ʟᴇᴏɴ
@orchidhunter.bsky.social
I live at the interface of art and science. I write about plant science, but also interested in pop music, gay stuff, and baked goods. Defiantly optimistic. College professor in Twintown, MN. 🏳️🌈🇿🇦
I brought doughnuts for my genetics students to munch on while they're doing their plasmid analysis this morning.
November 18, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I brought doughnuts for my genetics students to munch on while they're doing their plasmid analysis this morning.
Howdy, gang. What are you eating? What are you listening to?
November 15, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Howdy, gang. What are you eating? What are you listening to?
A quick five-mile run in the hazy woods of southeast Minnesota. It's 60°F on this Saturday in mid-November.
November 15, 2025 at 5:21 PM
A quick five-mile run in the hazy woods of southeast Minnesota. It's 60°F on this Saturday in mid-November.
As someone who grew up within two degrees of the Tropic of Capricorn, tonight held a very special magic for me.
November 12, 2025 at 3:30 AM
As someone who grew up within two degrees of the Tropic of Capricorn, tonight held a very special magic for me.
Hark! It's home time, huzzah! But first, a brisk walk to the gym for a wee workout.
November 7, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Hark! It's home time, huzzah! But first, a brisk walk to the gym for a wee workout.
I'm hosting greenhouse First Friday again, and the rare plants in the collecting are POPPING OFF. From (merely) critically endangered to extinct in the wild, botanical institutions play a big role in preserving the beauty and diversity we might otherwise lose.
November 7, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I'm hosting greenhouse First Friday again, and the rare plants in the collecting are POPPING OFF. From (merely) critically endangered to extinct in the wild, botanical institutions play a big role in preserving the beauty and diversity we might otherwise lose.
It's a good Friday when there's new Orville Peck. I'm giddy, giddy, giddyup!
October 31, 2025 at 2:10 PM
It's a good Friday when there's new Orville Peck. I'm giddy, giddy, giddyup!
That there's new Venus Hum is one of the most surprisingly lovely things on this New Music Friday.
October 17, 2025 at 4:32 PM
That there's new Venus Hum is one of the most surprisingly lovely things on this New Music Friday.
If you like quietly menacing, jazzy, ambient space rock, this album will change your life.
October 15, 2025 at 7:23 PM
If you like quietly menacing, jazzy, ambient space rock, this album will change your life.
It ended up being leg day.
October 5, 2025 at 12:11 AM
It ended up being leg day.
A panacea for whatever ails you.
October 4, 2025 at 11:15 PM
A panacea for whatever ails you.
I just ate an inordinate amount of this lovely focaccia, baked to golden perfection with lashings of olive oil and love.
September 13, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I just ate an inordinate amount of this lovely focaccia, baked to golden perfection with lashings of olive oil and love.
September 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Liquid Sky [1982]
Fashion, drugs, UFOs, bisexuals, new wave, killer orgasms. What's not to love?
Fashion, drugs, UFOs, bisexuals, new wave, killer orgasms. What's not to love?
September 7, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Liquid Sky [1982]
Fashion, drugs, UFOs, bisexuals, new wave, killer orgasms. What's not to love?
Fashion, drugs, UFOs, bisexuals, new wave, killer orgasms. What's not to love?
I'm trying to be more proactive about meal-prepping. This beluga lentil and roasted cauliflower salad has cubes of feta, and cherry tomatoes from my garden. The zippy dressing is olive oil, lemon, garlic, mustard, and fresh basil (again from my garden).
September 7, 2025 at 8:42 PM
I'm trying to be more proactive about meal-prepping. This beluga lentil and roasted cauliflower salad has cubes of feta, and cherry tomatoes from my garden. The zippy dressing is olive oil, lemon, garlic, mustard, and fresh basil (again from my garden).
My first week as department chair is in the books! I'm completely spent, but happy—have not thus far catalyzed the downfall of my discipline or a faculty riot. Time for wine and records.
September 6, 2025 at 12:29 AM
My first week as department chair is in the books! I'm completely spent, but happy—have not thus far catalyzed the downfall of my discipline or a faculty riot. Time for wine and records.
Using my break to look at jaffle recipes. Grilled cheese season is here!
September 4, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Using my break to look at jaffle recipes. Grilled cheese season is here!
Just finished. Could hardly see to read the last 30 pages I was sobbing so hard.
An amazing book-so many themes I'm obsessed with (subantarctic islands, extinction, seed banks, wildfires), is plotted like a techno thriller (lies, sex, violence) and is ultimately about the defiant optimism of love.
An amazing book-so many themes I'm obsessed with (subantarctic islands, extinction, seed banks, wildfires), is plotted like a techno thriller (lies, sex, violence) and is ultimately about the defiant optimism of love.
August 16, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Just finished. Could hardly see to read the last 30 pages I was sobbing so hard.
An amazing book-so many themes I'm obsessed with (subantarctic islands, extinction, seed banks, wildfires), is plotted like a techno thriller (lies, sex, violence) and is ultimately about the defiant optimism of love.
An amazing book-so many themes I'm obsessed with (subantarctic islands, extinction, seed banks, wildfires), is plotted like a techno thriller (lies, sex, violence) and is ultimately about the defiant optimism of love.
Well, it's done and I drank the sparkling water.
July 30, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Well, it's done and I drank the sparkling water.
I'm excited about the little avenue of bright pink bee balm and snowy white blazing star I'm planning for my front walk!
July 29, 2025 at 5:54 PM
I'm excited about the little avenue of bright pink bee balm and snowy white blazing star I'm planning for my front walk!
Coaxing this corpse flower into bloom and then rallying my campus community to let more than 600 people see it in person is a major horticultural achievement for me.
July 17, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Coaxing this corpse flower into bloom and then rallying my campus community to let more than 600 people see it in person is a major horticultural achievement for me.
We collected pollen last night.
July 17, 2025 at 11:41 AM
We collected pollen last night.
Did I mention I'm coaxing a corpse flower into bloom? Meet Lady Gag-Ugh.
July 12, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Did I mention I'm coaxing a corpse flower into bloom? Meet Lady Gag-Ugh.