Ever notice how birds strut around with the royal treatment in their names? Black-capped Chickadee. Great Blue Heron.Every word is capitalized like a VIP guest at a garden party. Meanwhile, plants—those quiet, hardworking, oxygen-producing champs—are stuck with lowercase labels: bigleaf maple, snowberry, Japanese holly. It's not that plants matter less. It's just that we've been inconsistent. And I think it's time to change that.

Did you know that rosemary, the herb you sprinkle on your roast, is technically a sage? Botanical names aren’t just labels; they reflect a plant’s genetic relationships. However, advancements in genetic research sometimes reveal surprising connections, leading to reclassification. While this can be frustrating for gardeners and industry professionals, these changes provide a clearer understanding of plant lineage and ensure scientific accuracy.