Author Archives: Alastair Culham

About Alastair Culham

A professional botanist and biologist with an interest in promoting biological knowledge and awareness to all.

#AdventBotany 2019 Day 6: Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly…

Posted on December 6, 2019 by Alastair Culham

By Claire Smith Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly… But not until Christmas Eve, otherwise you’ll have bad luck! Once your holly (Ilex aquifolium) and other festive evergreens are in place, it is also unlucky to either remove them … Continue reading →

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#AdventBotany 2019 Day 2: Death by chocolate

Posted on December 2, 2019 by Alastair Culham

By Alastair Culham In 2014 I introduced the food of the gods, Theobroma cacao, as the source of chocolate, that staple of Christmas excess, in the 16th Advent Botany post. Today, in the second for 2019, I explore Theobromine, perhaps … Continue reading →

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#AdventBotany 2019, Day 1: Clementine, Satsuma, Tangerine; what’s the difference?

Posted on December 1, 2019 by Alastair Culham

By Alastair Culham Welcome to #AdventBotany 2019 and the start of another journey into quirky, curious, hostorical and, above all, botanical information about the plants associated with the winter season. This year I’m expanding on John Warren’s story of Tangerines … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Public Engagement with Science | Tagged #Advent Botany, #AdventBotany, #AdventBotany2019, Citrus, Clementine, Satsuma, tangerine | 1 Comment

#AdventBotany 2018, Day 25: Naughty or Nice?

Posted on December 25, 2018 by Alastair Culham

By Claire Smith Are you on Santa’s Naughty or Nice list this year? If all you’ve discovered in the toe of your stocking this morning is a lump of coal, it might not be as terrible a present as you … Continue reading →

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#AdventBotany 2018, Day 24: The hunt for Disa x brendae

Posted on December 24, 2018 by Alastair Culham

Neither my partner Ben nor I actively celebrate Christmas. We prefer to hide away from the crazy world that Christmas has become and endeavour to find ourselves as far away from humanity as we are able. Previous years Christmas avoidance … Continue reading →

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#AdventBotany 2018, Day 23: I met Tunnicliffe in a forest of Conifers

Posted on December 23, 2018 by Alastair Culham

by Claire Smith As children I’m sure we’ve all sprinkled far too much glitter onto a pine cone and hung it from the Christmas tree… but have you ever wondered where your festive pine cones come from? Well, you could … Continue reading →

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#AdventBotany 2018, Day 22: Thyme for a good stuffing

Posted on December 22, 2018 by Alastair Culham

By Fi Young Sage and onion stuffing seems to be the norm for stuffing a Christmas turkey, but what about using thyme? A Google search produced 9 million results! A quick look through the first five pages of the search … Continue reading →

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#AdventBotany 2018, Day 21: A botanical pick-me up for the bleak midwinter

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Alastair Culham

By Rachel Webster With four previous years of Advent Botany I was surprised that none of us have so far covered coffee. OK, it’s not a Christmassy spice, or a festive decoration, but by this time in the year I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Herbarium RNG, Public Engagement with Science | Tagged #AdventBotany, #AdventBotany2018, coffee | Leave a comment

#AdventBotany 2018, Day 20: Once upon a time: A tale of fairies from the RHS herbarium

Posted on December 20, 2018 by Alastair Culham

By Yvette Harvey I am still pondering why a pagan spirit of the dead, or, more recently a demoted angel, should play such a big part in Christmas – for Christmas certainly wouldn’t be the same without a fairy at … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Herbarium RNG, Public Engagement with Science | Tagged #AdventBotany, #AdventBotany2018 | 1 Comment

#AdventBotany 2018, Day 19: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight; a spot of medieval Advent Botany

Posted on December 19, 2018 by Alastair Culham

By Alex Mills So, it’s Christmas time. You’re having a bit of food with your friends and family. Well, a lot of food. It’s Christmas, isn’t it? It’s all very convivial and jolly and all that. Suddenly, there’s a commotion … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Herbarium RNG, MSc Plant Diversity, Public Engagement with Science | Tagged #AdventBotany, #AdventBotany2018 | 2 Comments

Author Archives: Alastair Culham

About Alastair Culham

#AdventBotany 2019 Day 6: Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly…

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#AdventBotany 2019 Day 2: Death by chocolate

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#AdventBotany 2019, Day 1: Clementine, Satsuma, Tangerine; what’s the difference?

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#AdventBotany 2018, Day 25: Naughty or Nice?

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#AdventBotany 2018, Day 24: The hunt for Disa x brendae

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#AdventBotany 2018, Day 23: I met Tunnicliffe in a forest of Conifers

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#AdventBotany 2018, Day 22: Thyme for a good stuffing

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#AdventBotany 2018, Day 21: A botanical pick-me up for the bleak midwinter

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#AdventBotany 2018, Day 20: Once upon a time: A tale of fairies from the RHS herbarium

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#AdventBotany 2018, Day 19: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight; a spot of medieval Advent Botany

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Author Archives: Alastair Culham

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