Tag: Botany

‘The Serviceberry Way’: Lessons in Self-Discovery and Connection

Learn how the serviceberry can guide you towards growth and gratitude in the new book by Kim Lewitt. Photo: Amazon.

Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) is a small deciduous tree or shrub known for its sweet, edible berries. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and K, it supports immune health and skin repair. The berries have anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Additionally, serviceberries are a good source of dietary fiber, aiding digestion and promoting gut health. Native to North America, serviceberry also provides various ecological benefits, attracting pollinators like bees and birds. Its leaves, bark, and roots have been traditionally used for medicinal purposes by indigenous peoples.

“The Serviceberry Way: Gratitude, Growth, and DIY Practices for Everyday Living” is the new book by Kim Lewitt where she writes all about its uses for health and better living.

It is a comprehensive and enlightening guide to the often-overlooked serviceberry plant. Through this book, Lewitt introduces readers to the rich history, versatility, and numerous benefits of the serviceberry, making a compelling case for its place in gardens and landscapes.

It is divided into sections that explore the plant’s history, from its use by Indigenous peoples for food and medicine, to its growing popularity in modern gardening. Lewitt provides an in-depth look at how to cultivate serviceberries, offering practical advice on planting, caring for, and harvesting this hardy shrub. The author emphasizes the plant’s adaptability to various climates and its ability to thrive in a wide range of conditions, making it a sustainable choice for gardeners.

There are two major parts:

Part One: Lessons from Nature
Includes sections such as The Hidden Life of Plants, The Wisdom of Animals, and The Indigenous Perspective: Connection and Community.

Part Two: DIY Practices
Includes sections such as Preparing Your Garden for Serviceberries, Pest and Disease Management, and Cooking with Serviceberries: Recipes and Ideas.

Highlights include:

Part One: Lessons from Nature
Lessons from the Serviceberry: Adaptability and Resilience – it explains the characteristics of the serviceberry and the lessons it teaches us, like Thriving in Diverse Environments and Rapid Recovery and Renewal.

Part Two: DIY Practices
Crafting with Serviceberries and Other Uses – it shares uses for serviceberries beyond the usual jams and pies, such as making natural dyes and other craft ideas.

A big plus for me is the celebration of the many uses of the plant. Lewitt covers everything from incorporating the berries into delicious jams and pies to using the tree’s wood for crafting. The book serves as both a practical gardening resource and a celebration of the serviceberry’s cultural significance.

Overall, for plant enthusiasts, gardeners, and anyone interested in sustainable living, “The Serviceberry Way” is an invaluable resource that highlights the enduring charm and utility of this underrated plant.

“Adaptability is about finding ways to thrive in less-than-ideal circumstances. Just as the serviceberry makes the most of the resources it has, we can learn to be flexible, assess our surroundings, and use what’s available to us creatively and efficiently.”

*The author was contacted for an honest review of this book. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

New book release: ‘Cliff’ by John M. Spagnoli

‘Cliff’ is the new novel by John M. Spagnoli. Photo: Barnes & Noble.

Detective and crime novels are so interesting to read because they tend to include elements of suspense and investigation. Today’s new book release combines the best of investigations with an unexpected botanical subplot. If you are a fan of both, may I recommend “Cliff” by John Spagnoli. Seasoned detectives Skull and Violet are hot on the trail on a new case when the unexpected happens. If good old detective stories are your favorite read, give this one a try. It is available on Barnes & Noble as an e-book.

John Spagnoli, author of the psychological thriller novel “Shadowed Soul” and a botanical primer, “How to Grow Worsleya Seeds,” is both a storyteller of suspenseful tales and botanist. An avid gardener with experience in hybridization, he created new day lily and clivia plant crosses. A New York City native, he is the proud father of two ‘seedlings’ of his own. He underpins his new detective novel, “Cliff,” with his own skilled research about rare and common plants. (John Spagnoli, 2023)

“Cliff” – Told through the eyes of two seasoned detectives, Skull and Violet, this story has as many twists and turns as the sinuous cliff side roads where mysterious murders occur. When Skull returns from military service with PTSD, Violet covers for him as they sleuth out cold cases in the seaside metropolis where they grew up as besties. The duo struggles with unrequited love for each other while scrambling to investigate a new rash of murders masquerading as suicides. From women dropped over cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean to paranormal apparitions in the twilight hours, nothing make sense to the detectives until rumors of a cult lead to unexpected botanical revelations. Colorful characters spice the treacherous hunt to catch the perpetrators before the next victim is sacrificed. Will Skull’s PTSD compromise the investigation before they can bring the serial killers to justice?

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New book release: ‘Datura Serpentis’ by Trevor Carter

‘Datura Serpentis’ is the new gripping supernatural thriller by Trevor Carter. Photo: Amazon

When it comes to books, thrillers can include psychological thrillers, crime thrillers, and even outer space thrillers. Today’s new book release highlight is “Datura Serpentis” by Trevor Carter. By combining botany and the supernatural, readers will witness the dark side of nature, as Mother Nature has plans to rid itself of humanity by creating a new species. It is a well written suspense thriller that centers around nature and dark forces bent on disrupting the natural order. Are you ready for your next exciting read? Get your hands on “Datura Serpentis” today and find out if humanity will prevail. It is available on Amazon.

Trevor Carter is an author of the fantastical, the imaginal, and the supernatural. He has a passion for writing stories that entangle the human mind with the natural world and the not-so-natural world (the hidden realms unseen by the eyes). His stories are intermingled with elements of fantasy, science fiction, mystery, suspense, and sometimes horror. His novels are engaging and illuminating; he enjoys skirting on the edge of what is real and what is possible, to create a unique story that is thrilling and thought-provoking. He is the author of “Cosmic Communion” and “Lost in the Abyss.” “Datura Serpentis,” his new novel, is a gripping supernatural thriller that will leave you terrified and illuminated. (Amazon, 2023)

“Datura Serpentis” – Born with the ability to communicate with nature, Alaina Landry finds herself entangled in a conflict between a dark force of nature that has created a plant-born insect that poses an existential threat to humanity and another force that has chosen her to carry the seed for a new species, one that could replace humans.

In this enchanted thriller, the town of Cherokee, North Carolina is about to face a cataclysmic threat—one that sprouts from the earth itself. When a peculiar circle of plants emerge, unleashing a virulent insect that spells doom for humanity, Alaina Landry, a botanist, and her colleagues must race against time to halt its deadly proliferation. As Alaina, whose has a profound connection with Nature, delves into the mysteries of the botanical menace, she uncovers a startling revelation: Mother Nature, with her ruthless hand, is not only orchestrating humanity’s demise but is sculpting a new species from the ashes.

In this gripping tale that marries ecological peril with spiritual awakening, “Datura Serpentis” takes readers on a thrilling journey into the mind of Nature, where salvation and evolution intertwine in a dance of life and death. Will Alaina and her friends succeed in thwarting Nature’s sinister plan, or will a new species emerge that will usurp humanity’s throne?

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