Mongabay.com - USA

The paper, “No giants today: tracheal oxygen supply to the legs limits beetle size,” based on research by a team of American researchers, offers evidence that Paleozoic insects were substantially larger because they had a richer oxygen supply. During the late Paleozoic period, about 300 million years ago, the air’s oxygen content was around 35 percent, compared to 21 percent today. As a result some dragonflies had two-and-a-half-foot wing spans, while giant spiders roamed the ancient forests.

Higher oxygen levels could produce monster insects

Xinhua - China

BEIJING, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) — China plans to transform a botanical garden in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province into a leading world floral paradise in 2008, national forestry officials announced Wednesday.

Unique botanical garden to be built in NW China

PhysOrg.com - Evergreen,VA,USA

Long periods of total darkness and poor soil needn’t stop an avid gardener – at least not one who’s willing to go out of this world to grow plants. Lush lettuce is growing by galactic measure in cylinders designed by Texas Agricultural Experiment Station researchers to mimic conditions on the moon and Mars.

Galaxy gardening more than hobby for future moon, Mars residents

United Press International - USA

An Illinois man was cleaning out his organic vegetable garden when a 15-pound iguana leaped out and frightened the gardener.

Illinois man finds iguana in his garden

Boston Globe - United States

Members of the Men’s Garden Club of Wethersfield stripped naked and posed for a calendar intended to raise money for the club and its projects. The man, who ranged in age from 40 to 80, were photographed in the buff in secluded areas around town.

Men’s garden club calendar is very revealing