Today his name is closely associated with human evolution. Why, then, was Charles Darwin such a tireless observer of plants? This program illustrates Darwin’s quest to further support his assertions in On the Origin of Species using the familiar surroundings of his garden. Science interpreter Jim Doherty guides viewers through Darwin’s studies of insect-eating plants, including the common sundew and the Venus flytrap. Then he re-creates the means by which Darwin monitored climbing plants, contemplated the sexual nature of plants and flowers, and investigated cross-fertilization. Showing how these botanical studies informed Darwin’s view of all living things, the program culminates in an overview of the 1860 Oxford debate on the merits of his ideas. Original Open University broadcast title: The Storm Breaks. (59 minutes)