The Trees is a song from Hemispheres, the sixth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1978. Written by drummer Neil Peart, it tells the story of conflict between maple and oak trees in the forest. The Trees – Lyrics There is unrest in the forest There is trouble with the trees For …
There are so many leaves on London’s streets at the moment. Lots of different colours and shapes. Some of them are so large that you look up expecting to find some huge specimen from which it has fallen, but instead you find yourself under a not particularly tall London plane. Platanus × acerifolia is our …
If you don’t have a botanical item in your wardrobe this Autumn and Winter, it’s really not worth leaving the house. Whether you are working a floral kaftan dress or leaf tunic, Cool Botanica is where it’s at. Below we show a selection of plant-inspired prints for inspiration. All images link through to our Pinterest …
Ode to Trees by Herman Hesse (1920) For me, trees have always been the most penetrating preachers. I revere them when they live in tribes and families, in forests and groves. And even more I revere them when they stand alone. They are like lonely persons. Not like hermits who have stolen away out of …
The impact of artistry in delivering a message that you want heard has been illuminated by the current V&A exhibition Disobedient Objects, which explores how grassroots movements have inventively used objects and design to further their cause. The project SPUDS, advocating sustainable potato production in Ireland, is another example of creative endeavour. To help get …
The Tate Modern bookshop has an eclectic collection of independent and foreign art and lifestyle magazines to browse and maybe even buy. Scanning the shelves, a number of covers stand out as having plants either obscuring or offsetting faces. Brownbook Magazine Mother Magazine Rooms Magazine Oak The Nordic Journal The Love Magazine
What music makes you think of plants? Monster Rally’s latest EP Sunflower must be up there. Even if the announcements suggest urban locations, the music itself takes you on a journey through a traditional temperate Japanese garden that just happens to include a tropical glasshouse. Many plants come to mind, but funnily enough not sunflowers. I’m feeling bamboo, epiphytic orchids, lianas, flowering cherry – …
Barbra Streisand is back at the top of the charts again with ‘Partners’, a collection of duets covering hits from her own back catalogue. Unfortunately Plant Curator’s all time favourite ‘You don’t bring me flowers’ is not included, but the presence of ‘Evergreen’ means this album is not without plant content. Over four decades ago, …
For anyone that missed it on the front page of the Guardian newspaper yesterday, the UK’s current poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy turned to plants to mark the outcome of the Scottish independence referendum. Starting with the Gaelic translation of ‘I love you’, this wonderful poet produced a poem that aptly reflects the levels of emotion …
This week London’s catwalks have again been awash with embroidered and printed flowers for Spring and Summer 2015 collections. Yet Autumn this year is up first and plant inspired botanical sweatshirts are where it’s at. The trend continues from last season of embracing bold graphic botanical prints over pretty floral sprigs but with a darker …