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Cultural Connection
Winter Solstice Heralds the Return of Light
The winter solstice has a great deal of meaning to human cultures because it is literally about life and death. The cycle of the seasons with life, death, and rebirth is crucial to the survival of all...
Cultural Connection
Ghost Fern and Bloodroot: Plants with Spooky Names
Take a quick tour of spooky names of plants in our collection, which pay tribute to the scary and thrilling traditions around Halloween.
Cultural Connection
How flowers express our tender emotions
Whether it is their lustrous colors, delicate beauty, or ability to create new life in a seed, flowers have acquired symbolic meanings in many cultures throughout history.
Cultural Connection
Strawberry: Leader of the Fruits
Learn more about woodland strawberry and where it can be found at Cornell Botanic Gardens and hear a speaker of the native Gayogo̱hó:nǫɁ language talk about its significance.
Cultural Connection
Narcissus: A global symbol of spring, renewal, and resilience
Video by Jay Potter Cultures around the world welcome spring with daffodils. They are blooming now at Cornell Botanic Gardens, where yellow dominates the color palette from almost 100,000 daffodils...
Cultural Connection
Which plant is the real shamrock?
The shamrock has been a familiar symbol of Irish culture for hundreds of years, but do you know which plant is the real shamrock?
Cultural Connection
Lucky Plants for the Lunar New Year
Get to know some of the plants that convey symbolic meaning during Chinese New Year celebrations.
Cultural Connection
Acknowledging our inseparable connection to nature
Over thousands of years, Indigenous Peoples developed knowledge and practices to live in balance with the living world.
Cultural Connection
Plants that draw the spirit world near
During this time of seasonal transition, many cultures believe the barrier separating the physical world from the spirit world is weakest.