Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver

Today's book recommendation: Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver

In honor of the work of botanist Elsie Elizabeth Esterhuysen, today’s book recommendation is: Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver (Kingsolver has a background in biology).  Although it's a fictional book, it features naturalist Mary Treat, who corresponds with Darwin and a character who risks his job to teach evolution.

In real life, Treat actually exchanged letters with Darwin & Asa Gray.  She is referenced in Darwin's book Insectivorous Plants.  She published 5 books and over 70 articles; there are four species named after her. She studied insects, carnivorous plants, and general botany.  Treat put spiders in candy jars filled with moss and plants - 
"so that my nervous lady friends may admire the plants without being shocked with the knowledge that each of these jars is the home of a spider."

Treat talked to all living things; she was an amazing woman who helped establish our understanding of carnivorous plants.