Meet the YouTube Botanist with a Thick Chicago Accent and Foul Mouth

Call it botany served Chicago style.

Joey Santore — who also goes by "Joe Blowe" and "Tony Santoro" online — isn’t your typical plant expert: the amateur botanist travels across North America identifying and discussing the wildlife he encounters on his YouTube channel Crime Pays But Botany Doesn’t.

Originally from the Chicago suburb of La Grange, Santore films his nature excursions with his smartphone, rattling off scientific names with a thick Chicago accent and making comical, sometimes profanity-laden, societal observations.

Santore promised to keep the curse words to a minimum while we walked through Wolf Road Prairie, an 80-acre nature preserve with native prairie, savanna and wetland habitats in Chicago’s western suburbs.

Story and video by Evan Garcia

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@CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt

[danielpalmer]

First time I’ve ever heard “thank god the depression hit”

[e.a.hallucigenia]

I've been a botanist for over 50 years. So refreshing to meet a botanist with a sense of humor.

[Danielv]

Why did I think this guy was an over weight Italian guy talking about plants

[HebdebaV]

my favorite quote of his is when he goes to the grocery store in the bay area, then walks to the bargaining section and says something along the lines of " this is where hippies come to beat each other with cucumbers"

[kerron]

"Amateur", "crass approach". WTF? This guy is legit and provides more info per minute than any other plant YouTuber I've come across.

[mikeholmes]

I didn't hear any language my mother would disapprove of so I'm not convinced it's actually him.

[IIrandhandleII]

This cover doesn't accurately portray his truly immense familiarity with botany.

[dirtypisspinko]

I'm a professional plant ecologist and this guy's plant knowledge game is way better than mine is. Total dude. Really knows his forbs/shrubs and geologic history.

[Nantosuelta]

"Its fer da tix." I love this guy. More news stations need to focus on positive things like this man and what he's doing instead of focusing on negativity 24/7

[dshepherd]

I’m a retired research biologist who worked in agriculture. Love this guy.

[StaticTremor]

Dude I’ve never seen a negative comment on Crime Pays. Don’t sweat it, Joey.. just keep going we love you.

[Fireflyepic]

Narrator: "Santore is an amateur botanist"
Santore, seconds later: "this is one of my favorites right here, this is silfian terabinthenasium it's a relative of sunflowers, it's an Asteraceae "

I... I don't even know how to spell any of that.

[jaridkeen]

He inspired me to go on a walk in the woods in Central Florida. It was 105° today and in the forest the humidity was and i fucking loved every moment looking at that wild flowers in at forest. Ill be back tomorrow with a clipboard and a Botanist book

[pianoninja]

*Reporter* : “so do u ever encounter any dangerous wildlife?”

*This Guy* : “Only Daaa Bearse” 🍻

[GH-Rav]

"Thank GOD the Depression hit"
I'm DYING!!! 🤣🤣

[williamchamberlain]

This guy is amazing.

_He's got a ruler tattooed on his finger_ so he can do science without tools.

He's a legend.

[heapsmadgirl]

When a smile slips out as he talks about how plants calm him down from the 'revolting infrastructure' created by humans...so adorable and awesome 🐢❣️🌻

[RobertMCroft]

Ahh I was so disappointed. All this time I thought he learned Botany in prison.

[DavidRodriguez-glpn]

“Most of the human infrastructure that I find revolting “ same bro same

[marcelacecil]

He's awesome. I wish my college Botany professors had this much passion for our ecology.