In the Garden

The Curious Connections of Everyday Flowers

Welcome to Curious Things in Ordinary Spaces: In The Garden edition. Behind each portrait is a fascinating story of its history, botanical quirks, mythological origins, pop culture references, and hidden secrets.

New for 4/1/2024: The Celandine Poppy

Click here to see The Gallery.

Sean Garringer, MD 4/12/24 Sean Garringer, MD 4/12/24

The Celandine Poppy

The history of the Celandine Poppy, the uncanny sensation of sameness, and the sad saga of Manny Balestrero.

Sean Garringer, MD 3/13/24 Sean Garringer, MD 3/13/24

The Sweetshrub

The story of Sweetshrub, why lobsters look like bugs, and how a flower behaves like a Sarlacc Pit.

Sean Garringer, MD 2/24/24 Sean Garringer, MD 2/24/24

The Cranesbill

The story of Cranesbill, how potash got its name, and why we use the same mineral to clean lakes and make donuts.

Sean Garringer, MD 1/28/24 Sean Garringer, MD 1/28/24

The Euphorbia

The history of the Euphorbia, how two men discovered dephlogisticated air, and why we all evolve toward similar goals.

Sean Garringer, MD 1/14/24 Sean Garringer, MD 1/14/24

The Dandelion

The history of the Dandelion, how smoke rings float, and why no one hugs a robot.

Sean Garringer, MD 12/31/23 Sean Garringer, MD 12/31/23

The Crabapple

The history of the Crabapple, why some sidekicks are better than others, and which pocket is best to pick.

Sean Garringer, MD 12/10/23 Sean Garringer, MD 12/10/23

The Apple Blossom

The story of the Apple Blossom, how a quaker disrupted the produce market, and why peddling hooch saved a nation.

Sean Garringer, MD 11/28/23 Sean Garringer, MD 11/28/23

The Fothergilla

The story of the Fothergilla, how drowning plants make delicious liquor, and why doctors make good botanists.

Sean Garringer, MD 11/15/23 Sean Garringer, MD 11/15/23

The Viburnum

The story of the viburnum, why jack hammers make bad archeological tools, and how a song about flowers fueled a revolution.

Sean Garringer, MD 10/29/23 Sean Garringer, MD 10/29/23

The Violet

The story of the violet, why some people have less to talk about in bathrooms, and the importance of our genetic code.

Sean Garringer, MD 10/24/23 Sean Garringer, MD 10/24/23

The Phlox

The story of the Phlox, why it’s like a boiler explosion, and how plants turn mechanical disasters into survival advantages.

Sean Garringer, MD 10/2/23 Sean Garringer, MD 10/2/23

The Foamy Bell

The story of the Foamy Bell, how it’s like a Sturddlefish, and what in the dickens is a Portmanteau.

Sean Garringer, MD 9/17/23 Sean Garringer, MD 9/17/23

The Dogwood

The story of the Dogwood, why it saved the Pioneers’ teeth, and how it inspired a Christian legend.

Sean Garringer, MD 9/2/23 Sean Garringer, MD 9/2/23

The Cherry Blossom

The story of the Cherry Blossom, why it represents the samurai, and how its intrinsically linked to the scourge of the south.

Sean Garringer, MD 8/14/23 Sean Garringer, MD 8/14/23

The Barrenwort

The story of the Barrenwort, why it scoffs at Math, and how your Garden is like a Gentleman’s club.

Sean Garringer, MD 8/3/23 Sean Garringer, MD 8/3/23

The Trillium

The story of the Trillium, how it helped obstetrics, and why some animals don’t age.

Sean Garringer, MD 7/4/23 Sean Garringer, MD 7/4/23

The Magnolia

The story of the Magnolia, what we can learn from unlucky beetles, and how computer modeling can show us the past.

Sean Garringer, MD 6/23/23 Sean Garringer, MD 6/23/23

The Honeyberry

The story of the honey berry, why Indiana forests are all starting to look the same, and what on earth is Haskap jam.

Sean Garringer, MD 6/9/23 Sean Garringer, MD 6/9/23

The Tulip

The story of the tulip, why they may have started the futures market, and how the telephone game ripples into modern economics.

Sean Garringer, MD 5/30/23 Sean Garringer, MD 5/30/23

The Flowering Almond

The story of the flowering almond, why some vegetables are fruits, and why pistachios aren’t nuts.