Charged 2026

Tag: botany

  • Native Plants at the Georgia Tech EcoCommons

    Introduction

    The effort to bring greenspace and restore natural ecology to the Georgia Tech campus can be seen in the EcoCommons, a park built near the Keneda building and the Center Street Apartments. One of the goals of the EcoCommons is to restore Georgia’s natural plant life to Atlanta. Today, we’re going to look at some of the native plants which have been brought back to the EcoCommons.

    A smaller variety of the bald cypress tree at the Georgia Tech EcoCommons, known as the pond cypress.Bald Cypress Trees

    Bald cypresses are trees native to much of the southeastern United States. They’re hardy and versatile, and can grow in all kinds of soil environments. This, along with their lovely red and orange needles during the fall, makes them popular plants for decorative purposes. Other common names for the bald cypress include swamp cypress, white cypress, tidewater red cypress, gulf cypress and red cypress.

    In the wild, bald cypresses are typically found in wet, swampy areas. They can be identified by their large, spread out needles.

    A close up of baldcypress needles in autumn.FUN FACTS

    • The oldest bald cypress tree (that we know of) has been alive since 605 BCE. That’s a 2627 year old tree!
      • The site of the tree is actually a secret – park rangers don’t want visitors vandalizing it.
    • The bald cypress is the state tree of Louisiana.
    • Bald cypress wood has historically been marketed for its resistance to water, which makes it useful in wet areas.
    • Around a bald cypress tree, it’s common to see what are called cypress knees – wooden outgrowths from the ground. They actually extend upward from the main trunk’s root system. They look like small stumps coming out of the ground, although they’re still connected to a “main” tree.

    A zoomed in image of the wooden knobs that extend from the roots of cypress trees, known as cypress knees.Bald cypress trees are famous for their fall colors – here’s a larger bald cypress off of the Georgia Tech campus in November. These native plants are a great choice for people looking for decorative trees that are ecologically beneficial to the local environment.

    A baldcypress tree with its fall russet needles.Cardinal Lobelias

    A shot of cardinal lobelias in bloom.The cardinal flower, lobelia cardinalis, is a red flower, belonging to the bellflower family, that is native to most of the United States (except for far Northwestern states). It primarily lives in moist areas, such as stream banks, ditches, and lake shores.

    FUN FACTS

    • Excellent for hummingbird and butterfly gardens. This plant attracts many native pollinators, so it’s a great addition to your yard or garden if you’d like to see more hummingbirds and butterflies.
    • You can find varieties of the cardinal flower with pink and white flowers, although these are mostly sold in nurseries for decorative plants.
    • Every part of the cardinal flower is poisonous when ingested – don’t eat it!

    New England Aster

    A New England aster plant with purple flowers.The New England aster, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, is a perennial flower that is a native plant to much of the northeastern United States. It typically blooms from late summer through fall, with asters blooming in late August to early November depending on the region. New England asters are typically found in moist environments, particularly in wetlands. However, it has been found in dry soils as well.

    FUN FACTS

    • New England asters are a favorite flower of the monarch butterfly! These flowers are known to attract the monarch butterflies during their migration south for the winter.
    • The word “aster” comes from the Greek word ἀστήρ, meaning “star”. Aster shares a language history with astronaut and astronomy.
    • Here in Georgia, New England asters are considered “Critically Imperiled” by NatureServe – this means that their natural range has been reduced significantly by human activity.
    • Domestically, you can find New England asters in all sorts of pinks and purples at nurseries for your garden or yard.

    Blue Mistflower

    Blue mistflowers close up.The blue mistflower, conoclinium coelestinum, is a perennial flowering plant in the Asteraceae family. Blue mistflowers are widespread throughout North America, and can be found from Ontario, Canada to Tepoztlan, Mexico. It’s commonly grown in gardens, and flowers from July through November each year.

    FUN FACTS

    • Blue mistflowers are hardy plants that can spread quickly – be warned if you want them in your garden! They’re very capable of choking out their neighbors because their root systems spread out.
    • These flowers are known for their ability to attract pollinators, which makes them great for supporting local ecology.

  • A Trip to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens

    This past month I had the absolute pleasure of visiting the Atlanta Botanical Gardens as part of class field trip with my BIOL 4440 Plant Physiology class. Located just up the street from Piedmont Park, a quick 10 minute drive or 30-40 minute walk (for those of us without cars on campus, cough cough, me) from Georgia Tech, the Gardens offer year round awesomeness. My first visit to the Gardens was free of charge thanks to Dr. Jerry Pullman, Georgia Tech’s one and only resident plant researcher. Dr. Pullman works with the Research and Conservation division of the Botanical Gardens to study native endangered plant species such as the Georgia Aster and various types of pitcher plants. Also due to Dr. Pullman’s sweet connections with the Garden’s staff, my classmates and I received a tour of the greenhouses led by the director of Research and Conservation, the lovely and informative Dr. Jenny Cruse-Sanders.

         Cruse-Sanders took us through several of the greenhouses that showcase different genres of botanical wonder. The pride and joy of the spring season is their Orchid collection, with a showcase called ORCHIDdaze which runs February through April before a “Gently Used Plant Sale” is held to sell the orchids to the public. However, the Gardens have orchids on display year-round with different seasonal displays and house an Orchid Reference Library for more bookish visitors, with public access available on Tuesdays. The Research and Conservation department runs a program for the restoration of the orchids native to Georgia. The Gardens also specialize in carnivorous plants, specifically Asian pitcher plants, Nepenthes, which can be seen in the Special Exhibits area of the Fugua conservatory. Also found in the conservatory are tropical conifers, some of which can be seen in the Tropical Rotunda, and Amborella, a rare genus of small trees native to New Caledonia and thought to be one of the earliest angiosperms.

          One the most enjoyable indoor exhibits for me was the Orangerie, which allows guests with the opportunity “to see, touch and smell some of the plants which are so important in our daily lives.” The Orangerie includes common foods such as vanilla, tea, coffee, cocoa, ginger, and many others. The botanical geek in me loved seeing these foods in the context of the whole plant, rather than just the isolated products.

         The Botanical Gardens work not only with plants, but also animals; in the tropical conservatory, quail and yellow saffron finches can be found among the underbrush and canopy, and snapping turtles and various types of frogs can be found in and around the water feature. My class was also treated to a tour of the amphibian displays and amphibian research lab by Amphibian Conservation Scientist, Dante Fenolio.

          The outdoor areas have much to offer as well, including The Edible Garden, The Rose Garden, The Southern Seasons Garden, a children’s area, and much more. The Gardens offer several events and classes, both delicious and educational, throughout the year, as well as volunteer opportunities. The garden is having an Endangered Species Day on June 2nd, where you can learn more about the work the Botanical Gardens do with rare plants and animals. Science Cafe is something I plan checking out soon, a climate change talk series held this May through October on the third Thursday of each month. The series will feature regional speakers discussing different aspects of climate change. This month’s lecture is titled “Pandora Botanicals: What kind of plants might grow on OTHER planets,” led by Dr. Angelle Tanner from Mississippi State University. More information on these events and other information about the Gardens can be found at http://www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org. Happy Exploring!