The Botany of Desire

October 25, 2009 by Debra.

My introduction to hard cider was through a local farmer who had let a plastic jug of apple cider ferment in his shed. Before letting me taste it, he checked to make sure that I would be driving home directly after. I’d appreciated fresh apple cider well enough but hard cider was another thing altogether — it was surprisingly fizzy, crisp and, of course, alcoholic — a delightful expression of the season. He also recommended that I read the chapter on apples in Michael Pollan’s book, “The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World”.

The upcoming PBS television special, ”The Botany of Desire“, adapted from Pollan’s book, explores the evolution of apples, tulips, cannabis and potatoes. The website also contains a bonus video featuring Farnum Hill Ciders in Lebanon, NH. If that’s not enough for fans of Pollan, there’s also the TED video, “Michael Pollan gives a plant’s eye view”.

The Botany of Desire

PBS (check for local station)

Wednsday, October 28 at 8 p.m

Featuring Michael Pollan and based on his best-selling book, this special takes viewers on an eye-opening exploration of the human relationship with the plant world, seen from the plants’ point of view. Narrated by Frances McDormand, the program shows how four familiar species – the apple, the tulip, cannabis and the potato – evolved to satisfy our yearnings for sweetness, beauty, intoxication and control.

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