Learning the vocabulary of botany allows you to see and describe details about plants that you may have never even noticed before. It opens the door to a richer way to experience and understand nature. For example, it sparks curiosity about how one leaf type is better adapted to a specific environment than another, and which flowers are adapted to which pollinators. In addition, it can help inform decisions about which plants will thrive in your landscape. Learn to distinguish between various examples of specific plant parts, including stems, buds, leaves, and flowers through the Extension Gardener Botany Exercises developed by Alexander Kringes at the NC State Vascular Plant Herbarium. The exercises involve matching photographs with the corresponding term and are a fun way to learn to recognize differences and describe them.