Dr. Fallon Tanentzap reviews The Botany of Desire (2001) by Michael Pollan. The book inspired her to create some original art (below)!

Advent Botany Day 5 by Fallon Tanentzap

At this time of year, when the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping is in full swing, I try my best to support local artists and shops. Consciously changing my shopping habits to support local businesses always makes me smile, as it is always pleasant to get to know familiar faces in the community. This made me reflect about how, as an ecologist, my observations of plant-environment relationships has evolved over time.

In The Botany of Desire, Michael Pollan takes readers on a journey of discovery as he learns whys and wherefores of four important, popular plants (the apple, tulip, marijuana, and potato), interweaving the theme of how plants have used humans to optimize their global dispersal.

I found myself captivated by Chapter 1, "Desire: Sweetness Plant—the apple (Malus domestica)". Pollan takes us on the route of Johnny Appleseed on the Mississippi River. The dramas, the necessities of owning apple trees during that era, and the struggles and politics of growing the trees in the available habitats struck me with such vivid imagery that it inspired me to draw this picture.

I was also inspired to do a photoshoot of my own copy of the book on the snowy branches of a heritage variety apple tree in my yard. The apples are tiny, bright red, and the flesh is very sweet but also crisp.

I try my best to save as many apples for the winter, but we end up eating them well before spring. Most, if we are lucky enough, get turned into a festive pie.

Pollan's chapter on apples discusses the many heirloom varieties that are no longer found in our local grocery store chains. He describes the flavors and colors of heritage varieties of apple that are I have yet to discover.

When I lived in a small English village, a local apple orchard would sell their "imperfect" apples and ciders for sale during the autumn and winter months. I loved searching through the many wooden barrels along the concrete floor containing different varieties. I would sample the flavors, and let my children pick a few to try. My favorite was always the tiny pineapple apple. This was dusty yellow with many blemishes, just barely larger than a golf ball, but the flesh was rich, juicy, and hinted of sweet pineapple. 

I highly recommend this favorite book of mine as a gift for your friends and family. Reading it really does make you question your actions – are those apples manipulating me to buy them? Why do I want to plant more apple trees in my yard for my children to enjoy for years to come? I would like to think, YES! The sweetness of apples sure makes me swoon!.

Pollan, M. 2001. The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World. Random House.

Discover more Botanical Book Gift Suggestions:

• Advent Botany Day 3: Anna Pavord's The Tulip. 2000. Bloomsbury USA (St. Martin's Press)
• Advent Botany Day 4: S.H. Scott. 1958. The Observers Book of Cacti & Other Succulents. Frederick Warne & Co. Out of print, but available used.