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Spring has sprung! At least here, in the Northern hemisphere. Forests and meadows as well as neighborhoods and gardens are once again flourishing with life and color, infusing us with positive vibes.

But if for some reason you can't go outside to enjoy all of this beauty, there's a place on the Internet that perfectly captures it too. Sure, it's not the real deal, but it's as close as it gets.

There's a subreddit called Botanical Erotica (I'm paraphrasing a bit), and its 218K members are constantly sharing high-quality images of plants, including trees, flowers, and even fungi. Continue scrolling and enjoy some of its most popular posts of all time.

#1

150 Year Old Wisteria Tree In Ashikaga Flower Park In Japan

150 Year Old Wisteria Tree In Ashikaga Flower Park In Japan

anon43850 Report

#2

Angel Oak

Angel Oak

jecapobianco Report

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Sum Guy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have an update.... Angel Oak is estimated to be in excess of 400-500 years old

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To learn more about botany, we contacted Jennifer Hirsch, aka The Beauty Botanist. "[Since it is a science], botany takes plenty of study," Hirsch told Bored Panda. "I did an undergraduate degree in another field in the US, and then did postgraduate study at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, on the edge of London. My route into botany was through horticulture, but I know botanists who discovered the field through chemistry, paleontology, archaeology, and some who discovered it through taxonomy. It helps if you have a passion for plants... I want to know everything about them and why (it's my favorite question) they are like that."

Botany, as a field and career, has many paths that lead to all sorts of interesting destinations. Hirsch, for example, practices something called ethnobotany. "I'm interested in the relationship between people (ethno) and plants (the botany bit)," she explained.

"What I do is very commercial in that I work with brands to help them tell stories about their values and products through the plants they use. That could be talking about the plant chemistry, or it could be talking about traditional use, or even research being undertaken on specific bits of the plant." So the botanist divides her time between working with brands, researching specific plants and cultures, and on the ground (in a pre-pandemic world), talking to the people who live with and grow the plants.

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#4

A Perfectly Round Dahlia

A Perfectly Round Dahlia

Evie_Moonbeam Report

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Coleonema
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to think Dahlias were black, cause of the murder, their quite beautiful

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#5

Daisy Carpet At Urashima Flower Park In Japan

Daisy Carpet At Urashima Flower Park In Japan

5_Frog_Margin Report

"Botany is a really wide science. Traditionally there are 26 fields of botany," The Beauty Botanist said. "There are paleobotanists who work closely with archaeologists to identify plant materials that have been preserved in the fossil record, or in the ancient human record."

"There's even a field of botany, coprology, that looks at plant matter preserved in poop. There are botanists who work in the agricultural sciences - agronomy and crop scientists. You can find us in the field, living with indigenous communities and documenting how they use the different plants around them. Pretty much anywhere and in any industry where there are plants, there are botanists."

#6

Wisteria Climbs Up A Home In South Kensington, London. (Wisteria Floribunda)

Wisteria Climbs Up A Home In South Kensington, London. (Wisteria Floribunda)

GoncalvoMendoza Report

#8

This Camellia Seen At A Botanical Garden In Florida

This Camellia Seen At A Botanical Garden In Florida

melisse3000 Report

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There might be a botanist in all of us. After all, more and more Americans have started gardening during the pandemic. According to Home Food Gardening: U.S. Market Trends & Opportunities by the market research firm Packaged Facts, 26% of surveyed American consumers noted that they are planting a food garden because of the pandemic.

The Washington Post reported that seed companies were "shell shocked" by the huge volume of orders they experienced this year. For example, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds received 4,500 orders daily, twice the usual peak demand of spring, and was forced to close down its website and turn down new orders. Renee's Garden usually receives a peak of 350 daily orders in the spring, but that number skyrocketed to 2,000 in 2021.

#9

Ghost Caladium (Caladium Moonlight)

Ghost Caladium (Caladium Moonlight)

sacrecoeur1206 Report

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Iggy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a beautiful plant! The leaves look like gossamer.

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#10

Entrance To A Stone Cottage Adorned With Flowers In Stockbridge, Edinburgh, Scotland

Entrance To A Stone Cottage Adorned With Flowers In Stockbridge, Edinburgh, Scotland

DifferenceKey1399 Report

Some of us amateurs limit plants to their looks and smells. But there is so much more to them. Being a plant geek, The Beauty Botanist finds everything about them fascinating. Including their sex life. "When you can't just pick up and take yourself to a speed dating event to find a partner, you have to get really creative," Hirsch said.

"There are plants that mimic insects, inciting aggressive attacks by the flies or bees, and while the bug is busy fighting, the plant sticks pollen to it. Some plants create odors to attract pollinators. And because it's all in the eye (or olfactory glands) of the beholder, that could be divine floral notes or the smell of rotting meat. Others offer an energy incentive in the form of nectar. When you're stuck in one place with the biological imperative to reproduce, you can get really creative."

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#13

Someone Threw Out This Orchid In The Dumpster. Rescued A Real Beauty

Someone Threw Out This Orchid In The Dumpster. Rescued A Real Beauty

jilkovina Report

The Beauty Botanist said that plants produce all sorts of chemistry that we've found useful for pretty much everything in our lives, "from medicines (the cancer drug taxol was originally synthesised from yew, for example) to helping reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in the skin, to fine fragrance (essential oils like sandalwood, neroli and rose are some of the most expensive fragrance ingredients) to the spices and herbs you flavour your food with."

"When you start looking for and counting the things in your life that are plant-derived, it’s pretty easy to rack up a big number. We evolved with them, our bodies adapted to use them, and we’ve continued to depend on them in intimate, small ways and grand global ways," Hirsch explained.

Even something simple as having flowers around the home and office greatly improves people's moods and reduces the likelihood of stress-related depression. Flowers and ornamental plants increase levels of positive energy and help people feel safe and relaxed.

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Research also shows that people who spend longer periods of time around plants tend to have better relationships with others. This is due to measurable increases in feelings of compassion—another effect of exposure to ornamental plants.

When you look at the benefits that plants offer us, there's really no reason to exclude them from our lives.

#14

My Fiancé Asked Me To Take Photos Of Her Philodendron Prince Of Orange Blooming

My Fiancé Asked Me To Take Photos Of Her Philodendron Prince Of Orange Blooming

timothycdykes Report

#15

Here’s How My Wife And I Spent Earth Day: Looking At Bee Butts Poking Out Of Trillium Grandiflorum (Large White Trillium)!

Here’s How My Wife And I Spent Earth Day: Looking At Bee Butts Poking Out Of Trillium Grandiflorum (Large White Trillium)!

schroeder742 Report

#17

I Don’t Know Why But I’ve Got A Favorite Stem On One Of My Spiderworts (Tradescantia Fluminensis ‘Tricolor’)

I Don’t Know Why But I’ve Got A Favorite Stem On One Of My Spiderworts (Tradescantia Fluminensis ‘Tricolor’)

_Pch Report

#19

Ranuculus

Ranuculus

Dragzy114 Report

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Iggy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Playing 'He loves me, he loves me not' with one of these would take an awfully long time!

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#20

The Eastern Redbud (Cercis Canadensis) Blossoming Tree

The Eastern Redbud (Cercis Canadensis) Blossoming Tree

sacrecoeur1206 Report

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Dynein
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This (flowers on the trunk and large branches) is called "cauliflory". It's an adaptation to larger pollinators which can reach the flowers more comfortably that way.

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#21

I Just Want To Share A Sample Of How Beautiful Maize Can Be. These Are A Few Nameless (As Far As I Know) Varieties From A Tiny Town In The Peruvian Andes. I Had A Conversation With A Farmer About How Most People In The U.S. Haven't Seen Anything But Yellow Corn, And He Insisted On Giving Me These!

I Just Want To Share A Sample Of How Beautiful Maize Can Be. These Are A Few Nameless (As Far As I Know) Varieties From A Tiny Town In The Peruvian Andes. I Had A Conversation With A Farmer About How Most People In The U.S. Haven't Seen Anything But Yellow Corn, And He Insisted On Giving Me These!

Bem-ti-vi Report

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#23

Dewey Pines (Drosophyllum Lusitanicum), A Carnivorous Plant

Dewey Pines (Drosophyllum Lusitanicum), A Carnivorous Plant

Outrageous_Bell4293 Report

#24

Pink Fuchsia (Fuchsia Hybrida)

Pink Fuchsia (Fuchsia Hybrida)

sacrecoeur1206 Report

#25

Unique Tulip Variety Named The Ice Cream Tulip

Unique Tulip Variety Named The Ice Cream Tulip

sacrecoeur1206 Report

#26

Pink Flowers On A Tree In The Kansas City Snow

Pink Flowers On A Tree In The Kansas City Snow

Hoeful_Romantic Report

#27

Rainbow Eukalyptus

Rainbow Eukalyptus

NewBronzeAge Report

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soni w
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Eucalyptus. Sheds it's bark and over time that shedding changes colour. Spectacular!

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#28

The Flower Fields At Carlsbad, California Last April. Ranunculus Of Every Colour!

The Flower Fields At Carlsbad, California Last April. Ranunculus Of Every Colour!

MyKalicat Report

#29

White Milkweed Growing In The Woods On My Property

White Milkweed Growing In The Woods On My Property

eehttofu Report

#31

Saihō-Ji, Kyoto

Saihō-Ji, Kyoto

janeandrew02 Report

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soni w
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's like a fairy tale. Something here pulls me into a memory of a place of warmth and softness, of quiet and tranquility, of safety. The smell is crisp and clean and so earthly green. I fear Ive been here and my heart forever mourns that I left.

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#32

My Azaleas After 2 Years Of Love And Coffee Grinds

My Azaleas After 2 Years Of Love And Coffee Grinds

Affectionate_Use1087 Report

#33

Who Loves The Different Textures Of Lichen?

Who Loves The Different Textures Of Lichen?

haileyscomet2039 Report

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soni w
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've photographed so many over the years, it's really cool at Super macro!

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#36

Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel

HellsJuggernaut Report

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FrancesCat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't believe I've ever seen witch hazel outside of a bottle in my drug store!

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#40

Hybrid Fuchsia (One Of My All Time Favorites)

Hybrid Fuchsia (One Of My All Time Favorites)

SearchForPassion Report

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#43

Venus Fly Traps In Their Natural Habitat (Green Swamp, Nc)

Venus Fly Traps In Their Natural Habitat (Green Swamp, Nc)

barefeethippie Report

#46

I Found White Poppies

I Found White Poppies

Eleminohp Report

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Giulia
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yooo i never seen orange poppies, here in italy i only saw red poppies

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#50

Longwood Gardens From 8/19 - They Took Good Care Of The Place While It Was Closed For Quarantine

Longwood Gardens From 8/19 - They Took Good Care Of The Place While It Was Closed For Quarantine

KLPhotos215 Report

Note: this post originally had 85 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.