Plants and Design: Bringing the Art of Nature to You

01/09/2026

Research is now showing that reading a novel requires our brain circuitry in the language and comprehension areas of the our brains. The kicker these changes stick around after the book is finished.

Positively thought works in a similar fashion. One could say; as we think we are.

Neural Networks Light Up Like a Christmas Tree Neural Networks Light Up Like a Christmas Tree (image credits: unsplash) The researchers found that becoming

01/09/2026

Consciousness has been like an unwanted house guest in physics for a long time. The issue is the strange fact that the observer interacts with reality and in the process affects the outcome.

Most are aware of the famous one slit, two slit experiments. When the researcher, the observer is looking for waves, waves show up. When the researcher is looking for particles, particles show up.

Fast forward to string theory. If one divides an electron into its two halves then acts on one the other half reacts in unison simultaneously with the reacted upon side.

This result brings consciousness comes into play. Which brings up ever increasingly challenging questions as to
How is this possible? What mechanism makes this possible? Ultimately reaching a point where universe has to be conscious, but how?

There’s a quiet rebellion happening at the heart of physics, and it’s not about black holes or multiverses. It’s about you – the simple, stubborn fact that

01/09/2026

Many fragrant plants are noxious to rodents. Peppermint, Rosemary and Garlic are just a few plants that rats do not like.

The article below shares 15 plant species that rodents hate.

Rats can become unwelcome guests in Florida homes, searching for food and shelter in our warm climate. Many homeowners are turning to natural solutions tha

10/21/2025

Florida is sitting on the edge of a financial cliff. Credit card debt is very high. Many are using credit cards for every day necessities. Late debt payments, missed debt payments are increasing.

The rapidly rising costs of housing, groceries, health care, property and health insurance has put many in a dire situation. Everything in Florida is very expensive.

Add to the many issues exacerbated by the current administration in Washington, Florida’s long standing low paying jobs, high cost of housing, and increasingly powerful storms and one wonders how long working people be able to continue living here?

Fair. Fearless. Free. The nation's largest state-focused nonprofit news organization, with reporting from every capital.

08/11/2025

Below are four blooming plants that can handle our sultry climate. Salt and pepper plant is loved by bees and butterflies. Mahonia fortunii is a great border plant and beloved by many pollinators. Tryallis is a Texas transplant. It easily handles both and hot dry conditions. So far it has done well with this year’s monsoon season. Finally an old souther. favorite, four o’clocks. It thrives in our Sounthern hot, humid climate.

11/03/2023

GIANT PLANT SALE SATURDAY ONLY, November 11, 9:00 to 2:00

250 WB Rogers Road, Tallahassee. One Time Flash Sale. Huge indoor and outdoor plants for sale BELOW WHOLESALE. Fall Liquidation. Corn Plants, Palms, Calatheas, Ferns, Bird nest, Succulents, Norfolk Island Pines and many more.
Prices from $1.00 up to $16 on average for 3 gal. pot size, plants 1' to 5' tall. Three to 25 gallon pot size costs more but still very reasonable. Saturday Only, 9:00 to 2:00.
250 WB Rogers Road, Tallahassee, FL 32304

04/09/2023

Strong vertical architectural lines grab one’s attention. Juniperus Brodie and Juniperus Torulosa conform to the buildings strong vertical accent.

The junipers are 25 gallon specimens and are 8’ plus tall. The planters limit the plants height and overall size.

Notice how the green plants soften the building hard lines and help anchor the building. This is a very harsh southern exposure. The side walk and brick columns create a heat sink effect. Hence very hardy plants are required.

04/07/2023

Succulents are excellent full sun plants in hot, dry areas like rock gardens and the entrances to office buildings, patios and any hot dry area. Succulents will survive in areas other plants will not.

A combination of succulents and a compatible blooming ground cover makes a striking effect. Blooming Kalanchoes create the red ground cover. Aloe Vera, Penci catus ‘ firesticks’, and echeverias are combined in the container gardens.

One of the beauties of succulents is. They are very easy to care for.

03/01/2023

Cypress, hickory, and beech trees are budding out. Azaleas, violas, and honey suckle are blooming. Song birds are congregating at our seed feeders. Bees and butterflies are visiting blooming flowers. Spring is definitely happening all around us.

Azaleas have been a mainstay of southern gardens for a century or more. They are easy to grow. They are available in all sizes, from dwarf varieties to massive indicas there is an azalea that is the right size for almost any landscape. Basic care: water them when they are dry, trim once to twice a year, and pile leaves into their beds.

Native Violas make great ground covers. They come back year after year. Require little care and are early bloomers which helps the bees out. I have purple or deep blue and light grey blue violas growing around my home.

01/27/2023

Plants are magical beings! None of us would be alive where it was not for plants.

Those of us who work with plants everyday know they are much more sensitive to the vibrations around them than most would ever imagine. A case in point, I have witnessed storm, perfectly healthy plants go downhill quickly in emotionally toxic environments.

One time would be a fluke. Many times is a trend particularly when the same plant species is thriving in other less desirable building locations. We’ve also noted how plants that feel our love respond and out do themselves growing, blooming, and just being wonderful.

Over the years I’ve noted plants like calm music and will grow towards the sound spice if it pleases them. They will also grow away from sounds and music they do not like. So in a sense plants are a lot like all living creatures in this regard.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/a-quiet-revolution-in-botany-plants-form-memories?utm_source=pocket-newtab&fbclid=IwAR3BBa386WNzkLMNOeBI6-6R9vEsTBsrZ4LUVYaxuVaaHYPTx3V9oHPtUZI

Inside a quiet revolution in the study of the world’s other great kingdom.

11/10/2022

We are starting to see a change in attitude towards toxic chemicals. Indians has banned pesticides.

They are witnessing a wildlife and pollinator revival. The focus is on building rich healthy soil and working more with Mother Nature.

https://returntonow.net/2020/01/03/indian-state-bans-all-pesticides-wildlife-and-tourism-flourish/?fbclid=IwAR3iDYmPKvyBB08DqKedwnOJ9m-3fEQYItWYdNGZARLABFL3popqwh1-6Bs

State goes 100% organic. Wildlife returns, crop yields improve, tourists flock. Governments around the world are looking to the Indian state of Sikkim to see if going organic is viable. So far all signs are pointing to yes. The state banned the import of all pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertili...

10/20/2022

Below are some wonderful native fall perennials. Fire spike is a great fall blooming plant. Hummingbirds in particular love it.

Helianthus augustifolia, swamp sun flower is a terrific native perennial. It spreads both through rhizomes and seed.