researchers believe that humble rosemary can produce environmentally friendly industrial lubricants, bases for cosmetics and more.

Now let's talk sex. And no one can explain and demonstrate snail sex (or limpets or bees or earthworms or…) like Isabella Rossellini does in her "Green Porno" series of short videos. It sounds nuts and it is and you MUST watch them: http://www.sundancechannel.com/greenporno/

Please share these stories with associates, staff, docents and -- most importantly -- visitors! Remember, over a hundred other stories can be found in the archive section of the website.

Rob

Zoo Horticulture

Consulting & Design

Greening design teams since 1987

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