Today as scientists we wrestle with many issues that have very little to do with the science that we carry out. We struggle with inadequate funding for plant related projects, issues of racism and discrimination in our workplaces, and pressure from political groups to quash our DEI efforts. All these issues are important and require our attention, but amidst all of this, we cannot forget what drew us to our professions as botanists in the first place – the simple joy of discovery, our awe at the exquisiteness of the plants we study and their interactions with the natural world, our thirst for exploration and adventure!  It is this joy that I find in my work that I most want to share with you. From the Florida Panhandle to the Tamaulipan Thornscrub of Texas, to the Tallgrass Prairie of Illinois, the Sonoran Desert and North Rim of Arizona, and the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii, I have ventured into the known and in many cases the very unknown. Each project has presented a treasure chest of possibilities and challenges leading to successes and failures. Join me for my tales of adventure as we set out to learn everything we can about state and federally listed plant species such as Kittentails, Zapata bladderpod, Pima pineapple cactus, Godfrey’s butterwort, and many others, before it is too late! And my latest endeavors utilizing eDNA and cameras to uncover plant-animal relationships. Doing research on a budget across the United States has opened new relationships to me, both with plants and with people. I have learned that plants can bring people together even if we have different backgrounds. In the end, being a botanist is about advancing science, but I hope that for you, it is about having fun too!