Stay ConnectedThe Daily Gardener is a weekday podcast celebrating garden history, literature, and the small botanical stories that shape how we garden today.
Each episode follows an “on this day” format, uncovering the people, plants, books, and moments that have quietly influenced gardens across time.
New episodes are released Monday through Friday, and each show features a thoughtfully chosen garden book.
Copyright: Copyright ©2019-2020, Jennifer Ebeling|The Daily Gardener All rights reserved
Today we celebrate the Spanish botanist who tackled the area known as New Spain and the man who discovered the Schneck Oak.
We'll learn about the French botanist who made many of our blooms bigger and better and the mayor who was known as the Little Flower.
We'll hear some thoughts about Winter and how we can benefit from the solace.
We Grow That Garden Library with a book about indoor gardening.
I'll talk about a beautiful holiday gift for the gardener who likes to work on puzzles, and then we wrap things up with the 1992 discovery that rocked the botanical world.
But first, let's catch up on a few recent events.
Today's Curated Articles:
Chinese Witch Hazel Plant story - Hamamelis mollis - The English Garden @theenglishgarden.co.uk
Here's the story behind the beautiful Chinese witch hazel - Hamamelis mollis. The English Plant Hunter Charlies Maries found it in China in 1878 & brought it home to London, where it sat unnoticed for 20 years. From @theenglishgarden.co.uk
In pictures: Tubers of the future | Kew @KewGardens
Thanks to @KewGardens for trialing these petite high-yield alternatives to the potato: oca tubers have a lemony taste (Oxalis tuberosa) & mashua tubers are peppery (Tropaeolum tuberosum). Both are native to the Andes.Garden Design and Landscaping "College Glen" | Decorum.London @LondonDecorum @cedstonegroup
Here's a fantastic post by landscape design co @LondonDecorum Gorgeous "College Glen" w/ Sandstone Paving @cedstonegroup, timber, Siberian Larch deck, & Lavender plantings. Love it all - pics, project & plant list - so thoughtful!| Decorum.London https://buff.ly/35lR7HK
Now, if you'd like to check out these curated articles for yourself, you're in luck - because I share all of it with the Listener Community on Facebook. So, there's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, just search for the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group.
Brevities:
#OTD Today is the birthday of the Spanish botanist Martin Sesse who was born on this day in 1751.
King Carlos III charged Sesse with identifying, classifying, and illustrating all of the plant species throughout New Spain. This was a tremendous request. But Sesse was the man for the job. He was excellent at training young botanists, he was a pragmatist, and he had a strategic mind. He made plans for a major botanical expedition of new Spain, which was composed of the southwestern part of the United States, Mexico, and Central America. The expedition was an elaborate undertaking, and the botanists and the rest of the company would not return to Spain for a dozen years.
Sesse put together an A-team of botanists, including José Mariano Mociño and Vicente Cervantes, as well as a cantankerous naturalist by the name of José Longino Martinez.
A surgeon and naturalist from Madrid, Martinez wasn't suited to teamwork. After one too many disagreements with Sesse and the other botanists, Martinez went his own way and went off to explore California, which is how he became known as California's first naturalist.
As for Sesse and the other botanists, they conducted several plant collecting missions all over Mexico, which resulted in Sesse's most significant contribution to botany; a Flora of Mexico.
Of course, Sesse didn't do any of this alone. He collaborated with his team, especially Mociño and Cervantes. Together they established the Royal Botanical Garden of Mexico City, and Cervantes ended up serving as the Prof. of botany. They also founded botanical gardens in Manila and the Canary Islands. Altogether, Sesse's team cost Spain nearly 400,000 pesos.
Sesse's work could not have been done without the support of King Carlos, the Third. Luckily Sesse's significant endeavors were accomplished by the time Carlos the Fourth ascended the throne in 1788. Number Four had little interest in advancing scientific knowledge. It was clear that the time of significant Spanish scientific exploration was coming to an end.
During his lifetime, Sesse made a significant number of botanical illustrations, which he brought with him when he returned back home to Spain. These pieces were never published, and they sat dormant until the botanist de Candolle saw them, and he knew right away that they were worth pursuing. He hired the artist is Jean Christophe Heyland to produce new drawings based on Sesse's work.
Today Sesse is remembered most conspicuously by a dry gin that's made in Madrid. It has a beautiful blue label.
#OTD Today is the birthday of the Indiana physician, naturalist, and botanist Jacob Schneck who was born on this day in 1843.
After his service in the Civil War, Jacob decided to educate himself by going to school to become a teacher. After teaching for a short period, he decided he wanted to become a doctor. His teaching jobs allowed him to put himself through medical school
Jacob loved plants, and he spent as much time as he could in the field Botanizing. His quick curiosity and cleverness enabled him to observe a feature regarding some species of red Oaks. Jacob noticed that the acorn from one species of red Oak was quite distinctive. He shared his discovery with a fellow botanist named Nathaniel Lord Britton. Britton agreed with Jacob's observation, and he named the oak in his honor, calling it the Quercus Schneckii (ii = "ee-eye"). But most people just call it the Schneck Oak.
Jacob put together a collection of various types of wood for an exhibition at the Chicago World's Fair.
Jacob died at the age of 63. His funeral was reported to be the largest ever held in Mount Caramel Illinois
Newspaper accounts indicated he had been battling pneumonia but still had gone out to tend to his patients. His efforts probably cost him his life.
"No man in Wabash county had endeared himself to so many people as had Dr. Schneck. Year after year he had gone about in our midst, quietly doing his great work for humanity, turning away now and then to investigate some scientific question, especially in the realm of botany, his favorite study, and one in which he had acquired a national reputation."
After Schneck died, his collection of specimens, stones, shells, and fossils was put on display at the Carnegie public library in 1934.
When he was alive, Jacob spent a great deal of time fashioning cases and containers to display his collection. Each specimen was labeled in Dr. Schneck's impeccable handwriting.
#OTD Today is the anniversary of the death of the French flower breeder Victor Lemoine ("Loom-one") who died on this day in 1911.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Lemoine for enhancing the beauty of so many flowers in our gardens: Lilacs, Mock-Oranges, Phlox, Peonies, Gladiolus, Tuberous Begonias, Geraniums, and Deutzias.
Around the year 1850, Lemoine borrowed money from his gardener father and began a nursery that survived three generations thanks to his son Emile and his grandson Henri. The Lemoine nursery thrived on land bought in Nancy, France (pronounced "non-cee"). A few years later, Lemoine created his first double-flower; the Portulaca grandiflora or Moss Ross. As with so many of Lemoine's creations, the double-flower created double the beauty.
In 1854, Lemoine turned the original five-petaled single blossom of the geranium into a double-flowered stunner he called "Gloire de Nancy" or "Glory of Nancy."
Northern gardeners owe Lemoine a debt of gratitude for his work with peonies. He crossed the Paeonia wittmanniana with the Siberian albaflora; creating a peony that could withstand a winter freeze. Lemoine created some of our most memorable heirlooms: the white Le Cygne or Swan peony, the Primevere with creamy white outer guard petals, and packed with canary yellow petals inside, the blush-colored Solange peony, the pink Sarah Bernhardt, La Fee the Fairy peony, and the creamy-white Alsace-Lorraine peony.
But, it is the Lilac that will forever be associated with Lemoine. Incredibly, Lemoine didn't start working on Lilacs until he was almost fifty. That said, Lemoine's wife, Marie Louise, was his tireless assistant when his eyes and fine-motor skills were failing. She hand-pollinated the little lilac flowers and aided both her husband and her son with hybridizing.
Lemoine worked magic with his Lilacs. He made them bloom earlier and later. He improved the quality of the bloom, and he expanded their color spectrum. He grew the very first double Lilac. By the time the Lemoine nursery closed its doors in 1968, the Lemoine's had bred 214 new cultivars of Lilac.
#OTD Happy birthday to the Little Flower, aka Fiorello LaGuardia, who was born on this day in 1882 on Sullivan Street in Greenwich Village.
Mayor LaGuardia often referred to as the Little Flower (Fiorello means little flower in Italian). Although the reference could be construed as a slight for LaGuardia's short stature (he was only 5'2"), it became an ironic endearment as LaGuardia had a larger than life, take-charge personality. Little Flower is remembered for his desire for justice and fairness; he was a champion of the working class and immigrants. He died at age 64.
Unearthed Words
"In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me, there lay an invincible summer."
- Albert Camus
"There is a privacy about [winter] which no other season gives you ..... In spring, summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself."
- Ruth Stout
It's Time to Grow That Garden Library with Today's Book: Countertop Gardens by Shelley Levis
The subtitle for this book is Easily Grow Kitchen Edibles Indoors for Year-Round Enjoyment. This is such a timely topic for those of us who I want to maintain some type of gardening activity during the winter in addition to satisfying I desire for garden-to-table produce. Self-contained growing systems are perfect for growing your own food indoors, and they're becoming evermore is sufficient and occupy such a small footprint that now you can grow your food even in the smallest spaces.
Shelly walks you through the different growing systems that are available nowadays, including hydroponic, aquaponic, and vertical gardening systems. She also shows you how to make your own DIY setup.
Chapters include:
Thanks to Shelley, Countertop Gardens ensures that fresh food is at your fingertips year-round.
You can get a used copy of Shelley's book and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for under $3.
Today's Recommended Holiday Gift for Gardeners: Galison's 1,000-piece butterfly puzzle by Wendy Gold
This flawless fit 1000+ piece puzzle is a stunning collage work of art that makes for a challenging and gorgeous puzzle that you will love piecing together. The puzzle features Wendy Gold's vintage images of butterflies collaged and clustered over a map of the world. Plus, it includes an insert with information about the artist and her fantastic image. The Galison Wendy Gold Butterfly Migration 1000-piece puzzle is the right level of challenge for older children or adults to complete over a long weekend or a few days. Pull up a chair and sit together at the kitchen table, talking and laughing as you find the proper place for each puzzle piece.
Something Sweet
Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart
On this day in 1992, California newspapers reported that botanists had discovered a new plant in California, and it was caused a big stir in the botanical world.
The plant is a member of the Rose family and has a delightfully charming common name - the Shasta snow-wreath. The closest known living species to the Shasta snow-wreath is the rare Alabama snow-wreath.
The Shasta snow-wreath is regarded as one of California's rarest plants. It has a beautiful blossom, which appears for just ten days in the spring. It looks like a white spikey puff ball made up of a cluster of stamens rather than petals.
A native shrub to California - especially around Lake Shasta - researches studying salamanders were familiar with the plant, but they didn't know what it was.
In 1992, the two botanists - Dean Taylor and Glenn Clifton - were able to discover the plant thanks to the California drought, which caused the waters of Cedar Creek to drop far enough to enable them to access a limestone outcropping. The Shasta snow-wreath was identified after a week of review.
In April of this past year, volunteers removed invasive species from the places where the Shasta snow-wreath likes to grow - like along shorelines and canyons around Lake Shasta.
Today there are only around 20 populations of Shasta snow-wreath in California.
Thanks for listening to The Daily Gardener, and remember:
"For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
Today we celebrate the gardener poet known for writing "hope is the thing with feathers", and the man who became the world authority on agaves. We'll learn about the Victorian botanist who was the first to speak in favor of Darwin's theory and the man who created the Ballard Lock Garden in Seattle. We'll hear a December poem from the man known during the 20th century as the People's Poet. We Grow That Garden Library with a book of letters between two gardeners during the year between 1998 and 1999. I'll talk about an architectural element for your kitchen that makes a tremendous holiday gift and we wrap things up with a clever poem about King Midas and what would happen if his roses had turned to gold. But first, let's catch up on a few recent events. Today's Curated Articles: Book Review: Wild about Weeds, Garden Design with Rebel Plants by Jack Wallington Here's Alison Levey's review of the wonderful new book from @jackwallington on garden design with weeds and rebel plants #gardenblog #bookreview #gmg @LaurenceKingPub The book is one of my favorites for 2019. I especially enjoy the designer profiles and Jack's ability to defend the plants many of us secretly love but might not admit in certain circles. Botany at the Bar Three scientists discuss the plant science and history of bitters—and share a Thanksgiving cocktail | Scientific American@sciam Take 3 researchers, add plant science, & a deep dive into the world of bitters& you have this phenomenal book of 75 botanically inspired craft cocktails! #BotanyattheBar #science #technology Great post to help you discover the fascinating and ancient #botanicalhistory behind bitters, plus a fun cocktail recipe - and, these scientists really know how to make a good cocktail! Folks on Social Media provided many ringing endorsements saying they had tried a number of their bitters and etc at conferences and were definite fans. Who Doesn't Like Sweet Potatoes? This Kenyan Researcher, For One| @npr @estherngumbi Can you have too much of a good thing? Yes. Yes, you can. Here's a very relatable post from Researcher Esther Ngumbi who grew up eating sweet potatoes for nearly every meal. Part of our desire for certain foods is their seasonality. Monotony is the death of pleasure. Now many of her family members are just done with these foods. "No one — and I mean no one — had any more appetite for these root vegetables." "True confession," she writes, "I will not eat sweet potatoes on Thanksgiving. Or any other time of the year. It all has to do with my Kenyan childhood." "I know it is many people's favorite food, especially during Thanksgiving, but as for me, I still say NO to sweet potatoes. They remind me of what it's like to grow up ... without being able to choose what kind of food you'd like to eat each day." Now, if you'd like to check out these curated articles for yourself, you're in luck - because I share all of it with the Listener Community on Facebook. So, there's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, just search for the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Here are Today's Brevities: #OTD Today is the birthday of Emily Dickenson who was born on this day in 1830. The Dickinson Author Judith Farr reminds us that during her lifetime, Emily Dickinson was "known more widely as a gardener,... than as a poet." Emily grew up gardening. She would help her mother with their large edible and ornamental garden. The flower garden became Emily's responsibility when she got older. She planted in a carefree cottage garden style. After Emily died, her sister Lavinia took over the garden. Emily's niece and editor, Martha Dickinson Bianchi recalls: "All [Lavinia's] flowers did as they liked: tyrannized over her, hopped out of their own beds and into each other's beds, were never reproved or removed as long as they bloomed; for a live flower to Aunt Lavinia was more than any dead horticultural principle." #OTD Today is the birthday of Howard Scott Gentry who was born on this day in 1903. A 1982 newspaper article shared a great story about Howard, saying: "This elder statesman of the botanical world [is] a first-class charmer when you get .... to his subject;... his love for the wilds of Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico; [and] about the years he spent as an agricultural explorer for the USDA, and about how he gradually came to know more about agaves "than any other human being." Concerning the hectic pace of his agave research after his retirement from the USDA in 1971, Howard said: "I don't like to start things and not finish them." Several times a year, Howard would plunge into the rugged interior of Mexico perched atop a mule, just as he'd done during his first collecting trips nearly half a century earlier. [Howard graduated college with a degree in] vertebrate biology from the University of California at Berkeley [and he] concocted the notion of becoming a freelance biologist. To pay for his first field trip into Mexico, Howard sent 300 letters around the country - to scientific institutions, naturalists, really anybody he could think of - soliciting collection orders. "I came up with $3,000 worth of orders. For anything and everything, for an embryo of a white-tailed deer, which I did collect, for birds' eggs, for ticks, for plant specimens. I really got fascinated with that southern Sonoran and Chihuahuan country." After this trip, Howard wrote "Rio Mayo Plants." He recalled: "After that book came out, I became somewhat known as a botanist, which I wasn't. I was a zoologist doing exceptionally well writing as a botanist." Howard completed a doctorate in botany at the University of Michigan, where the well-known botanist Harley Harris Bartlett taught. In 1950, Howard became an agricultural explorer for the USDA. Based in Maryland, he traveled the world locating, researching and collecting plants for the government. [Howard was involved in a] spurt of postwar agave work when it was discovered that plants in the agave family and plants in the wild yam family contained compounds that seemed effective in treating arthritis. Because of his far-flung collecting (he traveled in 24 foreign countries), Howard was constantly introducing new plants to the United States. It was high-profile work in the botanical community. "I refused several times to become a desk man for USDA. It was a chance to cut out all the travel, but I told them, 'No, not me. I want to work with plants, not people. People are problems." #OTD Today is the anniversary of the death of the Victorian British botanist, explorer, President of the Royal Society, and director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker who died on this day in 1911 at the age of 94. Hooker accomplished much during his long life. The botanic gardens of the world were a discovery and classification network he masterfully orchestrated into R&D facilities to enhance the world's economy and promote trade. Hooker was Charle's Darwin's closest friend and collaborator. In fact, they corresponded about Darwin's theory before it was made public. And, Hooker was instrumental in getting Darwin's work published. Many regard Hooker as Darwin's personal PR man. In 1877, Hooker was knighted for scientific services to the British Empire. And here's an adorable factoid about Hooker: Kew Gardens recently shared that, during his travels, Hooker would address letters to his young son to "my dear little Lion" or "my dear cub". #OTD On this day in 1974, in Seattle, Washington, that seven acres of gardens were named in honor of the eminent horticulturist, Carl S. English Jr. The gardens are located on the Lake Washington Ship Canal and overlook the Hiram Chittenden Locks which connect Puget Sound to Lake Washington. The locks and the canal offer their own beauty and are fascinating to watch. And, every year, hundreds of thousands of salmon and trout climb the fish ladder in their annual migration. English was the supervisor of the gardens for 36 years, from 1940 until his death in 1976. After graduating with a degree in botany from Washington State University, Carl was hired by the locks to tend the grounds. The seven acres were intended to be used as a demonstration field where soldiers could march. In reality, the area sat idle. Being a botanist, Carl thought the grounds had potential and would have loved to install a garden on the spot, but there was no budget. So, Carl used his own time and went on many plant collecting trips around the world. Not surprisingly, Carl always brought back seeds and specimens for the garden. In addition, Carl and his wife, who was also a botanist, had a small seed business and published a seed catalog. Today, this lovely arboretum and specimen garden is home to nearly 1,500 flower varieties. There's a charming description of the garden by Dr. Arthur Kruckeberg written in the Summer of 1959: "To be sure, the average visitor enters the grounds bent on viewing the activity of boats and people at the locksides. Yet, once entering the north gate, one senses the change from the clutter and crowding of city life to the serenity and expansive beauty of a park. To the knowing eye, the plantings are not at all typical of just any park. The keen gardener, horticulturalist, or botanist is at once convinced that he has stepped into a botanical sanctuary-a true arboretum." Unearthed Words Edgar Albert Guest, Winter in the Garden Gray skies above us, and the snow Blankets the frozen earth below. Where roses bloomed the drifts lie deep. The hollyhocks are fast asleep. The cedars green are wearing white Like rich men's wives on opera night. The elm tree strangely seems to throw A lean, gaunt shadow on the snow. The last brown leaves of twig and stem Have found the storms too much for them. Winter, the tyrant of the land, Once more is in supreme command. Guest was known as the People's Poet during the first half of the 20th century. His poems were happy and hopeful; which is why people liked them. It's Time to Grow That Garden Library with Today's Book: A Year in Our Gardens by Nancy Goodwin and Allen Lacy This is a book of letters that were exchanged between Nancy Goodwin and Allen Lacy during one year between 1998 and 1999. They were both enormously passionate gardeners and they drew inspiration from their shared zest for plants. Aside from sharing a growingng zone (7A), their gardens were very different. Allen gardened on sandy soil on a small lot while Nancy battled rich clay loam on more than sixty acres. Together Nancy and Allen swapped stories of their horticultural successes and failures; traded information about a great many plants; discussed their hopes, fears, and inspirations; and mused on the connections between gardening and music, family, and friendship. I love what it says in the description of this book: Any woman who buys a house because of the quality of its dirt is a true gardener. Any man who reads garden catalogs word for word, cover to cover, is equally enthusiastic about plants. Meet Goodwin and Lacy, two kindred spirits… who also reveal the changes in their lives, sharing their innermost feelings and experiences, as one does only with a very close friend. You can get a used copy and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for under $4. Today's Recommended Holiday Gift for Gardeners: Esschert Design C3000 Herb Drier
Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart #OTD Today is the birthday of the poet Carolyn Kizer who was born on this day in 1925. Kizer wrote occasionally about the garden and my favorite poem of hers is this charming piece about King Midas growing golden roses called The Ungrateful Garden. Here are some definitions to help you understand Carolyn's poem: Ague is a shivering fever, serried means standing in a row, to "silt up" is to block or fill with silt, and a shift is a nightgown. To keep the show clean, I've eliminated all offensive language. The Ungrateful Garden Midas watched the golden crust That formed over his steaming sores, Hugged his agues, loved his lust, But (cursed) the out-of-doors Where blazing motes of sun impaled The serried roses, metal-bright. "Those famous flowers," Midas wailed, "Have scorched my retina with light." This gift, he'd thought, would gild his joys, Silt up the waters of his grief; His lawns a wilderness of noise, The heavy clang of leaf on leaf. Within, the golden cup is good To lift, to sip the yellow mead. Outside, in summer's rage, the rude Gold thorn has made his fingers bleed. "I strolled my halls in golden shift, As ruddy as a lion's meat. Then I rushed out to share my gift, And golden stubble cut my feet." Dazzled with wounds, he limped away To climb into his golden bed, Roses, roses can betray. "Nature is evil," Midas said.
Today we celebrate the botanist who was also a spy during WWII. We'll learn about the German photographer who saw artistic inspiration in his close-ups of plants. We'll hear some prose about winter, We Grow That Garden Library with a book that offers us 100 tips for Growing a More Glorious Garden. I'll talk about a sweet little gift of bling for your indoor pots and containers, and then we'll wrap things up with the woman who became the beautiful face of a produce company. But first, let's catch up on a few recent events. Here's Today's Curated Articles: Will I Ever Call Sansevieria by Its New Name? - The Houseplant Guru by Lisa Steinkopf Goodbye Sansevieria trifasciata... Hello, Dracaena trifasciata! The Royal Society- Microscopic Blue Mould @royalsociety This beautiful illustration is actually a microscopic view of blue mold growing on leather. The original (1665) appears in Micrographia: or some physiological descriptions of minute bodies made by magnifying glasses with observations and Inquiries thereupon, by Robert Hooke. Penicillium expansum is commonly known as Blue Mold. Blue molds are the bluish fungus that grows on food. Most people are familiar with the blue molds on some cheeses... Substituting Herbs| @RosaleeForet "What herbs can I use instead of ________?" Great post from @RosaleeForet At first, it may seem like a simple question. But the reality is, herbal substitutions are more complicated than that. You need to know how to think about them first." Now, if you'd like to check out these curated articles for yourself, you're in luck- because I share all of it with the Listener Community on Facebook. So, there's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, just search for the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Here Are Today's Brevities: #OTD On this day in 1855, it was starting to snow on Walden Pond, and Henry David Thoreau wrote in his journal: "At 8.30 a fine snow begins to fall, increasing very gradually, perfectly straight down, till in fifteen minutes the ground is white, the smooth places first, and thus the winter landscape is ushered in. And now it is falling thus all the land over, sifting down through the tree-tops in woods, and on the meadow and pastures, where the dry grass and weeds conceal it at first, and on the river and ponds, in which it is dissolved. But in a few minutes, it turns to rain, and so the wintry landscape is postponed for the present." #OTD Today is the birthday of Peter Smithers, who was born on this day in 1913. Sir Peter Smithers, was a British politician and diplomat, but also an award-winning gardener. He worked as a British spy during World War II. Smithers was said to have inspired the fictional character of James Bond. His obituary stated that: "Flowers were ... important to him. [He said] "I regard gardening and planting as the other half of life, a counterpoint to the rough and tumble of politics." Smithers learned to love the natural world from his nanny. When he was in his 50s, that Smithers was finally able to focus on horticulture and botany fulltime. Smithers loved rhododendrons, magnolias, tree peonies, lilies, and wisteria. He developed a garden that didn't require a ton of work - along the same lines as Ruth Stout. He wrote: "The garden is planted so as to reduce labor to an absolute minimum as the owner grows older." Thanks to Smither's travels, the Royal Horticulture Society asked Smithers to write his gardening memoirs. The book was a part-autobiography and part-garden book. Smithers had observed gardens in England, Mexico, Central America, and Switzerland. Smithers shared stories from his incredible career - like the time he was serving in naval intelligence in Washington when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. And, George Coen commented, "[Smithers is] as comfortable talking about [his career] as he is in explaining the behavior of wasps in a flower garden." And, Smither's followed individual basic principals to help ground him as he pursued the hobby of gardening. All gardeners could benefit from Smithers wise advise. He wrote: "[The garden] shall be a source of pleasure to the owner and his friends, not a burden and anxiety." #OTD Today is the anniversary of the death of the German plant photographer Karl Blossfeldt who died on this day in 1932. Working in Weimar, Germany, as a sculptor and architect, Karl made his cameras himself. He designed them to magnify up to thirty times - which allowed him to capture the incredible forms, patterns, and textures of plants. Blossfeldt's work was not a passing fancy; he took pictures of plants for 35 years. Karl said, "If I give someone a horsetail, he will have no difficulty making a photographic enlargement of it – anyone can do that. But to observe it, to notice and discover old forms, is something only a few are capable of." Karl preferred to portray an ideal, and as a result, he carefully selected his specimens. Even then, he shaped them with strategic pruning and clipping and arranged them in the very best light. As a teacher of industrial design, Blossfeldt wanted his students to understand that art and design originated in the forms of nature and he wrote, "The plant must be valued as a totally artistic & architectural structure." and "The plant never lapses in to mere arid functionalism; it fashions and shapes according to logic and suitability, and with its primeval force compels everything to attain the highest artistic form." Four years before his death, at the age of 63, Karl Blossfeldt created a book of his photographs called "Art Forms in Nature". The book featured 120 photos, and they were all created using a home-made pinhole camera. The book made him famous. A few years later, a second edition featured more plant photographs. After the first book was released, the San Francisco Examiner wrote a feature review that gushed: "These photographs of leaves, blossoms, and stalks of living plants amplify details… not apparent to the human eye. One of the most interesting of the photographs … is [of] the plant known as Willkomm's Saxifrage (pronounced SAK-suh-frij), enlarged eight times. The picture does not seem to be that of a plant but a delicately designed and fashioned brooch. Another [image] shows a shoot of the Japanese Golden Ball Tree, enlarged ten times, and is strikingly like the hilt of a sword used in the adventurous Middle Ages. [Another] picture, showing the rolled leaf of a German ostrich fern, was also so much like a crozier (a hooked staff carried by a bishop) that it seems [it] must have been designed from fern leaves. Another photograph looks like the detail of a Fourteenth Century screen done in wrought iron, but it is nothing, but a picture of the tendrils of the common pumpkin vine enlarged four times. Students all over Europe are interested in the German professor's unique discovery and will, in the future, go more and more to nature for decorative designs." Karl's work still feels fresh and fascinating, and his 6,000 photographs remind us that art often imitates Nature. Karl's microphotography is an excellent reminder to gardeners to look more closely at their plants. It was Karl Blossfeldt who said, "Nature educates us into beauty and inwardness and is a source of the most noble pleasure." Unearthed Words "The grim frost is at hand, when apples will fall thick, almost thunderous, on the hardened earth." - D. H. Lawrence, Author "Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour." –John Boswell, Historian "I prefer winter and fall when you feel the bone structure in the landscape - the loneliness of it - the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it - the whole story doesn't show." - Andrew Wyeth, Realistic Painter It's Time to Grow That Garden Library with Today's Book: Ground Rules by Kate Frey The subtitle to this book is 100 Easy Lessons for Growing a More Glorious Garden, and it came out in October of last year. In this photo-filled book, Kate shares her secrets to garden design and hard-won lessons on gardening. Thanks to the gorgeous illustrations and practical tips, Kate's book is an uplifting and refreshing read. Best of all, Kate's tips are shared one page at a time, and they are easy-to-read and understand. This makes Kate the rarest sort of expert gardener and designer in that she understands how to explain things to gardeners. Kate's book covers the following sections: 1) Design - paths, seating, color combos... 2) Planting Advice - plants for your zone & weather considerations. 3) Soil - identify the soil you have and then amend it. 4) Water - conserve water, use drip irrigation, plant smart. 5) How To Be a Good Garden Parent - deadhead, divide plants, manage weeds. 6) How To Attract Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - attract insects with plants and provide water. 7) How To Create a Garden of Earthly Delights - how to evoke emotion through design and create community through plants. Today's Recommended Holiday Gift for Gardeners: 5.2" x 4.6" 3pc Aluminum Mushroom Planter Figurine Set Gold - Smith & Hawken™ Bring a touch of fun, rustic flair to your plant collection when you decorate using the 3-Piece Aluminum Mushroom Planter Figurine Set from Smith & Hawken™. This gold-finish planter decor set includes three figurines designed to look just like little mushrooms, complete with allover textured and embossed detailing. Each mushroom features a small stake at the bottom, making it easy to insert into your planter, and the aluminum construction offers lasting style. Use them in the same planter, or spread them throughout your collection for whimsical appeal. It's a fun way to add a little bling to your indoor pots and containers. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart #OTD Today is the birthday of the American model Lorraine Collett who was born on this day in 1892 in Kansas City, Missouri. At the age of 23, Lorraine was working as a Sun-Maid Raisin girl and wore a blue bonnet with a white blouse and blue piping. Lorraine and the other Sun-Maid girls handed out raisins. In a spectacular marketing stunt, Lorraine even hopped aboard a small plane every day of the festival and tossed raisins into the crowds of people. One Sunday morning, after her mom had set her hair into eight long black curls, Lorraine was outside drying her hair in the warmth of her sunny backyard in Fresno. That afternoon, Lorraine had swapped out her blue bonnet for her mother's red one. The combination of her silky black curls and the red bonnet in the sunshine apparently made an arresting sight. Coincidentally, a group of raisin coop executives and their wives walked by at that very moment, and they asked Lorraine about the red bonnet. After that day, all the Sun-Maids wore red bonnets, and Lorraine agreed to pose for a watercolor painting. Lorraine and her mom had to rent an apartment in San Fransico for a month in order to work with the artist Fanny Scafford. Lorraine posed every day - all month long - for three hours a day. She held a wooden tray overflowing with grapes while wearing the red bonnet. The portrait ended up as the symbol for the company, and it was included on every box of raisins. One newspaper article about the story in 1978 had the headline "Hair A-glinting in the Sun Made Girl an Emblem." After the executive passed away, the painting ended up in Lorraine's possession. But after many years, Lorraine returned the watercolor to the company. Today, the portrait hangs in a conference room at the Sun-Maid Growers plant. And the faded red bonnet? That was donated to the Smithsonian on the company's 75th Anniversary. Thanks for listening to The Daily Gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
Today we celebrate the botanist who made his mark in human anatomy and the botanist who lost his civil war specimens to a confederate raider.
We'll hear the most popular poem about trees written by a poet who was killed in WWI.
We Grow That Garden Library with a self-published humorous garden book by one of my favorite garden authors.
I'll talk about a garden gift that you can split - one for you and one for a gift - and in the perfect price point for holiday gift exchanges and then we'll wrap things up with a story about the protection of the work done by botanists over a century ago.
But first, let's catch up on a few recent events.
Today's Curated Articles:
Dianthus Syrup!
In the past, Clove-pink was esteemed equally with the rose in mixtures. Regarded as "exceedingly cordial" and "wonderfully above measure comforts the heart."
Clove-pink petals w/ verbena infused in alcohol was a refreshing bath liqueur.
A third of Africa's tropical flora threatened with extinction: study | @physorg_com
The "Red List" is the go-to for birds and mammals but only covers ~10% of plants. A new study's preliminary estimate found a third of Africa's tropical flora (~7000 species) are likely/potentially threatened with extinction
The Potato Shines in New Missouri Botanical Garden Exhibit | @MobotMuseum
You say Potato, I say Potato Exhibit!
Just in time for the Holidays, the exhibit @MobotMuseum is called "Potato (Solanum tuberosum): Apple of the Earth" & will be on display through March 17.
The potato is the most important non-cereal food crop in the world.
Galleries feature contemporary artists Seamus O. Hames, Dornith Doherty, and Corina Kennedy. Each artist has interpreted the unique story of the potato, especially the historic impact of the late potato blight that devastated the potato crop in Ireland in the mid-19th century.
Now, if you'd like to check out these curated articles for yourself, you're in luck - because I share all of it with the Listener Community on Facebook. So, there's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, just search for the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group.
Brevities
#OTD Today is the birthday of Johann Gottfried Zinn who was born on this day in 1727.
Zinn died at the age of 32, but he accomplished much in his short life and he focused on two areas of science: human anatomy and botany.
From an anatomy standpoint, in his early twenties, Zinn wrote an eye anatomy book and became the first person to describe the anatomy of the iris in the human eye. There are a number of parts of the eye named in his honor including the Zinn zonule, the Zinn membrane, and the Zinn artery.
It's fitting that Zinn wrote about the iris - which of course is also the name of a flower - and so there's some charming coincidental connection between his two passions of anatomy and botany.
In Greek mythology, Iris was a beautiful messenger - a one-woman pony express - between the Olympian gods and humans. Iris was the personification of the rainbow. She had golden wings and would travel along the rainbow carrying messages from the gods to mortals.
In the plant world, the iris is a genus with hundreds of species and is represented by the fleur-de-lis.
When Zinn was 26 years old, he became director of the University Botanic Garden in Göttingen (pronounced "Gert-ing-en"). He thought the University was going to put him to work as a professor of anatomy, but that job was filled and so botany was his second choice. Nonetheless, he threw himself into his work. When Zinn received an envelope of seeds from the German Ambassador to Mexico, he described the blossom in detail and he published the first botanical illustration of the zinnia. He also shared the seeds with other botanists throughout Europe. Like most botanists in the 1700s, Zinn corresponded with Linnaeus. No doubt Zinn's work as a bright, young garden Director and the fact that he tragically died young from tuberculosis, spurred Linnaeus to name the flower Zinn received from Mexico in his honor.
And so, Zinn lives on in the name Zinnia - a favorite flower of gardeners, and for good reasons: They come in a variety of vivid colors, they can be direct sown into the garden, they attract pollinators like butterflies and they couldn't be easier to grow.
And, if meditation is something you struggle with, you can still become a Zinn Master, if you enjoy growing Zinnias. :)
And, I'd like to think Zinn would be pleased being remembered by the Zinnia because, like the Iris, the Zinnia has a connection to the eyes.
We've all heard the phrase beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Well... in the case of the Zinnia, the Aztecs were clearly not a fan. In fact, the Aztecs had a word for zinnia which basically translated to the evil eye or eyesore. The Aztecs didn't care for the zinnia flower - but don't judge them because it was not the hybridized dazzling version we've grown accustomed to in today's gardens. (You can thank the French for that!) The original plants were weedy-looking with an uninspired dull purple blossom. This is why the blossom was initially called the crassina which means "somewhat corse" before Linnaeus changed the name to remember Zinn.
Over time, the gradual transformation of zinnias from eyesores to beauties gave Zinnias the common name Cinderella Flower. And here's a little factoid: the zinnia is Indiana's state flower. I like to imagine when it came time for Indiana legislators to vote in favor of the zinnia, Zinn was looking down from heaven and smiling as he heard these words: "All in favor of the zinnia, say aye."
#OTD On this day in 1852, the Harvard botanist Asa Gray wrote to Joseph Henry, first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
Gray wrote the letter because he couldn't lecture at the Smithson due to his demanding schedule. But he also sent his reassurance in that Smithsonian was establishing itself as the scientific adviser to the United States Government and not to worry about any more negative media coverage of the Institution.
#OTD Today is the anniversary of the death of the Quaker doctor and botanist Jeremiah Bernard Brinton who died 125 years ago today in 1894.
During the civil war, Brinton served as an assistant surgeon and on September 14, 1863, he was promoted to Medical Purveyor.
It's hard to imagine, but Brinton managed to continue botanizing during the civil war. It's true. One time he was going to collect a specimen and he made a friend in Major General Gouverneur K. Warren. That little connection was a happy recollection for Brinton through the years.
During the Civil War, there was a man named John Singleton Mosby who was a Confederate raider. Mosby and his men conducted raids on union soldiers and communications over the span of two years.
On May 12, 1864, Mosby and his men captured a group of supply wagons. Dr. Brinton narrowly escaped, but his collection of botanical specimens from Virginia were destroyed when Mosby burned the wagons.
After the war, Brinton founded the Philadelphia Botanical Club. The highlight of his botanical life was guiding Harvard's Asa Gray and the Linnaean Society's William Caruthers on a visit to the pine barren region of New Jersey. His successfully showed them an extremely rare plant - the Schizaea pusilla or the little curly-grass fern.
In the final years of his life, Brinton dedicated himself fully to botany. He loved to entertain friends in his botanical workroom known as "the Den." In 1895, when Brinton was 60, he died from a heart attack and was found sitting in his chair in the Den.
A Biographical Sketch of Brinton in the Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club reported that on the last night of his life, Brinton visited a friend and they discussed a German poem called "Good night."
Over the quiet pathway Comes clear the bell-ring sound; Good night thy heart now sleep may And 'morrow a day comes round.
Once more then let us whisper A good evening and good night. The moon shines o'er the housetops, Our Lord keeps us in sight.
Unearthed Words
Today is the birthday of the journalist, poet, and World War I soldier Alfred Joyce Kilmer who was born on this day in 1886.
Kilmer was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey and he was killed in action on July 30, 1918, while serving as a sergeant in the 165th Infantry regiment.
Every year, Kilmer's childhood home at 17 Joyce Kilmer Ave. in New Brunswick, the city holds it's annual Open House is held from 10 am to 4 pm.
Kilmer is best remembered for his poem, Trees:
I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth's sweet flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may in Summer wear A nest of robins in her hair; Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain. Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Luke a few years ago and his love of plants and his sense of humor make for a delightful combination.
Luke has worked in horticulture for quite some time. This book gives you another crack at reading Luke's hilarious take on his favorite pastime: gardening.
Personally, I love following Luke on twitter because his perspective is so original. He draws on the downright funny aspects of growing plants.
Despite (or perhaps because of) a childhood spent dodging falling apples in his Dad's orchard, Luke harbored a dormant love of all things horticultural until college, when his brother showed him how to germinate an avocado pit. That experience inspired Luke to change his major to Botany and the rest is history.
This is Luke's second book and it's a series of essays that offer another hilarious and heartfelt look at Luke's life with THE MOST terrible people on earth: plants.
I love what IndieReader said about this book,
"It reads like the kind of far-flung ruminations a wacky mind might ponder during the mundane processes of working on a garden."
Luke's book would make a lovely gardener gift for the holidays for yourself or for someone else - because it's the kind of book you can pick up and just read a funny story or two and then go about your day with a little boost of garden happiness and humor.
Best of all, it's Luke's passion for gardening and for life that makes his stories especially connect with those of us who give gardening our all.
Don't forget, you can get a copy of Luke's book and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for under $14.
Something Sweet
Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart
Last year on this day on a post on IDigBio we learned that the over 100,000 specimens that make up the University of Cincinnati's botany collection were going digital thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation.
In the post, the herbarium curator Eric Tepe,
"... opened a folder on his desk to reveal a flower that was plucked on a spring day in 1884.
He said, 'This is running buffalo clover. It does really well when there's some disturbance in the soil. So in bison tracks, it would have been abundant.'
Running buffalo clover began to disappear across much of the West with the wide-scale slaughter of buffalo. Today, the clover is federally protected as an endangered species. So UC's specimen is especially valuable for researchers."
In the article, Eric pointed out that the single specimen of Running Buffalo Clover was shipped to two separate researchers over the past few decades - one in Kansas and once to Miami. Digitizing specimens means that everyone can have access and shipping won't always be necessary.
That's a great thing because we learned just last year Australian customs purposely destroyed a herbarium collection because they were worried about bringing in invasive species. They were not aware that what they were intercepting was a priceless 200-year-old French collection on it's way to the herbarium in Queensland. Those kinds of tragedies can be avoided by going digital. And, if something does happen to the original, at least there is a digital copy - which is better than nothing at all.
In the Cincinnati herbarium, like so many herbariums around the country, these collections have been waiting, largely undisturbed for over a century. And, I think, it's tremendous that the valuable long-ago work of botanists can be seen and referenced by all of us - at any time and any place - as long as you have wifi.
Thanks for listening to the daily gardener,
and remember:
"For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
Today we celebrate a wealthy vineyardist who came up with the idea for a raisin coop and the willow expert raised in beautiful gardens. We'll learn about the botanist who was murdered thanks to miscommunication and the oldest tree in New Orleans. We'll hear a garden poem about being shut out of the garden. We Grow That Garden Library with an oldie but goodie about a favorite of many gardeners: alliums. I'll talk about a practical but essential garden gift and then we'll wrap things up with a sweet story about the impressionist painter whose friend made sure his coffin wasn't draped in black. But first, let's catch up on a few recent events. Today's Curated Articles: An Economic History of the English Garden by Roderick Floud review – finance and flowers | Books | The Guardian An Economic History of the English Garden by Roderick Floud: "Filled with fascinating and often surprising details – a rhododendron would set you back the equivalent of more than £1,000 in the 1770s – the book reveals the economic context to our love of gardening and shows that "the history of English gardens is, in many senses, the history of England". "Spending money on gardens has been one of the greatest, and certainly most conspicuous, forms of expenditure on luxury in England since the 17th century or earlier." Bee exhibit creates a buzz at Museum of the Earth | Cornell Chronicle Excellent post about bees from @cornellento "People don't conserve what they don't know anything about... People hear a lot about honeybees, & they hear a little about bumblebees, but the other 96% of Bees on Earth don't get much press coverage... One of these, Wallace's giant bee (Megachile pluto) – the world's largest bee, with a wingspan of 2.5 inches – was thought to be extinct but was rediscovered in Indonesia in 1981. But these bees fetch thousands of dollars on eBay, which spurs collectors to catch them, further threatening the species' survival. " Stinging nettles, a troublesome but useful weed | Jack Wallington Garden Design, Clapham in London Great Common Sense Post from @JackWallington on Stinging Nettles: "Although it's hard to control like mint, it's SO useful for homemade fertilizer, and in nutritious teas and soups and also for wildlife. Every garden deserves a little nettle!" You get a nettle! And you get a nettle! And you get a nettle! Now, if you'd like to check out these curated articles for yourself, you're in luck - because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, just search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Brevities #OTD Today is the birthday of the California oilman, vineyardist, and attorney Henry Welsh who was born on this day in 1856. In 1912, California raisin growers, including Welsh, decided to band together to sell their raisins as a group. The plan was to create a million-dollar corporation and the concept drove Welsh to set up an innovative coop that paired investors with raisin growers. Unlike other coops of the time, the raisin coop was unique in that it bound the growers to deliver their entire crop for a guaranteed price - and they were locked in for three years. The coop was known as the California Associated Raisin Company and it quickly became known as the Sun-Maid Raisin Growers Association. The first president of the Association was none other than Henry H. Welsh. One little piece of trivia about Welsh was his deep love for the Fresno area. He loved the climate and his vineyard so much that, in 1941, Welsh bragged that he had not left the area for more than 40 years - not even to take a vacation. #OTD Today is the anniversary of the death of the Ohio-born botanist and Willow Expert Michael Schuck Bebb who died on this day in 1895. In 1896, Walter Deane wrote a biography of Bebb's life in the Botanical Gazette. The biography included a fantastic photo of Bebb who had sideburns that extended below his shoulders. One of the most charming details was Bebb's description of his childhood garden: "The garden was laid out in old-fashioned geometric style; the borders well filled with rare shrubs and perennials, Holland bulbs, and, I am happy to add, native plants as well." If we add to this a well-stocked greenhouse, twenty by one hundred and fifty feet in dimensions, we can readily understand how Michael early acquired a passion for the study of the plants about him." Later, after Michael's father retired from serving as the Governor of Ohio, his dad purchased a large estate 100 miles Northwest of Chicago he called Fountaindale. When Michael recalled the rolling prairie on the estate, he wrote: "Ah! That was lovely beyond description and a perfect paradise for the out-of-doors botanist." #OTD Today is the anniversary of the tragic death of the Canadian botanist Charles Budd Robinson who died on this day in 1913. After receiving his doctorate, Charles had spent five years working at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). His time at the Botanic Garden gave him the experience necessary to become an economic botanist with the Bureau of Science in Manila. On this day in 1913, Charles left on an expedition to modern-day Ambon - an island in Indonesia. Setting out alone, Robinson spied a boy in a tree gathering coconuts and he followed him to his village. The boy was alarmed to see a strangely dressed and ominous-looking European alone on the island and the villagers were worried that Charles was a headhunter - a danger they had heard about through rumors but couldn't verify. Overcome by the fear that they were about to be beheaded, five members of the village, including the chief, killed Robinson and weighed his body down in the sea. Robinson's death was a shock to the island nation who had managed to make some connections in more populated areas as "Doctor Flower." His death serves as a reminder to us of the dangers faced by Plant Explorers who often had to overcome language barriers and cultural misunderstandings. #OTD On this day in 2012, tree number 5,000 was planted at City Park in New Orleans following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. As a point of reference, tree number one or the oldest tree in New Orleans City Park is likely the famed McDonogh Oak lovingly called the Grandmother Tree by locals which is estimated to be approximately 800 years old. The tree is supported with wooden 'crutches' that hold the impressive large old branches. There is also a plaque near the bottom of the tree trunk which tells that the tree is named in honor of John McDonogh who donated the park's original 100 acres in 1854. In 1850, McDonogh left half of his fortune, $1.5 million, to the cities of Baltimore, New Orleans and McDonoghville for the express purpose of helping children which is why so many schools were named in his honor. The final withdrawal from the fund was made in 2002. During his Lifetime, McDonogh accumulated land after making his fortune in brick making and shipping. He wore the same old suit and reportedly looked like a bum in order to save as much money as he could so that he could acquire more land for the children. One of the pieces of land that McDonogh acquired included the old grove at New Orleans which is the home of some of the oldest trees in the country - including the McDonogh Oak. The old grove has survived so long because it sits on high ground. As a result, these ancient trees didn't experience the devastating flooding from Hurricane Katrina. Unearthed Words Today is the birthday of two wonderful writers that drew Inspiration from the garden: Christina Rossetti and Frances Theodora Parsons. Here's a poem from Rossetti called Shut Out in which she describes looking at her garden through the bars of a closed gate. When she asks a guard to give her some clippings, he doesn' t respond but instead builds a wall around the garden. After she is shut out of her garden, she sits beside a bed of violets but she can't love it because her heart is lost to her original garden. This poem is especially poignant for gardeners who have lost gardens due to a move, illness, or time. Sometimes the gardens we love the most are gardens that are no longer accessible to us, yet they remain in our hearts. Shut Out by Christina Rossetti who was born on this day in 1830. The door was shut. I looked between It's iron bars; and saw it lie, My garden, mine, beneath the sky, Pied with all flowers bedewed and green: From bough to bough the song-birds crossed, From flower to flower the moths and bees; With all its nests and stately trees It had been mine, and it was lost. A shadowless spirit kept the gate, Blank and unchanging like the grave. I peering through said: 'Let me have Some buds to cheer my outcast state.' He answered not. 'Or give me, then, But one small twig from shrub or tree; And bid my home remember me Until I come to it again.' The spirit was silent, but he took Mortar and stone to build a wall; He left no loophole great or small Through which my straining eyes might look: So now I sit here quite alone Blinded with tears; nor grieve for that, For naught is left worth looking at Since my delightful land is gone. A violet bed is budding near, Wherein a lark has made her nest: And good they are, but not the best; And dear they are, but not so dear. It's Time to Grow That Garden Library with Today's Book: Garlic, Onion, and Other Alliums by Ellen Spector Platt Ellen Spector Platt started out as a psychologist before becoming a flower farmer at Meadow Lark Flower & Herb Farm. Garlic, Onion, & Other Alliums was her 10th book. In one of her earlier books, Platt explained, "At first, the garden was simply a part of my personal stress management program, then It became an exciting new part-time business. But the pull of farming finally seduced me to close my practice ... to spend all of my working hours at the Meadow Lark." It's fitting that Platt was inspired to write a handbook on the alliums, including garlic, onions, chives, leeks, and shallots because they are a successful first venture for so many gardeners. Platt offers directions on growing and harvesting each plant, along with ideas for the garden, crafts, and cooking. And she includes step-by-step instructions for arrangements, garlands, and wreaths, as well as recipes for soups, sides, and entrees. This book came out in 2003. Best of all, you can get a used copy and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for under $5. Today's Recommended Holiday Gift for Gardeners: Ashman Galvanized Garden Stakes Landscape Staples: 500 Pack 6 Inch Sod and Fence Stake - Sturdy Rust Resistant Gardening Supplies for Anchoring Landscaping, Weed Barrier Fabric, Ground Cover Bundle Options: $41 for 500 - 0.082 each $20.99 for 200 - 0.105 each $17.99 for 150 - 0.12 each $9.99 for 50 - 0.20 each COMPLETE 6-INCH PROFESSIONAL LENGTH – Meticulously crafted to extenuate all your home projects ROBUST CONSTRUCTION - Rugged metal to suspend, anchor and harness a multitude of items including edging, chain link, lighting, plastic, electric wires, pet invisible, inground, underground MULTITUDE OF USES - Storage, herb, rose, vegetable bulbs, flowers, and floral décor, raising bed, square footage and so forth. Perfect for securing in-place a parameter or area boundary. GREAT VALUE - 500 high-quality Staples in a reclosable box for those large or small landscaping projects. Store and use them for many years to come GUARANTEED SATISFACTION! – Your satisfaction is paramount as a valued customer. If you're not fully satisfied with your purchase, just send us the product for a full refund! You can get a box of these staples or stakes and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for whatever pricepoint works for you. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart Today is the 96th anniversary of the death of the impressionist painter Claude Monet who died on this day in 1926 at the age of 86. Monet had insisted on a simple funeral and as such his coffin was draped with plain black cloth. His long-time friend Georges Clemenceau (pronounced kle-mon-so) removed it, stating, "No! No black for Monet!" He replaced it with a beautiful flower-patterned fabric. Gardeners love Stephen Gwynn's 1934 book Claude Monet and his Garden. In 1883 Monet purchased a property and he immediately set about creating a hidden water garden fashioned out of waste marshland. Monet made sure his lily pond was surrounded by trees and plants, incorporating poplars, willows, bamboo, and iris. And, Monet's favorite plant and painting subject were, no doubt, his water lilies. Monet said, "'I am following Nature without being able to grasp her. I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers." Monet painted his garden over the span of 40 years. In 1914, Monet began his most impressive work - a series of large panels that offered a 360-degree view of the pond. Monet worked on the panels all through the first World War. It's was Monet who wrote: "When you go out to paint, try to forget what objects you have before you, a tree, a house, a field, or whatever. Merely think here is a little square of blue, here an oblong of pink, here a streak of yellow, and paint it just as it looks to you, the exact color and shape." And it was Monet who said, "My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece." and "I must have flowers, always, and always." Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
Full show notes at the publisherToday we celebrate one of the first botanists to explore South Carolina and a German botanist who met his end during the 1841 Expedition to Niger. We'll learn about the man who discovered why the sky is blue, and one of Australia's top garden designers, in addition to the monument to one of Australia's greatest botanical collectors. We'll hear some thoughts on the birds of winter and, we Grow That Garden Library with a book that helps us become a seed starting and saving champion. I'll talk about my favorite brand for wooden plant labels (the come in a pack of 60!) and then we'll end today with a garden club story out of Davenport Iowa. But first, let's catch up on a few recent events. Today's curated articles: Branching Out: The Arborists Behind (and in) Central Park's Trees - The Official Website of Central Park NYC I think that I shall never see... a team as lovely as @centralparknyc Arborists! Bookmark this Great Post w/ A+ Video ~ Meeting the Arborists Behind (and IN) Central Park's Trees! As we talk to kids about careers, Arborist needs to be on the list! Dahlias -Overwintering Dilemmas | Bramble Garden Hi Dahlings! Here's a great behind-the-scenes post with advice and tips from @kgimson on Dahlias: "I'll take basal softwood cuttings when shoots are 1″ tall...Cuttings will make good size tubers and will flower in one season." Plantlife: Mission to save gin plant Juniper a recipe for success | @Love_plants This is great news for Junipers and a fascinating post. "No wonder the English 'gin plant' is under threat - the battle really begins at birth. Juniper seeds require two winters before they even germinate and seedlings then require very specific conditions to grow. If they survive childhood, it takes another 10 years or more before these 'teenagers' mature and begin producing those lovely gin-flavored berries." I'll never look at gin the same way! Now, if you'd like to check out these curated articles for yourself, you're in luck- because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, just search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Brevities #OTD On this day in 1788, Andre Michaux made his way from Georgia into South Carolina by crossing the Tugalo River. In his journal, Michaux wrote: "At dawn, I went to look at the banks of the river and I recognized the yellow root, [a new species of rhododendron], mountain laurel, hydrangea, [and] hemlock spruce. . . ." Harvard's Charles Sprague Sargent concluded this moment was significant because it was the first time that Michaux laid eyes on the Rhododendron minus. Rhododendron minus grows naturally in Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama along streams and rocky ridges. Four years after first seeing it, Andre Michaux described the Rhododendron minus in detail. He called it the minus meaning smaller, due to the size of its leaves as compared to Rhododendron maximum. #OTD On this day in 1841, the German botanist Theodore Vogel was laid low with dysentery. Vogel was botanizing in Niger ("nee-ZHER") after joining the Niger expedition in May of that year. By August, Vogel recorded the hardships of traveling by naval warship in his journal: "As soon as I got on board the Wilberforce, my first care was to shift my entire collection, especially the plants gathered since we arrived at Cape Coast Castle. But though I had taken all possible care, much was spoilt and almost everything in a bad state. It has been my lot ... that after endless labor, I could only get together ill-conditioned plants; for dampness and want of room are obstacles impossible to be overcome... I mention this, on purpose, that in case my collection comes into other hands, I may not be accused of negligence. I have sacrificed every convenience to gain room, and spared no trouble to overcome the dampness of the ship and of the atmosphere, but without success. The general arrangements of a man-of-war do not give much opportunity for such experiments. When will the time arrive, that expeditions, whose result must depend on the observations of naturalists, will afford them, from the outset, the appropriate and necessary support? At present, the vessels are fitted up for other purposes, and it is left to chance, to discover a little nook for the philosopher. I was now obliged to devote the two days remaining which we spent at Accra, to the drying of my collection, that all might not be lost." When Vogel became sick on this day in 1841, his friend and fellow German, the mineralogist, Charles Gottfried Roscher, tended to him for thirteen days and never left his bedside. On December 17th, about mid-day, Vogel asked his friend if everything was ready for their excursion and then a few minutes later, he peacefully passed away. #OTD Today is the anniversary of the death of the Irish experimental physicist John Tyndall who died on this day in 1893. Tyndall made many discoveries in the field of infrared radiation, including discovering the link between atmospheric CO2 and what is now known as the Greenhouse effect in 1859. Today, we know that a female scientist named Eunice Foote was actually the first to discover the effect - three years before Tyndall in 1856. That said, Tyndall is best known for learning why the sky is blue. It turns out that light scattering through molecules suspended in the atmosphere creates the color which is sometimes referred to as Tyndall Blue. As all gardeners know, there is nothing more beautiful than the garden set against the backdrop of a brilliant blue sky. John Tyndall was one of Ireland's most successful scientists and educators. #OTD Today is the birthday of the charismatic Australian gardener, designer & writer Edna Walling who was born on this day in 1896. Edna created some gorgeous gardens in Australia. She is remembered for her wonderful books on gardening & landscaping. Edna worked nonstop for four decades between the 1920s and 1960s; creating over 300 gardens. Many Australians regard her as the greatest landscape designer that Australia has ever known. Her books and garden designs continue to be an inspiration. Edna was a conservationist at heart. And, Edna was ahead of her time. She advocated for the use of native plants which were naturally drought-hardy - a must for the harsh climate of Australia. And, given her pragmatism, Edna naturally preferred perennials over annuals. She wrote about the backlash that she received from a friend in November 1941: "[I got] a letter from a friend the other day who addressed me "Dear Anti-annual!" Oooooh, what have I said? Something rude about Iceland poppies or asters? How narrow-minded of me. "If you can't grow them yourself you needn't be snippy about them", she thinks." It was Edna Walling who said, "Nature is our greatest teacher." Edna's work and legacy were brought to light by Peter Watts who wrote about Edna as part of his thesis in college. The paper became the basis for a book published by the National Trust and it fueled Peter's love for historic gardens. In an article for ThePlantHunter.com by Georgina Reid, Watts said that, "Walling would be regarded now as a bit old-fashioned. She was a gardener's designer – a brilliant plantswoman who understood the subtleties of gardening and design... [and that Edna] always thought gardens should be just a bit bigger than they needed so that you couldn't control them entirely." #OTD On this day in 1897, executors for the botanist Baron von Mueller's estate posted a request for donations in newspapers. The plan was to raise money for a monument over von Mueller's grave in the St. Hilda Cemetery in Melbourne. Four years later, by the end of November in 1901, newspapers announced that the monument was unveiled at a small ceremony with friends and government officials. The effort to establish the monument was led by Mueller's friend, Reverand Potter. Potter recalled that Mueller had "expressly desired that only wildflowers and grasses should grow upon his grave until such time as a worthy monument could be erected." Mueller's monument is a tall stone obelisk topped with an urn. A copper medallion shows his profile and the inscription on the monument ends with these words by Friedrich Schiller, the Baron's favorite poet: "Despair not! There are still noble hearts that glow for the august and sublime." Unearthed Words The American naturalist, Edwin Way Teale has given us some marvelous prose about birds and winter in his books. During World War II, Teale's son, David, was killed in Germany. Teale and his wife began traveling across the country by automobile. The trips helped them cope with their grief and became an integral part of Teale's writing. Their 1947 journey, covering 17,000 miles in a black Buick and following the unfolding spring, led to Teale's book North with the Spring. Additional road trips lead to more books: Journey Into Summer, Autumn Across America, and Wandering Through Winter. Wandering Through Winter won the Pulitzer Prize in 1966. Here are some of Teale's thoughts on winter and birds: "The "dead of winter" ----- how much more dead it would be each year without the birds!" "On the roughest days of winter, when life seems overwhelmed by storm and cold, watch a chickadee, observe in good cheer and take heart." "Bluebird blue....one of the loveliest manifestations of the color blue." My favorite Edwin Way Teale quote honors his thoughts about life. They are especially poignant when one thinks that he wrote them after losing his son: "How strangely inaccurate it is to measure the length of living by length of life! The space between your birth and death is often far from a true measure of your days of living." It's Time to Grow That Garden Library with Today's Book: Starting & Saving Seeds by Julie Thompson Adolf The subtitle to this book is Grow the Perfect Vegetables, Fruits, Herbs, and Flowers for Your Garden. Julie's book is a great gift for anyone who wants to start growing plants from seed. It's a whole 'nother world and it can be scary for gardeners to attempt starting & saving seeds on their own. I get it. Well, here's why Julie's book is a great guide: she gets it. She totally relates to the newbie seed starter anxieties and questions around this topic. Best of all, she is 100% approachable. As she says in the introduction to her book: "Think of me as your new friend or the neighbor next door who loves to garden. Together we'll banish any fears of failure and create a beautiful, healthy, delicious, self-sufficient garden - from seed." Yay! So, now that intimidation is off the table, let Julie walk you through how to handle bigger challenges like dealing with seeds that are stubborn germinators - seeds that I call the "Terminator Germinators." Even better, Julie recognizes that not everyone wants to set up shop indoors. If you don't want to grow lights or have limited space, let Julie teach you how to seed outdoors - because direct sowing couldn't be simpler. Did someone say zinnias? Better yet, as your confidence grows, let Julie convince you of the many benefits of starting plants from seeds - the cost savings, the increased variety options, and the appreciation factor. When you start a plant from seed - you really appreciate the entire life cycle of the plant and that deepens your understanding. Today's Recommended Holiday Gift for Gardeners: HOMENOTE 60pcs Bamboo Plant Labels (6 x 10 cm) with Bonus a Pen Vegetable Garden Markers T-Type Plant Tags for Plants $12.99 Great Value Pack. Compared to other brands, the HOMENOTE plant labels include 60 pieces and bonus a marking pen for you, which could help you mark sorts of plants, seeds, or vegetables with the garden markers. Eco-friendly Material. The garden markers are made by 100% natural bamboo that does not harm the earth like plastic plant labels, which is an eco-friendly and renewable resource to the environment. Easy to write, not Easy to Wash Off. The plant labels are so easy to write on the smooth surface with this bonus permanent marking pen, and please don't worry at all about the ink in the plant tags wash off in the rain or fade in the sunshine. Perfect Design and Size. Measuring in at 4" tall x 2.36" wide on top (1.4" tall on the top part), these T-type plant markers have enough room to label more than just the plant's names on them. Each marker is 1/16" thick rendering them very durable and standing the test of time. Great Gift for Gardener. These bamboo plant tags will add charm to your garden while letting you know exactly what the plants are or their grow situation. Personalize the plant tags with a short message/wording whatever you like is the perfect finishing touch to your potted garden. A good choice of gift for your friends, colleagues, lovers and family members who love gardening. You can get the HOMENOTE Plant Labels and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for under $13. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart On this day in 1930, the Quad-City Times shared a sweet little update from the garden department of the Davenport Woman's club. "[The group] added a special holiday gesture to its December program this morning at the Davenport Municipal Art Gallery, when the seed and bulb committee composed of E. A. Johnson and Mrs. R. E. Albrecht, presented each member with a dainty Christmas package in bright-hued Christmas wrappings, containing seeds for next spring's sowing. Fifty seed packages and ten sacks of dahlia bulbs went to the women who attended." But that's not all. Their education program was spot on: "Mrs. Charles Irwin spoke on the Arnold Arboretum at Cambridge, Mass., and its former keeper, the late E. H. Wilson, who passed away in October, and who was known as "Chinese" Wilson from his travels and long residence in China. Mrs. P. T. Burrows suggested that the department send to the new keeper and ask for seeds from rare plants to be used in Davenport gardens and public park as experimental plantings on this Mississippi Valley region." "[Then,] Mrs. Mathilde P. Koehler spoke on "Famous Gardens." Mrs. Koehler [who] has traveled extensively told of the wonderful gardens one finds in different parts of the United States... She also paid a tribute to the late John Temple, a well-known florist of Davenport and told of the lilac tree which he had planted in her garden, this being one of [only] a few in [this] city." "[Finally,] Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Cassling gave songs to the accompaniment of Miss Lois McDermott at the piano. [And] decorations were of prettily trimmed Christmas trees." Now that's a meeting! Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
Full show notes at the publisherToday we celebrate a diary entry made by Columbus as well as the man who introduced the potato to England. We'll learn about the Botanical Painter, who served botanists and French Royalty and the garden writer who inspired many with his Lancashire garden diary. We'll hear some amusing garden prose. We Grow That Garden Library with a book that helps you make your vegetable gardens more beautiful by strategically adding cut flowers. I'll talk about the kind of coal gardeners will want in their stockings this Christmas, and then we'll wrap things up with some thoughts on flowers by the Impressionist painter we lost 100 years ago today. But first, let's catch up on a few recent events. Grounding in the Garden: Fall Gardening Tips | LearningHerbs @learningherbs Great post from @learningherbs with five herbs that are great to start from seed or cuttings for your winter apothecary: rosemary, horehound, mullein, ground cherries, and common sage. The Grateful Tree – A Thanksgiving story | @wwediting Ya'll need to stop and read this. There are still some sacred parts of nature that remain untouched by us - this is a story about that. Thanks for writing it @wwediting. It's a lovely read. The Grateful Tree – A Thanksgiving story A Visit to Jupiterartland | @EllenMaryGarden Ellen Mary tweeted "Today I visited @jupiterartland in Edinburgh for a private tour of which I'm super thankful I've never been to a garden that has floored me quite like it! A mix of awe & terror, inspiration & confusion...the artwork & sculptures are quite something#art #landscape #garden https://pic.twitter.com/kE0rs2ARSY" I replied: "Now THAT's a garden visit. It will be interesting to hear what your thoughts are about this place over time. It's always fascinating to me how a garden speaks to us long after a visit. Sometimes first impressions are shadows of a more profound understanding that comes later." Now, if you'd like to check out these curated items for yourself, you're in luck - because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, just search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Brevities #OTD On this day in 1492, Christopher Columbus notes in his diary: "I climbed a mountain and came to level ground, which was sown with many different crops and with gourds." The gourds Columbus was referring to were squashes that were used for more than food. After the skin had been cleaned and dried, the skins were used as utensils. #OTD On this Day in 1586, Sir Thomas Herriot introduced Colombian potatoes to England. Over fifty years earlier, the Spanish had been the first to discover potatoes - but Herriot's potatoes were the first to reach England. Harriot had spent time in Sir Walter Raleigh's English colony on Roanoke Island in modern-day North Carolina. There, he studied not only wildlife but also potatoes from Columbia. Herriot was also an astronomer. In July of 1609, he created a drawing of the moon through a telescope over four months before Galileo. #OTD Today is the anniversary of the death of the French botanical painter for King Louis the XIV and XV, Claude Aubriet, who died on this day in 1742. When Aubriet was appointed "Painter to the King" after the death of his master Jean Joubert in 1707, he technically didn't have the right credentials because he didn't belong to the Academy of painting and sculpture. But, the King approved Aubriet's appointment anyway, and he lived at the Royal Garden until he died. Aubriet was sponsored by the French botanist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort to create over a thousand illustrations for his acclaimed book - Elements of Botany. Other botanists, including Sebastien Vaillant and Antoine Jussieu also hired Aubriet to do their illustrations. During his time at court, Aubriet painted twenty-four miniatures a year for 35 years resulting in nearly 600 vellums for the royal collection. Today, they are preserved at the Museum national d'Histoire Naturelle of Paris. What distinguishes Aubriet's work was his desire to paint all the known species in both the animal and plant kingdoms. Aubriet painted fish and insects and birds and mammals - in addition to plants. In 1722, Aubriet changed his will. His most prized possession was a cabinet he had inherited from his former master Jean Joubert. Aubriet left the cabinet to his friend, the botanist Bernard Jussieu. The cabinet was described this way: "In a wood veneer, exquisite paintings of parrots... ornamented the panels ... with their golden border." As you might have already suspected, the genus Aubrieta ("Aubreesha") was named for Claude Aubriet by the French Botanist Michel Adanson. Aubrieta is an ornamental plant, and it grows well in rock gardens. The leaves resemble succulents, and after flowering, a light clip will encourage new shoots. #OTD On this day in 1873, the gardener and writer Henry Arthur Bright began a diary, which would become known as the book "A Year in a Lancashire Garden" - one of the most beloved garden biographies of the nineteenth century. Bright's book would inspire future garden writers like Eleanor Vere Gorden Boyle, Henry Nicholson Ellacombe, Maria Theresa Earle, and Elizabeth Lawrence. Here are some excerpts from Bright's journal entry for this day in 1873. At the very end, he talks about making a potent tincture with petals from a Madonna Lily: "These notes are written for those who love gardens as I do... and they are written ... to convey to others some little of the delight, which grows (more certainly than any bud or flower) from the possession and management of a garden. Lancashire is not the best possible place for a garden, and to be within five miles of a large town is certainly no advantage. We get smoke on one side, and salt breezes on another, and, worst of all, there comes down upon us every now and then a blast, laden with heavy chemical odors, which is more deadly than either smoke or salt. Still, we are tolerably open, and in the country. These are certainly what the American poet Bryant calls "the melancholy days, the saddest in the year." The late autumn flowers are over; —the early spring ones are still buried under the soil. I could only find this morning a single blighted monthly Rose, a Wallflower or two, an uneasy-looking Polyanthus, and some yellow Jasmine against the house—and that was all. Two days of early frost had killed the rest. Lastly, the Chrysanthemums are in flower. The Chrysanthemum has three merits above almost every flower. It comes in the shortest and darkest days; it blooms abundantly in the smoke of the largest cities; it lasts longer than any flower when cut and put into water. If flowers have virtues, the virtue of the Chrysanthemum is its unselfish kindliness. In the hybrid beds, I shall plant a number of roots of the Lilium candidum—the dear old white Lily of cottage gardens. And as I write I am told of a recipe [using] the firm white petals. You must gather them while still fresh, place them unbroken in a wide-necked bottle, packed closely and firmly together, and then pour in what brandy there is room for. In case of cut or bruise, no remedy is more efficacious and certainly none more simple." Unearthed Words "There are many in this old world of ours who hold that things break about even for all of us. I have observed, for example, that we all get the same amount of ice. The rich get it in the summertime, and the poor get it in the winter." - Bat Masterson - who had a Daylily named in his honor "An onion can make people cry, but there's never been a vegetable that can make people laugh." - Will Rogers It's Time to Grow That Garden Library with Today's Book: Vegetables Love Flowers by Lisa Mason Ziegler The subtitle for this book is Companion Planting for Beauty and Bounty. As the description of this book reminds us, "Planting vegetables and flowers together is one of the oldest ways to create a healthy, bountiful garden, but there's more to the method than you might think. Vegetables Love Flowers will walk you through the ins and outs of companion planting, from how it works to which plants go together and how to grow the best garden for your climate." Lisa provides excellent guidance on how to incorporate flowers into a vegetable garden. She offers helpful tips and ideas for stunning vegetable gardens that are full of color - btw, the images in this book are beautiful. If you've ever wondered how you can enjoy a year of beauty in your garden - growing both healthy veggies and gorgeous flowers to boot, this book will be an Inspiration. Today's Recommended Holiday Gift for Gardeners: Hoffman 17502 Charcoal Soil Conditioner, 24-Ounce $5.99
This is the kind of coal a gardener would love to find in their stocking. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart Today is the 100th anniversary of the death of the impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir who died on this day in 1919. There's a little-known story about Renoir. For many years, he hung a sign on his garden gate which read, "No Renoirs sold here. Beware the dog." Pierre-Auguste Renoir said, when he was painting flowers, he was able to paint "freely and boldly without the mental effort he made with a model." He said "If you paint the leaf on a tree without using a model, your imagination will only supply you with a few leaves," he said. "But Nature offers you millions, all on the same tree. … The artist who paints only what is in his mind must very soon repeat himself." It was Renoir who said, "The pain passes but the beauty remains." "What seems most significant to me about our movement [Impressionism] is that we have freed painting from the importance of the subject. I am at liberty to paint flowers and call them flowers, without their needing to tell a story." Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
Today we celebrate the German reformer who added the cultivation of Mulberries and silkworms as part of his schools and the man who started the Linnean Society.
We'll learn about the Salem Botanist, who was a friend of Thoreau and Emerson and the man known as the Father of Texas Botany.
We'll hear the poem that takes us through the months of the year - ending with "And the night is long, And cold is strong, In bleak December." We Grow That Garden Library with one of the best books of the year, and it takes us on a tour of the world's best gardens. I start my new segment for Holiday Gardener Gift Recommendations, and then we wrap things up with the birth flower for December. But first, let's catch up on a few recent events.
Most young scientists will not study plant science. So why did I? | @talkplant
Great post from Dr. Rupesh Paudyal @talkplant: "The best conversation killer that I know bar none: Plant science is important because… zzzzzzz (the person switches off)" We must flip the script. Plant science needs new scholars! Recruit, Recruit, Recruit!Chicago Residence by Dirk Denison Architects | HomeAdore @HomeAdore shared this incredible home where there is a whole lot of green going on - garden terraces, outdoor landscaping, an adjacent park, terrariums, and integrated aquariums with aquatic plants galore. Me want!
Cheesy Acorn Squash Recipe - Allrecipes.com
Heres a Cheesy Acorn Squash Recipe from @allrecipes. It's a nice change from traditional sweet acorn squash. This variation is supposed to be so great that people who dislike squash like this recipe. Reviewers say to add some garlic to the sauté. Substitution ideas include using sautéed apples and onions, topping with panko breadcrumbs or bacon.Now, if you'd like to check out these curated articles for yourself, you're in luck - because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or track down articles - the next time you're on Facebook, just search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group.
Brevities
#OTD Today is the birthday of the German theologian and educator, Johann Julius Hecker, who was born on this day in 1707.
Hecker recognized that a classical education didn't work for everyone, and so he founded secondary schools that prepared students for practical jobs and callings.
Hecker referred to his schools as, "the seed-beds of the state, from which the young, like trees from a nursery, could be transplanted in their proper places."
Hecker's work attracted the attention of the king of Prussia, Frederick the Great). King Frederick encouraged Hecker to expand his efforts. Hecker installed gardens near his schools to teach hands-on botany. The gardens included vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees. And, Hecker also taught the cultivation of the mulberry tree. This was a strategic decision by Hecker, who recognized that the production of silk and the care of silkworms would find favor with the King. Thanks to Hecker, both teachers and students tended a large mulberry plantation and learned the culture of silk and mulberries.#OTD Today is the birthday of James Edward Smith, who was born on this day in 1759.
In 1784, on the recommendation of Joseph Banks, Smith purchased the entire collection of Carl Linnaeus.
When the King of Sweden learned of the purchase, he attempted to intercept the ship before it reached London. But he was too late.
With the collection securely in his possession, Smith founded the Linnean Society, and he also served as the first President.
The Linnean Society is the oldest biological society in the world. During the 18th and 19th century, the society was an important hub for scientific progress.
#OTD Today is the birthday of the Salem Massachusetts Unitarian minister and American botanist, John Lewis Russell, who was born on this day in 1808.
Russell attended Harvard along with his classmate of Charles Chauncy Emerson, whose big brother was Ralph Waldo Emerson. He graduated from the Harvard Divinity School in 1831 and served as a minister until 1854.
While he served his various congregations, Russell pursued his passion for botany.
In 1874, the Reverend Edmund B. Willson wrote a "Memoir of John Lewis Russell," and he observed:
"Wherever this man went to fill a pulpit, the lovers of nature gravitated toward him, and he made them his allies. They attended him to the fields and ranged with him the steep hills and the miry swamps. His animated talk and moist, kindling eyes as he described the graces of the ferns and the glories of the grasses and the lichens quickened the love of beauty in them. He imparted stimulating knowledge of the secrets of the meadows and woods, and ... had an ear for the mysteries of the sea, [and] the forests, [and] the moss-coated rocks."
In late September of 1838, Russell visited Ralph Waldo Emerson, and they spent some time botanizing together. Emerson wrote about the visit in his journal:
"A good woodland day or two with John Lewis Russell who came here, & showed me mushrooms, lichens, & mosses. A man in whose mind things stand in the order of cause & effect & not in the order of a shop or even of a cabinet."
Almost twenty years later, Russell went to Concord and spent three days with Henry David Thoreau. It would not be the last time they spent together.
Thoreau showed him around town and asked Russell all of his botanical questions. He specifically sought help with plant identifications. For Russell, the trip was made special by finding the climbing fern during one of their walks. Russell had a particular life-long interest in cryptograms like ferns (plants that reproduce using spores).
As Russell's life was ending, he sent many charming letters to his younger family members. In a letter to his nephew, he wrote:
"When this reaches you spring will have commenced, and March winds... will have awakened some of the sleeping flowers of the western prairies, while we shall be still among the snow-drifts of [the] tardy departing winter. As I have not learned to fly yet I shall not be able to ramble with you after the pasque flower, or anemone, nor find the Erythronium albidum, nor the tiny spring beauty, nor detect the minute green mosses which will so soon be rising out of the ground. But I can sit by the Stewart's Coal Burner in our sitting room and... recall the days when ... when we gathered Andromeda buds from the frozen bushes and traversed the ice-covered bay securely in the bright sunshine of the winter's day. I often long.. for a return of those Arcadian days... As I grow older — now threescore and nearly ten — every year... interests me all the more in his [God's] works and ways. Every little flower I meet with, ... that I never saw before, every little insect ... is a novelty... the ever-increasing discoveries of science and art, awaken my admiration, heighten my awe, and lead me to adoring trust... I will not trouble you to write to me, but I should like a spring flower which you gather; any one will be precious from you to your feeble and sick Old uncle and friend, J.L.R."#OTD Today is the anniversary of the death of the Father of Texas Botany and legend, Ferdinand Jakob Lindheimer, who died on this day in 1879.
Lindheimer immigrated from Frankfurt, Germany, and spent more than a decade searching the wilds of Central and Southeast Texas for new species of plants.
The botanist George Engelmann was a friend and fellow immigrant from Frankfurt. Engelmann introduced him to other botanists from around the world, and he helped Lindheimer process and identify his numerous specimens.
In January of 1842, Lindheimer wrote Engelmann:
"Herewith I am sending you 180 species of plants, most of which I collected in the spring of 1840... Send me the names soon - so that I don't have to keep creating nicknames such as I have been using as an aid... especially for the grasses; for instance, narrow ear, panicle ear, long ear, twin ear…"
While botanizing in Texas, Lindheimer discovered several hundred new plant species, and many now bear his name. Over his lifetime, Lindheimer collected close to 100,000 plant specimens in Texas.
There are many incredible stories of Lindheimer's botanizing. Once he came across an Indian war party and ended up in a staring competition with the chief. Lindheimer won.
Another time, Lindheimer had become friends with the Comanche chief Santana who wanted to trade Lindheimer two mules and a Mexican girl for his blue-eyed, blonde-haired grandson. Lindheimer politely declined the offer.
Unearthed Words
"January cold and desolate; February dripping wet; March wind ranges; April changes; Birds sing in tune To flowers of May, And sunny June Brings longest day; In scorched July The storm-clouds fly, Lightning-torn; August bears corn, September fruit; In rough October Earth must disrobe her; Stars fall and shoot In keen November; And night is long And cold is strong In bleak December." - Christina Giorgina Rossetti, The Months
Today's book recommendation: Gardenlust by Christopher Woods
The subtitle to this book is A Botanical Tour of the World's Best New Gardens, and it is a fascinating and glorious armchair read to the most incredible gardens of our lifetime.
The cover of this 416-page book shows a garden that's at the Golden Rock Inn in Nevis. Miami-based designer Raymond Jungles designed the gardens under the stewardship of New York artists Helen and Brice Marden, the owners of Golden Rock.
After a long career in public horticulture, Chris Woods spent three years traveling the world seeking out contemporary gardens, and he found fifty of the best. His book is a botanical tour of the world's best new gardens - public, private, and corporate. Chris focuses on the gardens around the world that had been created or significantly altered -this century, the 21st century.
Chris views the gardens through a variety of themes, including beauty, conservation, architecture - plant and landscape, as well as urban spaces. Chris's book was published in late September, and it's such a great reminder for us to get out of our own gardens and see and learn from other gardens - especially public gardens.
Gardens Illustrated called this book,
"An extraordinary collection of 21st-century gardens that will arouse wanderlust… Whether you are a garden globetrotter or an armchair explorer, this book is definitely one to add to your collection. With wit and humor, Chris describes the most arresting features in public parks in exotic locations like New Delhi and Dubai, mission-redefining botanic gardens in Chile and Australia, and the most enviable details of lavish private estates and gemlike city yards. Throughout, he reveals the fascinating people, plants, and stories that make these gardens so lust-worthy."
Today's Recommended Holiday Gift for Gardeners
Crabtree & Evelyn's GARDENERS HAND CREAM - 25ML - $10 Buttery texture. Rich moisture. Botanical goodness.
For hands that are always on the go, press pause and treat them to our Gardeners Hand Cream. • The nature-inspired formula, rich in herbal extracts. • Super-hydrators macadamia seed oil and shea butter help replenish lost moisture. • Created with lovers of the great outdoors in mind. • The signature Gardeners fragrance inspired by summer memories of freshly-cut grass on a sunny day.
Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart
As we begin December, you may be wondering what December's birth flower is? Well, it's no surprise that the December birth flower is the Poinsettia. Poinsettia is botanically known as the Euphorbia pulcherrima. Pulcherrima means "very beautiful." Like all Euphorbias, the Poinsettia has milky sap. The Aztecs used the sap as a medicine to control fevers, and the red bracts were to make a reddish dye. In the 1820s, President John Quincy Adams appointed the botanist Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett to serve as a US ambassador in Mexico. Poinsett soon observed a shrub on the side of the road that caught his eye. He sent specimens to his friends, and the Poinsettia became a sensation.In 1836, English newspapers reported:
"Poinsettia Pulcherrima, the bracts which surround the numerous flowers, are of the most brilliant rosy-crimson color, the splendor of which is quite dazzling. Few, if any of the most highly valued beauties of our gardens, can vie with this.
Indeed, when we take into consideration the profuse manner in which it flowers, the luxuriance of its foliage, and the long duration of the bracts, we are not aware that there is any plant more deserving of a place in all select collections than this lovely and highly prized stranger."
Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
Today we celebrate the man who discovered that plants have circadian rhythms. We'll learn about the 20-acre estate that had the very first lawn mowed by a lawnmower in the United States. We'll hear some truly lovely and a little melancholy poetry about November. We Grow That Garden Library with a book about the official national tree of America - the mighty oak. I'll talk about making Thanksgiving Time Capsules, and then we'll wrap things up with a sweet story about an Olive tree on the movie set for Samson and Delilah back in 1949. But first, let's catch up on a few recent events. How To Make A DIY Herbal-Infused Broth | Herbal Academy @herbalacademyne @HeatherSaba It's just so easy to incorporate herbs into your everyday cooking. "An herbal-infused broth is a tasty way to enjoy herbs & add a nutritious boost to your meals all year long. Herbal-infused broths can be used into soups & other dishes or enjoyed on their own as a savory sipping broth on a crisp, cool day. This blog offers a great how-to and gives a list of herbs to consider. " Leave your leaves, garden experts say | CTV News Atlantic @AmystoodleyCTV If you haven't gotten around to raking - "There's a new campaign called 'Leave the Leaves,' and it encourages homeowners to leave the leaves on their lawn," said gardening expert @NikiJabbour "Leaves are just garden gold for the gardener." Now, if you'd like to check out these curated articles for yourself, you're in luck- because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or track articles down - the next time you're on Facebook, just search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Brevities #OTD Today is the birthday of Jean-Jacques d'Ortous de Mairan, who was born on this day in 1678. Mairan was a French chronobiologist - a job one rarely hears about these days. In 1729, da Mairan put together an experiment showing the existence of a circadian rhythm in plants. Essentially, he took a mimosa pudica plant - the heliotrope - and he put it in constant darkness in a cupboard. All the while, he recorded the plant's behavior. And what do you know? The plant had a natural rhythm of opening and closing its leaves - even if it couldn't absorb sunlight. Now, de Mairan didn't think that the plant had an internal clock, but he DID think that it could attune itself to the sun - even if it was blocked from it. No matter the accuracy of Mairan's conclusions, his work was on to something, and it established the foundation for chronobiology or the internal circadian clock. #OTD Today is the birthday of Henry Winthrop Sargent, who was born on this day in 1810. Henry Winthrop was born into American royalty. The Sargent family was fabulously wealthy, and Henry's dad was the Boston artist Henry Sargent. Like most of the men in his family, Henry Winthrop went to Harvard, where he studied law. Before he turned 30, he married Caroline Olmsted of New York, and shortly after that, Henry Winthrop retired to pursue his true calling: a country life. A little over a year after marrying Caroline, Henry Winthrop bought a twenty-acre estate that overlooked the Hudson River. He christened it Wodenethe - a marriage of two old Saxon terms Woden (pronounced Woe-den) and ethe, which stands for woody promontory ( promontory is a point of high land that juts out into the sea or a large lake; a headland.) Almost two decades later, the unusual name caused one newspaper reporter to write that it was a beautiful property with a wretched bad name. Wodenethe was a massive undertaking for Henry. He had unsightly buildings neighboring his property that he needed to hide, and he needed to learn what would grow in the extremes of the Northeast. Although Henry traveled to many different European gardens, his most considerable influence was much closer to home: Andrew Jackson Downing. In fact, one history of the area said, "Had there been no Downing there would have been no Wodeneth." Downing was a renowned landscape designer, horticulturist, and writer, and his botanic garden was just across the river from Wodenethe. Downing and Henry Winthrop formed an immediate friendship. And, even though Downing's work and writings played a significant role in his approach, Henry Winthrop ultimately took matters into his own hands as he designed the Landscape at Wodenethe. Henry Winthrop clearly had vision and courage - two characteristics that are often found in master Landscape Designers. One of his first acts at Wodenethe was to remove trees and foliage that obstructed scenic vistas. As a lover of trees, Henry Winthrop was strategic and exacting when it came to framing a vista. This skill in framing a scene was Henry Winthrop's superpower, and he even created windows for his home that were shaped to maximize the view to the outside. One story about Henry Winthrop's exceptional ability to create a view involves his son, Winthrop. One time a woman visited the Sargents, and when she looked out the window, she noticed little Winthrop out on the lawn. Henry Winthrop had created the view to look like the lawn extended out to the Hudson, creating a sense that there was a sharp dropoff - almost like the lawn ran out to the edge of a cliff. Concerned for Winthrop, the lady visitor commented something to the effect of how SHE wouldn't let her own children play so close to that dropoff. Well, after that visit, Henry Winthrop would often have little Winthrop go out to the lawn with a fishing pole and pretend to fish off the edge. In reality, he was sitting a good mile away from the water's edge - quite safe on the flat earth. But, Henry Winthrop's masterful vista created an artful and beautiful illusion. Henry Winthrop's major life accomplishment, aside from Wodenethe, was taking Downing's book simply called Landscape Gardening and revising it for the fourth edition. This extensive re-write included details on the creation of Wodenethe in detail in addition to the Italien garden of Horatio Hollis Hunnewell in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Hunnewell had married Henry Winthrop's cousin, Isabelle. And, keep in mind that Henry Winthrop's father was a painter when you listen to his words on Landscape Gardening: "Landscape Gardening is just as much a picture, though a living one, made by trees, as a painted landscape is made by the pencil or brush; both require long years of study, artistic perceptions, and a knowledge of how to handle the tools." One of the most charming quotes I found about Henry Winthrop is regarding his early days at Wodenethe. After forty years of work, he reflected: "For the ten years [I] did everything wrong, and for the next five,[my] time was occupied in correcting [my] mistake[s]." The epilogue for Wodenethe is unfortunate. Henry Winthrop died there. He and Caroline were buried there. Wodenethe was serially passed along to children and surviving spouses until in 1921 when a Dr. Clarence Slocum opened a sanatorium at Wodenethe making it America's first privately licensed psychiatric hospital. In fact, some of the Wodenethe patients ended up living in Henry Winthrop's Wodenethe mansion. After Dr. Slocum died, his son sold the property to a developer, and the first thing they did was to carry out a controlled burn that destroyed the mansion and the entire garden. The place once called "The most artistic twenty-acre place in America" was gone. A year later, in 1955, the land turned into a housing development mainly for employees of Texaco. And there is yet one more little known and sad footnote to the Wodenethe story. The sanatorium gatehouse at Wodenethe was turned into a one-bedroom, one-bath cottage for a particular patient who occupied it pretty much in solitary confinement all through the 1940s: Rosemary Kennedy, JFK's disabled sister. Their father, Joseph Kennedy, made the arrangments for Rosemary to live at Wodenethe without every sharing the location with the rest of the family. Consequently, she never had any visitors. Today, Wodenethe is memorialized by the street name Wodenethe Drive which intersects with Sargent Avenue in Beacon, New York. Unearthed Words On this bleary white afternoon, are there fires lit up in heaven against such faking of quickness and light, such windy discoursing? While November numbly collapses, this beech tree, heavy as death on the lawn, braces for throat- cutting ice, bandaging snow. - Edwin Honig, November Through a Giant Copper Beech No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease, No comfortable feel in any member - No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees, No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds - November! - Thomas Hood, No! Today's book recommendation: Oak by William Bryant Logan As a professional arborist and award-winning nature writer, Logan captures the reciprocal relationship between humans and oak trees for centuries. Oak is a fascinating book, and Logan's prose sometimes reads almost like poetry. In the book, Logan even writes about the mighty acorn and its little known use as an edible. Logan tries to make acorn jelly and acorn flour, and he writes that the acorn has a unique characteristic as an edible; it makes you feel full for hours after eating it. Logan says, "There is some basic sympathy between oaks and humans. We invented a whole way of living out of their fruit and their wood, and by that token, they too invented us." Logan is the author of the simply-titled books Dirt, Oak, Air, and Sprout Lands. This book was written in 2006. You can get a used copy and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for under $6. Today's Garden Chore Create a Thanksgiving Time Capsule. Gather leaves and specimens from your garden. Put it all together in a mason jar. Then, create a journal entry about this year's Thanksgiving: who was gathered together, who did you miss, record the weather, maybe jot down a poem or prayer, record some thoughts on your November garden. Then tear out the entry and roll it up and tie it with a piece of twin and tuck it in your mason jar. You'll have a lovely way to store your memories as well as a beautiful display from your 2019 November garden. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart On this day in 1948, the Ponca City News out of Ponca, Oklahoma, shared a story about the famous director Cecil B. DeMille. I'll paraphrase it for you: During the filming of Samson and Delilah, Demille wanted to film a scene under an olive tree. He quickly called for the film's nurseryman and instructed him: Hang another olive branch from that limb. It's pretty bare there." In short order, the nurseryman appeared with a leafy branch and set about attaching it. DeMille shouted, "Just a minute. THAT's not an olive branch!" The nurseryman was a little taken aback, but managed to reply, "I'm sure it is, sir." DeMille snapped back, "I'm sure it's NOT. Why, a four-year-old kid could tell you that's not from an olive tree. Where did you get it?" To which, the nurseryman humbly replied, "I just clipped it from the [backside] of this olive tree." Suddenly there was complete silence from DeMille. After a few seconds, he said, "I don't suppose I am in a position to say this is not an olive tree." "No sir," said the nurseryman... and the scene went on. Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
Today we celebrate the Spaniard who brought the pineapple and coffee to Hawaii. We'll learn about the man who gardened at Monks House so much it would cause fights with his wife. We'll honor the Japanese American Landscape Architect, who designed many of our Modern Urban Public Spaces and the man who came up with a new kind of berry in the heart of Napa Vally in the 1920s. We'll hear some thoughts about the end of Fall from various poets and writers. We Grow That Garden Library with one of the most beautiful and sophisticated books on our favorite houseplant: the orchid. I'll talk about the five microgreens you should grow for the Holidays to impress your guests, and then we'll add things up with some charming advice on starting a Walking Club from 1890. But first, let's catch up on a few recent events. Vote For the Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights | USA Today | @USATODAY It's time to vote for your favorite - The Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights @USATODAY Readers' Choice Awards. During the winter season, a different kind of color lights up botanical gardens across the United States. Instead of spring flowers, visitors find twinkling holiday lights, often accompanied by a range of other holiday activities and events. Which botanical garden puts on the best seasonal lights show? You decide by voting once per day until polls close on Monday, December 2at noon ET. The ten winning gardens will be announced on 10Best.com on Friday, December 13 The current standings are: 1. A Longwood Christmas - Longwood Gardens - Kennett Square, Penn. 2. Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights - Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden - Richmond, Va. 3. Gardens Aglow - Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens - Boothbay, Maine 4. Nights of a Thousand Candles - Brookgreen Gardens - Murrells Inlet, S.C. 5. Million Bulb Walk/Dominion Energy Garden of Lights - Norfolk Botanical Garden - Va. 6. Illumination: Tree Lights - Morton Arboretum - Chicago 7. Lights in Bloom - Marie Selby Botanical Gardens - Sarasota, Fla. 8. River of Lights - ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden - Albuquerque 9. Fantasy in Lights - Callaway Gardens - Pine Mountain, Ga 10. Illuminations - Botanica - Wichita, Kan. Vancouver's Seawall Proves Strong Infrastructure Can Be Pretty, Too | CityLab @CityLab @zachmortice Zach Mortice wrote this great article in City Lab about an artistic seawall barrier. Gardeners can be inspired by taking the functional and making it so much more. Fencing, borders, raised beds, etc. don't need to be eyesores. Now, if you'd like to check out these curated articles for yourself, you're in luck - because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or track down links - the next time you're on Facebook, just search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Brevities #OTD Today is the birthday of the Spanish adventurer and botanist known as Hawaii's Original Farmer, Francisco de Paula Marín, who was born on this day in 1774. By the time Marin was in his early twenties, he had already made his way to Honolulu, Hawaii. It would be his home for the rest of his life. Marin became a friend and advisor to King Kamehameha I, who consolidated all the Hawaiian Islands during his rule. Marin served in the Kamehameha Dynasty in various capacities all through his life, but he is best remembered for his work in horticulture. In 1813, Marin grew the first pineapple in Honolulu - the Hawaiian word for pineapple translates to "foreign fruit." Two years later, Marin planted the first Hawaiian vineyard using vines of the Mission grape. And, in 1817, with the approval of King Kamehameha, Marin planted the first coffee seeds in Hawaii. #OTD Today is the birthday of the man who designed Monks House garden Leonard Sidney Woolf who was born on this day in 1880. Woolf was the husband of Virginia Woolf. Leonard was the primary gardener and garden designer of Monks House - although Virginia helped him. Virginia and Leonard lived at the house from the time they first purchased it in 1919 until their deaths. The garden at Monks Hosue was a retreat and a place that they could both escape from the chaos of London. Leonard loved to be in the garden gardening. He hated tea roses and floribunda roses. But, he loved fruit trees like apple and pears, and he sold the fruits to make money. Leonard's devotion to the garden was a source of consternation for Virginia. Leonard spent so most of his time and his money on the garden. Virginia famously complained, "We are watering the earth with our money!" Leonard recorded all of his Monks House garden income and expenditures in a gorgeous dark green and pink ledger book. The first line in the book is dated August 26th, 1919, and he recorded the first gardening work performed by gardener William Dedman. Virginia described Monks House as "the pride of our hearts.'" In July of 1919, she wrote that gardening or weeding produced "a queer sort of enthusiasm which made me say this is happiness." When Virginia suffered bouts of depression, the garden at Monks House was the place she went to recover and heal. Since both Virginia and Leonard kept diaries, the garden was a frequent topic. On September 29, 1919, Virginia wrote: "A week ago, Leonard's wrist & arm broke into a rash. The Dr called it eczema. Then Mrs. Dedman brushed this aside & diagnosed sunflower poisoning. [Leonard] had been uprooting them with bare hands. We have accepted her judgment." One of Virginia's favorite places to write was in the garden at Monks House. She had a small converted shed that she called her writing lodge. Every morning on her way to the lodge, Virginia walked through the garden. The Monks House garden was THE place where she wrote some of her most famous works. One story is often shared to illustrate Leonard's devotion to gardening. In 1939, as the second world war approached, Virginia called for him to come inside to listen to "the lunatic" Hitler on the radio. But Leonard was in the middle of tending to his Iris, and he shouted back: "I shan't come. I am planting iris, and they will be flowering long after he is dead." After Virginia's tragic suicide, Leonard wrote: "I know that V. will not come across the garden from the Lodge, and yet I look in that direction for her. I know that she is drowned, and yet I listen for her to come in at the door." At Monks House garden, there were two Elm trees that the Woolf's had sweetly named after themselves, "Virginia and Leonard." Leonard buried Virginia's ashes under one of those Elms and installed a stone tablet with the last lines from her novel The Waves: "Against you, I fling myself, unvanquished and unyielding, O Death! The waves crashed on the shore." #OTD Today is the birthday of the Japanese-American landscape architect who designed some of the country's best-known industrial parks, urban spaces, and campuses, Hideo Sasaki, who was born on this day in 1919. Sasaki was born in Reedley, Calif., and grew up on his family's truck farm in the San Joaquin Valley. During WWII, Sasaki and his family suffered at an internment camp in Arizona, where Sasaki worked in beet fields. As a very bright student, Sasaki went on to study at the University of Illinois and Harvard Graduate School of Design. Sasaki lived in the Boston area, where he taught at Harvard for more than 20 years, chairing its landscape architecture department from 1958 to 1968, and he founded his Sasaki Associates firm. By 1993, more than a third of all landscape architecture professors had been trained by Sasaki. Sasaki created industrial parks for big companies like John Deere and Upjohn. He also designed urban spaces like Boston's Copley Square, New York's Washington Square Village and the St. Louis Gateway Mall. In 1971, Sasaki became the first recipient of the American Society of Landscape Architects medal. Sasaki died of cancer back in August of 2000. #OTD Today is the anniversary of the death of the plant hybridizer Rudolph Boysen who died on this day in 1950. In the 1910s and '20s, Boysen had been playing around with plant genetics. He worked on an 18-acre farm owned by John Lubbens in Napa Valley. On one June morning, Boysen took a walk along a creek bank to inspect some of his new berry creations. Boysen was astonished when he saw that one of the vines bore fruit that was almost two inches long. The fruit would become known to the world as the Boysenberry. Boysenberries are similar to blackberries but have a larger, juicier, and sweeter fruit. The Boysenberry is a cross between the loganberry, the raspberry, and the blackberry. In 1927, Boysen advertised them as "the sensation of the 20th Century." The grower, Walter Knott, had been looking for new varieties of berries, and when he got some of Boysen's plants, he knew it was the berry he had been looking for over the past decade. Knott gave Boysen credit by naming the plant in his honor. But, Knott managed to make an empire for himself with the proceeds - establishing the world-renown Knotts Berry Farm. As for Boysen, he never earned a dime from the Boysenberry. Unearthed Words "The melancholy days are come, the saddest of the year, Of wailing winds, and naked woods, and meadows brown and sear." - William Cullen Bryant "She calls it "stick season," this slow disrobing of summer, leaf by leaf, till the bores of tall trees, rattle and scrape in the wind." - Eric Pinder, Author "November comes And November goes, With the last red berries And the first white snows. With night coming early, And dawn coming late, And ice in the bucket And frost by the gate. The fires burn And the kettles sing, And earth sinks to rest Until next spring." - Elizabeth Coatsworth Today's book recommendation: Orchid Modern by Marc Hachadourian Marc Hachadourian is the senior curator of the incredible orchid collection at the New York Botanical Garden, and his book Modern Orchidsis outstanding. The subtitle for the book is Living and Designing with the World's Most Elegant Houseplants - so true, Marc. You can read for yourself in Marc's book about the history of orchids and all the different types of orchids, but most of us simply want to know the answer to one or two questions like 'how do I keep my orchids happy and healthy?' and/or 'how do I get them to rebloom?' To Marc, the answer to those questions is pretty straightforward. In general, we simply need to understand the growing conditions that orchids prefer. Marc teaches us what orchids like by asking us the following six questions: Does the location have natural sunlight? How strong is the sunlight? How long does the location, receive natural light each day? What temperatures will there be throughout the year? In the daytime? In the night? Is the air constantly dry or doesn't have some moisture And finally, how often will I water and care for the plants? If you have an orchid lover in your family, this is the book for them. It would make a lovely Christmas present. In addition to learning how to care for the orchids, you will get Marc's top picks for orchids, and he has 120 of them. And, Marc also shares some pretty amazing projects that will add to the decor of your home, including terrariums, a wreath, and a kokedama. There's also a project that teaches us to make an orchid bonsai tree that is absolutely stunning. All of Marc's crafts and projects are a level up from something you would typically see in a gardening book. Marc provides a level of sophistication and elegance with his work that I just have not seen in a garden book in some time. When I can look at a project and learn something - whether it's a new tool or new product that I can source for working with my own floral arrangements - I'm so appreciative. So, hats off to Marc for tackling a subject that most of us feel we could use more help with (orchids) and by not dumbing it down. Overall, Marc shares super-helpful pro-insights and modern options for incorporating our most beloved houseplant: orchids. Today's Garden Chore Start sowing some microgreens for the holiday season. There is nothing like a microgreens garden to satisfy your winter gardening needs and at that same time, growing those fresh, nutrient-dense, garden to table greens that you can grow in the comfort of your own home. For most gardeners, I think the biggest challenge with growing microgreens is learning what dishes can be enhanced with them. Btw, microgreens are just the little seedlings that pop up after you plant the seeds. So, what five microgreens will I be planting in time for Christmas? Arugula - this is the perfect topping for your Christmas Lasagna or bruschetta — and it offers the same amount of calcium as spinach. Basil - the PERFECT addition to many tart Christmas drinks. Basil is an anti-inflammatory. Radishes - wonderful, fresh addition to salads and even stuffing. As tasty as a full-grown radish. Vitamin C + Protein. If you like radishes, you'll love radish microgreens. Cilantro - for soups and stews. Super easy to grow. Lutein and Beta-Caratein Powerhouse. Pea - excellent for garnishing any egg dish and FANTASTIC for adding to mashed potatoes. 7x Vitamin C of blueberries. Onion Sprouts - use just as you would an onion. The sprouts taste just like an onion. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart On this day in 1890, The San Francisco Call shared an article with this headline: Walking Clubs. Lazy People Have No Interest in the Subject. Here's an excerpt: "You may have heard of a hundred kinds of clubs, ... and you may belong half a dozen and yet have never heard of a walking club. If so, you have missed one of the best of all. Autumn is here, and the bracing air makes you feel like exercising briskly. The leaves are turning to gold and scarlet, the nuts are nearly ripe, and the squirrels are scampering through the trees, chattering challenges with saucy eyes. Now is the time to organize walking clubs. A number of bright, boys and girls might get up such a club in an hour, No initiation, no fees. A President perhaps and maybe a Secretary to put down anything wonderful that may happen during the walks. The only business of the club will be to settle where they will walk. No constitution, no by-laws. Take any morning when it does not rain, see that your feet are shod strongly and comfortably, and walk as many miles as you can without fatigue. Hold up your head, throw your chest forward, and walk. Don't mince along or shuffle, but strike a long, swinging step from the hip joints. Have a destination. Select a farmhouse or a country inn three miles out. Manage to get there in time for dinner or supper, and after eating, rest one hour. Then come home by a different route. At night take a bath and go to bed. Take a walk once the first week, twice the second week, and keep that up for six weeks. Then walk three times a week, if the weather permits. Begin with a six-mile walk and lengthen it to ten. Keep up these walks during the autumn and winter — in fact, up to next summer. Get a number to go, and keep on enlisting new members. Seek a new route for every walk, if such a thing is possible. If not, add variety by dividing the club into two detachments, which shall meet at some previously agreed upon place to lunch. Then "swap routes" for the return trip, or return all together by a third route. There are a hundred ways of preventing monotony. Incite members to discover new points of interest and get an amateur botanist or geologist to join you. Study natural history as yo…
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