You might think my intelligent Flora is just fantasy, even before I add the AI.

Botanical computing is being studied now, but plants were always a lot smarter than we've given them credit for.

If you don't believe that I stick to the laws of physics, chemistry and biology in all my novels,

if this one is that stretch too far, I recommend BRILLIANT GREEN by Stefano Mancuso and Alessandra Viola.

I am also mildly aggrieved that the fact below was published in NEW SCIENTIST (my magazine of choice)

the day after I put GreensWard out there. 

NS 5 Nov 16 'PLANTS SEE UNDERGROUND:

Roots of many plants have light receptors, and now we may have discovered why.

The receptors seem to channel light directly underground using stems as fibre-optic cables,

which may signal to roots where and when to grow (Science Signaling, DOI:10.1126/scisignal.aaf6530)

Nature always has had the best imagination. Hope you like how I played Her game.