Stephen ForbesTHE TREE OF LIFE? Palms, Palm Sunday & the Victory of Life over DeathThe Sunday before Easter is celebrated in Christian churches as Palm Sunday. The placing of palm branches inside the churches of our City…Mar 22, 2018Mar 22, 2018
Stephen ForbesA new Temple of Flora — an ornament crime?The Temple of Flora, that opened this Spring in the superb 1864 arts and crafts cottage at Heronswood, the historic house and garden…Dec 1, 2017Dec 1, 2017
Stephen ForbesPetunias — ‘I made you take the time to look at what I saw’As a kid I recall the neighbour across the street planting seedling petunias for summer bedding displays each spring. While the…Feb 21, 2017Feb 21, 2017
Stephen ForbesThe oldest historical tree in the world“In Sri Lanka, there grows to this day, a tree, the oldest historical tree in the world.” — H.G. WellsDec 26, 20162Dec 26, 20162
Stephen ForbesChristmas gin & other botanicals — following the scent of ChristmasPerhaps #10 in a decade old Botany of Christmas serial (- I’ll review previous Botany of Christmas contributions in The Adelaide Review at…Dec 16, 2016Dec 16, 2016
Stephen ForbesWhite bread and Densuke melons — plants as luxury foodsWhite bread began as a luxury food. In 1800 only half of Britons had access to white bread. Even the wheat grown by tenant farmers was…Mar 29, 2016Mar 29, 2016
Stephen ForbesLove at first sight, in every fifth breathWhile acknowledging that some botanists might disavow algae as plants I’m still inclined to corral them into greenspace — after all they do…Mar 23, 2016Mar 23, 2016
Stephen ForbesTchaikovsky’s tribute to economic botanyIn Christmas’s past we’ve explored almonds and marzipan, sugar and glace fruits, frankincense and myrrh, Christmas trees and the rather…Dec 2, 2015Dec 2, 2015
Stephen ForbesGold, Frankincense and Myrrh — the Botany of Christmas“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary…Dec 2, 2015Dec 2, 2015
Stephen ForbesLilac timeLilacs are one of my favourite flowers. The wonderfully fragrant flowers borne at the ends of branches contrast perfectly with the glossy…Nov 3, 2015Nov 3, 2015