Posted by Bob Rensel

          The coffee plant (Coffea arabica) originated in North Africa. The drink made from its roasted, brewed seeds was first appreciated in the Arab world, and spread from there thoughout India and Europe. Now most subtropical regions of the world can boast of their own special harvest. The climate and volcanic soils of Central America are ideal for growing this wildly popular crop. Since the aromatic beans are a major product of Costa Rica, it’s appropriate that several coffee shrubs are on display in the Eleanor Armstrong Smith glasshouse.

Important Tree Removed

This past Tuesday was a sad day for Cleveland Botanical Garden staff. We said goodbye to one of our grand old trees that has seen many sunrises and sunsets through the years (the tree is estimated to be between 100 and 120 years old). One of two tulip popular trees was removed from the tree house for the safety of our visitors. The roots supporting the tree on one side were rotted, giving the tree an unhealthy lean. It was a popular landmark of the Children’s Garden and served as the focal point of the Tree house. Our friend will be missed, however you can expect to see art work and/or furniture from the tree’s wood this coming season in the Hershey Children’s Garden as it continues to serve the young minds that have looked upon it’s towering beauty for generations. 

Below are some photos of the removal process.

 Posted by Josh Steffen

Over the Thanksgiving break I had some free time to consider how I would decorate my home for the holidays. In years past, I would travel to the local garden center and buy pine roping for our mantels and pine/spruce/fir mixes for table decorations. This year, while walking through my yard I thought: "Why am I paying for pine and spruce branches when I can just as easily cut my own?" So I did just that and used as many natural materials around my yard that I could find. I cut white pine branches a few feet long, then brought them into the house where I cut them further and arranged them on a neutral-colored placemat around a large candle on our dining room table. The placemat is key for fresh cuttings, unless you want sap on your furniture. Longer branches were placed on the mantels in very naturalistic ways. I also cut a few branches of evergreen holly and left them to dry in a vase near our kitchen window. I’m interested to know how long they will last indoors without water.

The deciduous hollies with their bright red berries are also wonderful additions. Cut a few branches now or you’ll risk losing them to the birds! A simple fruit or compote bowl can hold red and green fruit such as pomegranates and pears. Place small, cut branch tips of spruce and pine mixed with a few pine cones and you have an instant centerpiece. As you look for new ways to save money this holiday season, think about decorating with natural materials that are probably in your yard. It’s an easy, money-saving way to brighten your holidays!

 Posted by Cynthia Druckenbrod

My husband and I recently returned from a scientific collection trip to Guatemala. We are research associates with the University of Florida, gathering a variety of insects for their collections. Very rarely do we find insects as awesome as this particular beetle, Megasoma elephas. Normally, you would only see these bugs in collections or if you were lucky enough (and not too freaked out), in a tropical rainforest. This is just one of the millions of reasons why we should care so much about biodiversity and the health of our forests. They represent untapped riches that can, and should, be conserved and preserved by us. Believe it or not, we have an intrinsic need to emotionally connect with nature. Speaking for myself, I know that I feel personally hurt when I see rainforests disappearing at such an alarming rate. How do you feel about that? Please share your thoughts.

Posted by Cynthia Druckenbrod