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
Sometimes the plant gods smile on you with a clearance sale featuring something truly spectacular like Japanese Forest Grass or in this case, Hakonechloa 'All Gold'. My local Lowes was clearancing them for $3 a pop - and it was just what the plant doctor ordered to dress up our cabin up north. In 2009, my garden idol, Margaret Roach tweeted, "Another plant I cannot garden without: Hakonechloa 'All Gold.' Solid gold in the shade." She's right. Brevities #OTD On this day in 1796, Gilbert Laing Meason was born. Laing Meason was a friend of Sir Walter Scott and he invented the term 'landscape architecture', in his 1828 book on The Landscape Architecture of the Great Painters of Italy. Not many copies of his book were printed, but somehow the prolific garden author, John Claudius Loudon, . secured a copy. He shared the term with American horticulturist Andrew Jackson Downing, who, in turn, shared it with Frederick Law Olmsted. Olmsted was the first professional to describe himself as a 'landscape architect', and he is regarded as the founder of landscape architecture. Meason was very balanced in his perspective on architecture. He valued both function and beauty. In terms of his own property, Meason was a romantic and his personal estate was known as Lindertis House. It is no surprise that he surrounded it with ornate gardens. Over time, the cost of maintaining the elaborate gardens in addition to the household management of the estate as a whole brought Lindertis to total financial ruin. Today, barely a trace of the mansion exists. When Meason died, he had no idea that his notion of 'landscape architecture' would be his legacy. #OTD Today in 1806, Michael Keens, a market gardener from Isleworth, exhibited the first large-scale cultivated strawberry combining flavor and appearance, at the Royal Horticultural Society. It's hard to imagine, but large garden strawberries didn't exist prior to the 1800s. In his wonderfully illustrated book, The Complete Strawberry (Century Books, 1985), Stafford Whiteaker revealed the modern strawberry's development over the last two centuries; sharing how plants were harvested from the foot of the Andes and brought to France by a French spy named Amédée François Frézier (1682- 1773). Frézier cared for five plants during the six-month journey home by sharing his own precious supply of water. In a strange coincidence, Frézier's surname is itself derived from fraise, the French word for strawberry. It turns out, his ancestor, Julius de Berry, presented the Emperor with a gift of strawberries and was honored with the name of his gift.
For clarification, the name ''strawberry'' does not refer to mulching the berries with straw. Rather, it is from the Old English term straw which means ''to spread' referring to their runners grow. On 30 Apr 1859, The Preston Chronicle and Lancashire Advertiser, offered a little advise about growing Keen's strawberries, saying, "For edgings for these nothing is more profitable than parsley or a line of Keens's seedling strawberry." #OTD It was on this day in 1939, that The Asbury Park Press, reported that Lambertus C. Bobbink, one of the country's best known florists, was honored at the New York Botanical Gardens. The author, Pearl Buck, was there to dedicate a rose garden and unveil a plaque to Bobbink that read, "To honor Lambertus C. Bobbink, a great rosarian whose counsel and generosity helped to make this garden possible for the enjoyment of all." Bobbink immigrated to the United States from Holland in 1896. He purchased a few acres of land in Rutherford, New Jersey, and in 1898 Frederick L. Atkins, an English nurseryman, became his partner in the business forming Bobbink and Atkins; one of the worlds largest horticultural organizations at the time. They both made their homes on Herrick Street, around the corner from their business on Paterson Avenue. In 1911, Bobbink & Atkins successfully grew the first crop of budded Hybrid Tea Roses in the United States and they hybrid tea roses to this country. In 1935, Bobbink introduced the Azalea Rutherfordiana in 1935 which memorialized Rutherford, his hometown.
Unearthed Words Today is the birthday of the English poet, William Henry Davies. Davies loved the natural world, especially birds and butterflies. George Bernard Shawwas a fan of his work and he wrote the preface of Davies' autobiography. Here are a few of his poems: " When I can hear the small woodpeckers ring Time on a tree for all the birds that sing ; And hear the pleasant cuckoo, loud and long? The simple bird that thinks two notes a song." "And here are butterflies : poor things Amazed with new-created wings; They in the air-waves roll distrest Like ships at sea ; and when they rest They cannot help but ope and close Their wings, like babies with their toes." Today's book recommendation: Grow in the Dark by Lisa Eldred Steinkopf Lisa Eldred-Steinkopf is known as the Houseplant Guru and this is her latest book. She's putting thespotlight on 50 of the best houseplants you can grow in dim or dark areas. Having a south-facing window doesn't always guarantee you the best light to grow plants—especially if your window faces an alley or a tree-lined street. What's the point of growing an urban jungle if tall buildings are blocking all your sunshine? This compact guide, designed to look as good on your shelf as it is useful, will help you learn how to make the most of your light so you can reap the physical and emotional benefits of living with plants. Detailed profiles include tips on watering your plants just right, properly potting them, and troubleshooting pests and diseases. You'll also learn which plants are safe to keep around your pets. Whether you live in a shady top-floor apartment or a dungeon-y garden level, this book will help you grow your plant collection to its healthiest for its Instagram debut. Today's Garden Chore Plant Hakonechloa 'All Gold' in your garden. All Gold is grass perfection. Graceful, tactile, and easy. As its name suggests, Hakonechloa 'All Gold' is bright, golden and beautiful. Plant it next to anything red or purple-leafed and you'll have something amazing in your garden. The best part about Hakonechloa is that it prefers part shade and why not? It brings plenty of sunshine all on its own. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart It was on this day in 1993, that newspapers reported on the first recipient of the Richard Evans Schultes Award. The honor went to a preeminent botanist and plant explorer with the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service: Calvin R. Sperling. Schultes was a Harvard University professor and widely recognized as the father of ethnobotany. As Schultes once said, "Ethnobotany simply means someone who is investigating plants used by primitive societies in various parts the world." Schultes praised Sperling: "Calvin Sperling is one of the foremost ethnobotanists today, due to his consistent excellence in field research and to his extensive work to conserve biological diversity and to improve crop plants worldwide." Sperling was selected to receive the award by an international committee established by the award's sponsor, The Healing Forest Conservancy in San Francisco. An article about Sperling in the Star Tribune, said, "Sperling traipsed over mountain slopes [in the Soviet Union] in search of wild apricot trees. He had expected to find about 20 forgotten varieties. Instead, he brought back nearly 5O different specimens. "I found some incredible ones with traits we've never known before..." [Like] tolerance for frosts and freezing that may allow apricots to be grown in areas with harsh winter climates." Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
Do you have delphiniums in your garden? I used to start out every summer by planting twenty delphinium in front of my porch. By the time I my red lilies were popping, my delphinium would be 4 feet tall. In that same area, I had planted white astilbe and alyssum; I had a little red, white, and blue garden under my American flag for 4th of July. The Delphinium is one of the birth flowers for the month July. It's also known as 'Larkspur' and 'Knight's-spur'. During the Victorian age, people essentially used flowers as emojis: and the delphinium symbolized lightness and an open heart. If your a delphinium lover, it's easy to see how the happy delphinium blooms would be associated with levity and laughter. Brevities #OTD It was on this day in 1846 that the British naturalist, and women's rights activist, Marian Farquharson was born. As a botanist, Farquharson had specialized in ferns and mosses. Farquharson had petitioned the Linnaean Society for four years to allow women. In 1904, 83% of the Society voted to elect women members. When the first 15 women were nominated, Farquharson was the only one not to be elected on that day in 1904. It took four more years for Farquharson to be elected to the Society in March, 1908. Sadly, she was too ill to attend to sign the register. Farquharson died from heart disease, in Nice, in 1912. #OTD It was on this day in 1893, that the Welsh landscape gardener, architect and author, Ralph Hancock was born. Hancock created several famous Gardens across Wales, England, and United States. One of his most famous works is the rooftop garden at the Rockefeller Center in New York. Hancock designed his rooftop garden in 1934. It was really cutting-edge at the time. In the interview, he said, "The days of penthouse gardening in boxes are over and miles and miles of roof space in every metropolis in this country remain to be reclaimed by landscape gardening." Hancock's rooftop garden was called The Garden of Nationsand it featured gardens for eight different countries around a central, old English tea house and cottage garden. Hancock's Garden of Nationsrequired 3,000 tons of earth, 100 tons of natural stone, and 2,000 trees and shrubs. They were all delivered by the service elevator or by man using a block and tackle pulley system on the side of the building. The 11th floor Garden of Nations opened on April 15, 1935. Nelson Rockefeller was in attendance as well as students from Bryn Mawr college. The young women arrived wearing costumes from the various nations and there's a beautiful photo of Nancy Nichol wearing a kimono in the Japanese garden. #OTD It was on this day in 1940 the St. Joseph Gazette reported that Dr. Hugh C. Cutler of St. Louis had discovered two species of plants in Utah: the wild bridal wreath and a crucifer. He sent the specimens via airmail to Washington University in St. Louis. #OTD It was on this day in 2018, that NASA's Best known as ECOSTRESS berthed at the space station. ECOSTRESS' mission is to measure the temperature of plants from space enabling researchers to determine how much water plants use and to study how droughts affect plant health. Unearthed Words Today we honor Herman Hesse, who was born on this day in 1877. He was a German poet, novelist, and painter. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1946. Hesse had a special appreciation for trees and I thought I'd share some of his prose with you today: "Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth." "A tree says: A kernel is hidden in me, a spark, a thought, I am life from eternal life. The attempt and the risk that the eternal mother took with me is unique, unique the form and veins of my skin, unique the smallest play of leaves in my branches and the smallest scar on my bark. I was made to form and reveal the eternal in my smallest special detail." Today's book recommendation: Seasonal Flower Arranging by Ariella Chezar Chezar says in the introduction of her book, "I use as many blossoms as possible that are in season. I don't want to see a tulip in August or peony in September. I love them in their season - and when that season passes, it's time to move on." Chezar is a professional floral designer and she provides step-by-step instructions for 39 seasonal floral arrangements. A pioneer in the farm-to-vase movement, her book is a delightful reminder to gardeners that they can bring their garden indoors and create exciting compositions with cut flowers. Today's Garden Chore Multiply your Solomon Seal through division. All you need to do, is split the large white tubers. Make sure that each piece has at least one big bud. If you want to plant in drifts, use small pieces and plant them close together; instead of using one large mass. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart On this day in 1932, the Sydney Morning Herald shared a story of attempted murder. Richard Wettstein was responsible for the Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna. A year after his death, the new head of Vienna University, Dr. Able, had just finished giving a speech after unveiling a statue dedicated to Wettstein. Suddenly, an old professor named Karl Schneider pushed through the crowd and shouted, "At last we settle an old score." Luckily, his revolver shot went wide. The Mayor of Vienna seized the old man before he could shoot again. The excitement of his commemoration, was a far cry from the persona of Wettstein - who was known for his courteous demeanor. And, he was a wonderful speaker. On more than one occasion, he was considered a potential contender for the president of Austria. Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
Martagon Lilies are in peak right now in most gardens. They bring the most wonderful architectural aspect and form to the garden; they are so very elegant. Offering a Turk's cap-style bloom, Like many plants, Martagon colonies get better and better with age. Martagons like sweet soil and they will be grateful for a dusting of lime every year. Brevities #OTD It was on this day in 1871, the Yorkshire Herald reported the first meeting of the Vale of York Field Naturalists Club. Although the weather was very unfavorable, forty-seven ladies and gentlemen (members and friends of the club) left the Society's Rooms, in Micklegate, in three four-horsed conveyances. When they reached Rivaulx ("ree-VOH")Abbey, the company then broke up into small parties - geologists, botanists, and entomologists - and proceeded to examine the valley for their own specialities. "The geologists were interested with the sections laid bare in the quarries, and many interesting and beautiful fossils were found The botanists collected, amongst other plants, Saxiraga tridaclylitet (nailwort), Helianthemum vulqare (rock rose), Cuscuta Epithymum (clover dodder), Aquilegia vulgaris (columbine), Atropa Belladonna (belladonna or deadly nightshade), Polypodium Phegopterit (northern beech fern), P. Dryoplerit (oak fern), besides the common Scolopendrium vuigare (hart's-tongue fern). At six o'clock the party sat down to dinner at the Crown Hotel, Helmsley, which was served in Mr. and Mrs. Cowen's usual substantial style, after doing justice to which the Rev. Vice-President Rowe addressed those assembled on the advantages of natural history and the beauties and history of the Abbey, and also stated he would shortly bring a very interesting piece of information concerning it before the public, he being hon. secretary of the Architectural Society. It was arranged that the next monthly field day should be held at Bolton Abbey and Woods. They then left for home, after a most agreeable day, which left every one with the feeling that this the first excursion of the club was a great success."
#OTD It was on this day in 1908 that Illinois adopted the Violet as its State Flower. As with many State Flowers, Illinois had decided to let the school children vote to decide on the state flower. The purple violet received 15,591 votes and the wild rose came in second with 11,903 votes. The children also decided the state tree and they selected the white oak. Meanwhile newspapers were running a piece that blared the headline, "the reign of the violet is over". "Strange and unbelievable, but a fact, nevertheless, violets are no longer fashionable.
Gardenias, orchids and American Beauty roses are as much in evidence as ever, but the reign of the violet is temporarily over.
It is true that a large bunch of deep purple violets relieved by a single mauve orchid, a deep pink rose, or a single waxlike gardenia is still an acceptable gift, but it is not the gift that is so frequently' chosen this year, as a small cluster of gardenias or even of two or three exquisitely beautiful orchids...
Roses are much in favor at the moment, ...
A new flower hailing from Paris is the pink American Beauty, and well does it deserve the name... the color is an adorable shade of shell pink, and for all decorative purposes tins flower has already a firmly established place in fashion's regard.
... one cannot but regret the sense of chivalry of a generation back, when etiquette demanded that flowers be sent always to a hostess before even the least formal entertainment, and when a debutante had better stay at home than go to a ball without her ... little bouquet of flowers."
#OTD It was on this day in 1910 that the Allentown Democrat out of Allentown PA reported that Joseph Hooker was 93 years old. "Sir Joseph Hooker, the world-famous botanist, received a personal note of congratulations from King George today on the occasion of his ninety-third birthday.
Sir Joseph, who is still remarkably active for a man of his great age, has had a long and brilliant career in his chosen field of science. As early as 1839 he accompanied the expedition of Sir James Ross to the Antarctic region.
Later he conducted scientific expeditions to many parts of the world including Eastern Bengal, the Himalayas, the Khasia Mountains, Morocco and the Greater Atlas, New Zealand Ceylon, California and the Rocky Mountain region of North America.
In the course of his active career he rendered invaluable services to the British arts, manufactures and commerce by promoting an accurate knowledge of the floras and economic vegetable products of the various colonies and dependencies of the empire."
Unearthed Words Today's poem is by Ann Taylor - an English poet and literary critic. In her youth she was a writer of verse for children, for which she achieved long-lasting popularity. Her sister, Jane, wrote the words to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". The Violet Down in a green and shady bed, A modest violet grew; Its stalk was bent, it hung its head As if to hide from view. And yet it was a lovely flower, Its color bright and fair; It might have graced a rosy bower, Instead of hiding there. Yet thus it was content to bloom, In modest tints arrayed; And there diffused a sweet perfume, Within the silent shade. Then let me to the valley go This pretty flower to see; That I may also learn to grow In sweet humility.
Today's book recommendation: Tree in the House by Annabelle Hickson A Tree in the House is stunning; an ode to flower arranging. A Tree in the House celebrates the art of arranging flowers for celebrations big, small and in-between held throughout the year. Annabelle Hickson provides ideas and instructions for celebratory botanical installations and arrangements, each staged and photographed in different rural homes, gardens and sheds using the beauty of what's growing wild. Interspersed throughout are snapshots—in words and pictures—of rural life and that aspirational rustic country aesthetic.
Today's Garden Chore Divide your Flag Iris after they finish blooming Regular division can re-invigorate your plant and promote healthy growth. The best time to divide flag iris is immediately after flowering. Lift the whole clump and use a sharp knife to detach new rhizomes. Don't forget that flag irises need full sun.
Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart #OTD It was on this day in 1932, that newspapers around the world ran a fascinating article about the botanist Frank Kingdon-Ward titled "Plant Explorer Finds Adventure". "Captain Frank Klngdon-Ward, tall, well-built son of Britain, probably one of the world's most noted plant seekers, who has journeyed all over the world in search of rare flowers, has led a life as exciting as any explorer, and has given the world some of its most beautiful and rare blooms. Now In his late "40's, he is tanned from the winds and suns of tropical India, Asia, and the forbidden land of Tibet. He has collected flowers from the heights of the Himalayas, and from the depths of marshy Indian -jungles. His last expedition occurred In 1931. On It he discovered a new pass into Tibet 35,000 feet above sea level, through an out-flung range of the Himalayas. His efforts in prying through thick jungles and climbing high mountains were rewarded in the discovery of a new species of slipper orchid, said to be worth about $500. On another of his Tibetan expeditions, he discovered the blue poppy, a flower that is sought by all Horticulturists in this country and obtained by few. To give an idea of the trying conditions under which he labored, consider that he discovered a new river, the Nam-tamai, the lost source of the Irrawaddy which no white man in 2,000 years of civilization had found. Along this, river, through virgin forest, he and his small band trudged, meeting wild beasts and hostile bands of natives. Back in the wild country he located a people hitherto known only ; as a vaguely surmised race, the Darus. These people had never seen a white man before Kingdon-Ward arrived. One of the most unusual plants he ever discovered was the rare Nomocharis Farreh, a beautiful flower of China. This plant was found by accident and during the height of a violent rainstorm. The flower itself Is rose pink outside, and dappled with royal purple inside. Each stem, from 12 to 15 inches in height, bears one, two or three of the flowers, which grow as large as teacups. The flower which Captain Kingdon-Ward prizes most of all is the Campanula Calicola, "perhaps the most beautiful rock plant I discovered." It was found growing in limestone cliffs, and Is adaptable lo rock gardens. The Orient is rich in flowers. That land has given us many of our choice blooms. Roses come from India and China; pinks, carnations and daffodils from Asia Minor, and numerous rare orchids come from the wilds of Tibet. Captain Kingdon-Ward describes a land of rare rhododendrons vividly in a book he wrote on his adventures in China and Asia. "You may wander for days ankle-deep through a chromatic surf of rhododendrons, rose pink, ivory white, lavender, plum purple, crimson and amber yellow. They are woven into carpets of queer design and ample pile, or form tuffets, or hassocks or mere tangles, mats or brooms. "They spread and sprawl everywhere, bushy and twigulous, all; looming Into flower together; still looking across the dark ocean of moorland you see the billowy hills crested with color; and, where escarpments break the even roll, the plant growth surges high up the rocks, It Is western Szechwan, the Tibetan marshes. home of the 'Lapponicum' rhododendrons. Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
Today is National Paul Bunyan Day. In Minnesota, most folks fondly remember the tales of Paul and Babe - his big blue ox. Speaking of big, Many gardeners have a fondness for giant plants. They are perfect if you have lots of space, or if you just prefer the look of tall or giant plants. You can Celebrate Paul Bunyan Day today by planting giant plants like these: hibiscus, Joe Pye weed, Baptisia, Hollyhock, Queen of the Prairie, Plume Poppy, Gunnera, Cup Plant, Castor Bean, - and this list is just to get you started. Brevities #OTD It was on this day in 1924 that botanist Harry V. Harlan gave a presentation to the Science Club at Kansas State University about his Plant Exploration and travels in North Africa. Harlan made the trip by mule caravan over 59 days. In some villages, Harlan was the first English-speaking person ever to visit. Harlan returned to the states with over 600 varieties of plants. During his life. Harlan organized a school of agriculture in the Philippines. He worked for the USDA and was the Principal Agronomist in charge of barley. Harlan went on many Plant Expeditions around the globe. The University of Illinois has a black and white photo of a young, handsome Harlan - looking a little Indiana Jones-ish. The photo was taken just before a trip to Ethiopia. The image was used as the headshot for his book One Man's Life With Barley(1957). #OTD It was on this day in 1939 that The Daily Times out of Davenport Iowa published a story about the practice of importing seeds to the United States. Here's what it said: "Exactly 100 years ago this week the United States Congress authorized the first search and collection of foreign seeds and plants in an attempt to increase the number of agricultural products produced in this country. In the century that has followed, this work has been carried forward with untold benefits to American farmers. Plant explorers have tramped over much of the earth's land surface and have imported thousands of varieties of seeds and plants that have enriched American agriculture in an incalculable degree." #OTD It was on this day in 1974 that the Panama City News out of Panama City, Florida published a story about one of Florida's most outstanding horticulturists: Dr. Henry Nehrling, who was an ornithologist, botanist, and plant breeder. It's been said that during his lifetime, "Every plant lover in Florida knew or knew of Henry Nehrling." Nehrling's horticultural writings covered a period dating from the early 1890s to the late 1920s. The esteemed plant explorer David Fairchild said this about Nehrling: "Dr. Nehrling's writings should be available to the young people who are making gardens around their houses, for they not only give the facts regarding a host of interesting plants from which they may choose, but they tell in narrative form how one who learns to recognize plants can explore for a lifetime the unlimited variety of beautiful forms which compose the plant kingdom." Nehrling's notes are wondrously inspiring even after all this time. Here's a sample of some of his quotes: "Show me your garden, provided it is your own, and I will tell you what you are." "In both the cultivation, and enjoyment of gardens. Is peace, rest, and contentment. Pleasure is not a luxury of life, but one of its necessities and ornamental horticulture is one of the truest and most stimulating pleasures in life and may be enjoyed by him who possesses only a window-box, as well as the favored mortal with acres in abundance." "The cultivation and enjoyment of tropical and subtropical plants is the noblest, the most delightful, the most satisfying of all earthly pursuits." "Florida Is the land of almost unlimited possibilities as far as ornamental horticulture is concerned. We are able to grow in the open air hundreds- no, thousands - of species of exquisite tropical and subtropical plants which farther north can only be grown with much difficulty and with considerable trouble In expensive glasshouses." "Nowhere, have I found such a wealth of beautiful native and exotic plants as in Florida, very aptly called the "land of flowers" and the "paradise of ornamental horticulture". Even if we were deprived of the exotic vegetation, we would be able to form wonderful gardens by using only the material found In our woodlands and along our water courses. There is no more beautiful evergreen tree in the whole plant world than our glorious evergreen Magnolia grandiflora bedecked with its noble lustrous foliage and embellished with Its snowy-white, deliciously fragrant flower-chalices." Following Nehrling's death in 1929, his incredible Gardens went untended and became a jungle. Over 20 years passed before the present owner, Julius Fleischmann, came upon the scene. Fleischmann had the heart of a naturalist, and he was determined to make Henry Nehrling's garden live again and did. It took over three years of intensive restoration and development to reopen the garden to visitors in 1954. Unearthed Words It's the birthday of the English illustrator Cicely Mary Barker who was born on this day in 1895. Barker is remembered for her depictions of fairies and flowers. In Barker's fabulous fantasy world, every flower was granted its particular Fairy to protect it from harm. Barker would draw the flowers and the fairies and then write poetry about them. Here are a few of her poems: Forget-me-not Fairy So small, so blue, in grassy places My flowers raise Their tiny faces. By streams, my bigger sisters grow, And smile in gardens, In a row. I've never seen a garden plot; But though I'm small Forget me not! White Clover Fairy I'm little White Clover, kind and clean; Look at my threefold leaves so green; Hark to the buzzing of hungry bees: "Give us your honey, Clover, please!" Yes, little bees, and welcome, too! My honey is good, and meant for you! Barker loved wildflowers, but she didn't believe in fairies. In the foreword to Flower Fairies of the Wayside, Barker wrote: "I have drawn all the plants and flowers carefully, from real ones, but I have never seen a fairy..." Today's Book Recommendation: Plant Families: A Guide for Gardeners and Botanists by Ross Bayton When we are new to gardening, it is easy to want to put all the plants together in one big family. But, in reality, there are hundreds of different plant families. Like human families, each plant family has its own history and genealogy. Learning about plant families helps gardeners make sense of the more than 250,000 different plant species in the world. Today's Garden Chore Make a point of pruning your spring-flowering shrubs before the 4th of July. Now is the perfect time to do so. Think about pruning plants like spireas, weigelas, bush honeysuckles, climbing roses, and lilacs need to be pruned shortly after flowering since they produce new growth, which will bear more flowers the next year. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart I ran across a post from a newspaper in Boston from 1843, and it was simply called, "Effects of Culture." Here's what it said: "Celery, so agreeable to most palates, is a modification of the Apium graveolens, the taste of which is so acrid and bitter that it cannot be eaten. Our cauliflowers and cabbages, are largely developed coleworts, that grow-wild on the sea-shore, and do not weigh more than half an ounce each. The rose has been produced by cultivation, from the common wild briar; the luscious plum from the acrid sloe, and the golden pippin from the harsh, bitter crab." Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
Today is the very first National Onion Day. It was founded by the National Onion Association which represents almost 500 growers from across the United States. The association celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2013. Onions are a member of the bulb family. There are twenty-seven different types of onion. They all grow underground and they're one of the easiest vegetables to grow. There's an old saying that says that the thicker the onion skin, the colder the winter will be. Brevities #OTD It was on this day in 1787 that the naturalist Thomas Say was born. Say was born to a Quaker family and was a relative of the Bartrams. Say grew up making frequent visits to their botanic garden on the banks of the Schuylkill River Say was one of the first naturalist in the United States to advocate for the naming and describing of native flora and fauna. Before Say's time, plant and animal specimens were sent to Europe for identification. The long sea voyage took a toll on specimens and there were often identification errors as a result. Say's specialty was entomology and Say is often considered to be the father of descriptive entomology in the United States. Say died from typhoid fever on the 10th of October in 1834, at the age of 47. His long obituary ended with these words: "On the 8th, the hopes of his friends were flattered by a deceitful calm. On the day following, these hopes for chilled; He appeared sinking under debility, when on the 10th, death came over him like a summer cloud. He met the embrace as the weary traveller falls into the arms of restoring sleep. Intellect triumphed to the last hour. He left his wife directions as to his Library and Cabinet of Natural History." #OTD Any was on this day in 1861 that the Courier and Argus out of Dundee, Scotland reported the death of a botanical guide: William Williams. The newspaper account said: While his party rode slowly forward on ponies, Williams indulged in his favorite science; collecting plants. When they arrived at the summit he left them again in order to gather some ferns. The party waited for him 90 minutes and then finally descended. Scouts were sent out and his body was found lying 300 yards beneath the precipice from where he fallen. Before he died, Williams had begun to realize that he was living a sort of contradiction by locating rare plants for collectors, he was contributing to their extinction. Today Williams tombstone reads: "William Williams, upwards of 25 years botanical guide at the Royal Victoria Hotel. Killed by a fall while pursuing his favorite vocation." #OTD And it was on this day in 1889 that William Guilfoyle married Mary Alice darling. Guilfoyle was the director of the Royal Botanic Garden, Victoria. When he married Alice, he decided to take his first holiday from the gardens in 17 years. They took a nine-month grand tour of British and European gardens and Forests. It was really quite the experience and it's documented wonderfully in this book called Mr. Guilfoyle's Honeymoon. Just so you know, you can only get it on Kindle. #OTD Anniversary of the death of Elizabeth Cabot Agassiz. Agassiz was an American naturalist, an educator, and the first president of Radcliffe College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She grew up in an intellectual family. In 1856, she married married the Swiss naturalist, Louis Agassi. She became an intimate part of his life and work. When they were first married, she started a girls school in their home to bring in some extra income. When Louis died, Elizabeth was 51 years old. His death spurred her to establish Radcliffe College. Unearthed Words The Glory of the Garden by Rudyard Kipling Our England is a garden that is full of stately views, Of borders, beds and shrubberies and lawns and avenues, With statues on the terraces and peacocks strutting by; But the Glory of the Garden lies in more than meets the eye. For where the thick laurels grow, along the thin red wall, You will find the tool- and potting-sheds which are the heart of all; The cold-frames and the hot-houses, the dungpits and the tanks, The rollers, carts and drain-pipes, with the barrows and the planks. And some can pot begonias and some can bud a rose, And some are hardly fit to trust with anything that grows; But they can roll and trim the lawns and sift the sand and loam, For the Glory of the Garden occupieth all who come. Today's book recommendation: Practical Botany for Gardeners by Geoff Hodge This book explains over 3,000 botanical terms. I think one of the reasons this book is so helpful is that it is so beautifully put together. The Denver Post said: "It is a gentle guide to the green world... organized precisely how a non-botanist would need it done." The book is heavily illustrated and it's illustrated in a very decorative way. It's one of my favorite books to give to new and experienced gardeners. Part handbook, part reference, Practical Botany for Gardeners is a beautifully captivating read. It's a must for garden lovers and backyard botanists who want to grow and nurture their own plant knowledge. Today's Garden Chore It's time to make a map of your garden. You can do this yourself. You can do this with the help of Google Earth. You can even hire your own illustrator. This chore was actually inspired by the article I read in the Detroit Free Presson this day in 1958. A nurseryman was talking about how his customers could be most helpful. In his mind, a garden map was the most helpful tool that he could use with his clients. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart I ran across an article in The Marion Star in Marion, Ohio, on this day, in 1894. The article was titled Blooming Beauties and it contained these charming brevities; Sweet alyssum is the most satisfactory of all the hardy annuals. It flowers early and late, and all the time. It is a curious fact, that some flowers are only fragrant at night, like the Hosperis tristls and the Lady Washington pelargonium. A simple, way to remember the difference between Virginia Creeper and the poison ivy is this: if the vine has five leaves, corresponding to the five fingers of your hand, you may handle it; if it has only three leaves, you may not handle it. Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
Have you ever needed to move a bumblebee nest? We discovered a nest under the basketball hoop on the driveway when the guys came to sealcoat. To move it, I waited until dusk. Then I grabbed a terra cotta pot that was a little bigger than the nest... and my pizza peel from kitchen. I placed the pot over the nest and then slid the peel under the pot. As I was carrying the nest, the buzzing sound from inside the pot was tremendous. I moved the nest about 10 feet away into a shaded and out-of-the-way spot in the garden. Then, I cut a 10 inch piece of 1inch tubing from my irrigation system and slipped that under the pot to elevate the pot a bit and to give the bees a way to fly in and out from under the pot. Brevities #OTD It was on this day in 1797, that Charles Newbold patented the first cast iron plough. Farmers were worried that the iron would negatively effect the soil. #OTD It was on this day in 1880, that the Chicago Tribune wrote an article about the herbarium of Dr. Charles Christopher Perry; it contained 15,000 species and it was being presented to the Davenport Academy of Sciences. Thirty years earlier, in 1850, Perry had written to the botanist John Torrey, he said: "I here found a new species of pine growing in sheltered places bout the bluff. Its characters are so unique …. if new I wish it with your permission to bear the name Pinus Torreyana…" Besides the Torrey Pine, Harry discovered the Colorado Blue Spruce on Pikes Peak in 1862. Colorado made its official state tree in 1939. #OTD On this day in 1967, The Rolling Stones compilation album "Flowers" was released. It included three previously unreleased tracks – "My Girl", "Ride On, Baby", and "Sittin' on a Fence". #OTD And it's the anniversary of the death of the ornithologist, Margaret Morse Nice, who died on this day in 1974. Nice developed a close bond with nature, especially birds; it was deepened with her hobby of gardening and frequent walks. In 1939 nice wrote these words in the opening pages of her book, The Watcher at the Nest: "The land was defended and won by age-old ceremonies and fierce battle…. Their conflicts with each other and their neighbors, their luck with their wives and devotion to their babies… the fortunes of their sons and daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren—all these were watched season in and season out until tragedy overtook them." It's hard to believe when you hear that passage that Nice is referring to song sparrows. She was the scientific outsider. She conducted all of her groundbreaking studies at home, in her backyard in Ohio, while she was busy raising a family of five children. Unearthed Words Why Was June Made? by Annette Wynne Why was June made?—Can you guess? June was made for happiness! Even the trees Know this, and the breeze That loves to play Outside all day, And never is too bold or rough, Like March's wind, but just a tiny blow's enough; And all the fields know This is so— June was not made for wind and stress, June was made for happiness; Little happy daisy faces Show it in the meadow places, And they call out when I pass, "Stay and play here in the grass." June was made for happy things, Boats and flowers, stars and wings, Not for wind and stress, June was made for happiness! Today's book recommendation: 100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names by Diana Wells Diana knows that every flower tells the story and she's collected some of the very best stories about our flowers. Once in an interview Diana said, "If we fail to remember the history of our flowers we know them less and to trace their link with us is to make them part of our lives." Here is a good example of Diana's storytelling ability when it comes to flowers. This one's about lilacs: "American settlers planted lilacs in front of farmhouse doors, not for usefulness but for beauty, while they struggled to make a new life in the wilderness. Sometimes the slowly cleared fields, the houses, and the walls were no more permanent than those who made them, but the liliacs remained by the ghost porches leading nowhere." Today's Garden Chore Plant Sunflower Seeds. I'm seeing posts about sunflower seeds pump up all over social media. And the main question that people have is, "Is it too late to plant them?" June is still planting season. As with your edibles, you can succession sow your flowers. Depending on the variety, sunflowers will bloom about 55 to 75 days after planting – 60 days is a good average. By planting in the back half of June you'll have a wonderful second flush of blooms - and you'll be able to take cuttings on Labor Day weekend. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart On this day in 1922, The Nevada State Journal published an article out of San Francisco. The headline was: "Laws are changed to help gardener..." The gardener in question was the famed landscape expert and creator of the city's "Eden," the beautiful Golden Gate Park. His name was John McLaren. McLaren had come to America from Scotland. For over 30 years, he had served as the park superintendent. For many years he and wife lived in a little lodge deep in the park. In 1922, McLaren had turned 70. The law said that McLaren would have to go on the pension list and give up his lodge. But, McLaren had performed miracles in the park system in San Francisco. His book "Gardening in California" had become a standard textbook. In recognition of all he had done, San Francisco changed its civil service law so that McLaren would not have to retire. The board of supervisors, voted him, a seventieth birthday present of a 50 cent increase in salary. Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
Did you know that the most popular giant hosta is Empress Wu? At maturity the plan is 5 feet tall with an 8 foot spread. Pictures don't really do the Empress Wu hosta justice. Because of its size and fast rate of growth, Empress Wu demands soil that is consistently moist but not soggy. Empress Wu was bred by Brian and Virginia Skag out of Lowell, Indiana. On February 23, 2010, they finally received their patent for the impressive Empress Wu hosta. Brevities #OTD It was on this day in 1799, the Scottish botanist David Douglas was born. Douglas was responsible for the identification over 200 new plant species in North America including the famous Douglas-fir. Douglas never received a formal education, and he was primarily a plant collector rather than a published scientist. Despite his lack of formal training, Douglas sent more plants to Europe than any other botanist of his time. During his expeditions, Douglas was often accompanied by his little Scottish terrier named Billie. Douglas's career ended tragically in 1834 when he was killed while exploring in Hawaii. There is a memorial to Douglas and Honolulu which says: "Here lies Master David Douglas - an indefatigable traveler. He was sent out by the Royal Horticultural Society of London and gave his life for science." And on the second bronx tablet there is a quote by Virgil: "Even here the tear of pity springs, And hearts are touched by human things." #OTD Today is the anniversary of the death of the landscape gardener and botanist William Robert Guilfoyle, who died on this day in 1912. Guilfoyle was the architect of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne. It took Guilfoyle over 35 years to transform the Botanic Gardens into what is now is widely accepted as one of the world's greatest botanical landscapes. When the author of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle, saw the garden, he said it was absolutely the most beautiful place he had ever seen. #OTD It's the anniversary of the death of Nathaniel Lord Britton; an America botanist and taxonomist who died on this day in 1934. Britton married the famous brylogist Elizabeth Gertrude Knight. Together, they used Kew Gardens in London as their inspiration for the New York Botanical Garden. Britain and the botanist Joseph Rose named Regina Carnegiea in 1908 as a tribute to his philanthropy. In obituary of Britton, botanist Henry Rusby shared this charming anecdote: "Attracted one day, by the beauty of some drawings that lay before him, I inquired as to their source. When told that he, himself, was the artist, I asked in astonishment, 'Can you draw like that?' 'Of course,' he said. 'What you suppose I did all that hard work in the drawing class for?'" #OTD And it was on this day in 1903 that the author George Orwell was born. Over the past few decades Orwell's diaries have been made public. Across from his entry for October 3, 1946, there is a map for a fruit and vegetable garden. Orwell hoped to set up a small farm on the property, that he called Barnhill, on the island of Jura. In reality, Orwell's health was not good when he was on the island. Before he arrived, he had actually received a diagnosis of tuberculosis. Working in the vegetable garden was considered good for him because, at that time, being in fresh air was considered part of the treatment for tuberculosis. The last entry in his diary is for December 1949. It reads: "Snowdrops all over the place. A few tulips showing. Some wallflowers still trying to flower." Unearthed Words Here are some quotes from George Orwell: "Outside my work the thing I care most about is gardening, especially vegetable gardening." "The plant is blind but it knows enough to keep pushing upwards towards the light, and it will continue to do this in the face of endless discouragements." "So often like this, in lonely places in the forest, he would come upon something--bird, flower, tree--beautiful beyond all words, if there had been a soul with whom to share it. Beauty is meaningless until it is shared." Today's book recommendation: Gardener's Latin by Bill Neal This text remains one of the best resources for helping you to understand Latin plant names and to help you become a better gardener with that knowledge. Neal includes horticultural fats, fables, and wisdom from other gardeners; from Virgil to Vita Sackville-West. Today's Garden Chore Order yourself some 2 inch floral pins (Click here to see the ones I order from Amazon). I use them all the time in the garden - especially when I'm creating with succulents. Recently I was sharing images of some head planters I put together and even a large succulent wreath. Floral pis help make those creations possible and help train the plants where you want them to grow. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart It was on this day in 1929, that the American illustrator and writer Eric Carle was born. Carle gave a commencement address at Bates College in 2007. He concluded these words: "Love your partner and tend your garden. Simplify, slow down, be kind." And it was Eric Carle who said, "Whatever our eyes touch should be beautiful." Carle has an extensive knowledge and love of nature. His early books include Nature Thoughts, Flower Thoughts, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and The Tiny Seed. And here's a quote from Carle's most memorable work: "On Saturday, he ate through one piece of chocolate cake, one ice-cream cone, one pickle, one slice of Swiss cheese, one slice of salami, one lollipop, one piece of cherry pie, one sausage, one cupcake, and one slice of watermelon. That night he had a stomach ache." Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
Did you know that lilies enjoy being planted in part shade? They don't really like to be baked in full sun. If you plant them in a little bit of shade, it will allow your plant to experience less stress and thus it will elongate its stem. Lilies that are grown in full sun tend to be shorter and more stout. In nature, lilies grow in dappled light at the edges of woods and meadows. Brevities #OTD It was on this day in 1788, that the self taught tinkerer Thomas Blanchard was born. At the tender age of 13, Blanchard created a mechanical way to pare apples with a wire gauge. #OTD On this day in 1804 at the botanist Stephen Endlicher was born in Pressburg, Hungry. Endlicher devised a major system of plant classification. He explained it in his groundbreaking book Genera Plantarum. Endlicher donated his herbarium of 30,000 specimens to the Vienna Museum of Natural History and in 1840 he was appointed Prof. of botany at the University of Vienna. Sadly, Endlicher ran out of money after purchasing botanical collections and self-publishing his own work, in addition to the work of other botanists. Endlicher died in 1849 at the age of 45; he committed suicide. #OTD And it was on this day in 1817 that the first coffee was planted in Hawaii on the Kona Coast. Fifty years after those first plants were planted by a Spanish physician with a deep love for all things botanical, Mark Twain said this in the Sacramento Daily Union: "Kona coffee has a richer flavor than any other be grown where day and call it by what mean you please." As it turned out, coffee plants thrived in the rich volcanic soil. They loved the afternoon rainfall, the abundance of sun, and they were protected by the mountains from strong winds. By 1899, a little over 70 years after those first coffee plants were planted, nearly 3,000,000 coffee trees had grown throughout the region. #OTD And today in 1977, her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, celebrated her Silver Jubilee by planting a Cerus Atlantica Glauca on the east lawn. The tree is regarded as the most striking in appearance of all the blue conifers. #OTD And on this day in 1989 Paul McCartney's album flowers in the dirt became the number one album in England. Flowers in the Dirt brought McCartney some of the best reviews he had seen in years. Unearthed Words The birthday of the poet John Ciardi who was born on this day in 1916. Here are a few of his most famous quotes: "A good question is never answered. It is not a bolt to be tightened into place but a seed to be planted and to bear more seed toward the hope of greening the landscape of idea." "Every word has a history. Every word has an image locked into its roots." "And the time sundials tell May be minutes and hours. But it may just as well Be seconds and sparkles, or seasons and flowers. No, I don't think of time as just minutes and hours. Time can be heartbeats, or bird songs, or miles, Or waves on a beach, or ants in their files (They do move like seconds—just watch their feet go: Tick-tick-tick, like a clock). You'll learn as you grow That whatever there is in a garden, the sun Counts up on its dial. By the time it is done Our sundial—or someone's— will certainly add All the good things there are. Yes, and all of the bad. And if anyone's here for the finish, the sun Will have told him—by sundial—how well we have done. How well we have done, or how badly. Alas, That is a long thought. Let me hope we all pass." ― The Monster Den Today's book recommendation: Plant Names Simplified by Arthur Johnson This book was first published in 1931 and is considered a botanical classic. The book gives the name, pronunciation, classification, and Latin origins of plants. If you've ever wondered how to pronounce the botanical name, this little book will come in handy. As Johnson wrote in his preface, "My job in preparing this glossary has been to offer the reader a simple translation and pronunciation of the names of plants, trees, and shrubs, that are commonly growing in the average garden. As they stand in such names are to most of us, something more than an awkward obstacle, barring way to any real intimacy with elements of botany. [...] If, in this work, I've succeeded in reducing even buy a little, the menace presented us by that pile of heterogeneous names which stand as a barrier between our people and the fairest gates of knowledge, I sure feel that I have done my bit in a good cause." Johnson's book was updated in 1946 and then again, in 2019, by AP Stockdale. Today's Garden Chore Incorporate Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium purpuream) into your garden. JPW is an incredible perennial. It is an herb, a wildflower, and a pollinator plant all in one. Its common name is in honor of a Native American named Joe Pye (Jopi), who made medicine with the plant to cure typhus in the 1800's. Over in the Facebook Group, I shared a photo of a single leaf of Joe Pye weed. The leaves can grow as long as 25 cm and as wide as 10 cm. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart On this day in 1899 a sentry on his route, discovered a party of six people camped on the Madison River just inside Yellowstone National Park. He cited the group with multiple infractions. The event was recorded in the diary of Mrs. Aven Nelson: "He was appalled to see so many papers on the ground and demanded that they be picked up at once … There ensued much talk about rules and regulations, in the course of which he discovered that we carried two rifles. After sealing both, he insisted that the signature of Captain Brown would be prerequisite." The campers picked up the felt papers they had carefully arranged in the sun, and drove 46 miles to Mammoth (It took them two days to get there). When they did, they obtained a permit. The group consisted of Prof. Aven Nelson's family and two students who were there to document the flora of Yellowstone. Throughout the summer, they would collect, press, and dry 30,000 specimens. Their work would launch the Rocky Mountain herbarium at the University of Wyoming. Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
When is the best time to divide? To prune? To transplant? In general, the answer I most often give is that the best time to do anything is when you're standing there with a shovel, or a knife, or a spade in your hand. We are all so busy. Our gardens can get away from us. Our good intentions of getting to things at a later date can evaporate faster than water on a hot July day. Thus the saying, "There is no time like the present." So, if you're in your garden, and you have helpers, or you just have the right frame of mind to tackle that bigger project, to move that plant, or split that rhubarb; I say go for it! Brevities #OTD It's the birthday of Abraham Mignon who was born on this day in 1640. Mignon was a Dutch Golden age painter and he created vibrant paintings of fruit, birds, and his specialty: flowers. When Mignon that was just nine years old, he was placed under the care of Jacob Merrill - a still life painter and art dealer. Mignon became his apprentice and Merrill was impressed with Mignon; he asked him to instruct his stepdaughter Maria Sabella Marián. Maria went on to become, arguably, the best botanical illustrator of all-time. Mignon died before his 40th birthday. #OTD It was on this day in 1834 that the American inventor and businessman, Cyrus McCormick, patented the reaping machine. McCormick's thresher changed agriculture forever; replacing the manual cutting of crops - which is why he's considered The Father of Modern Agriculture. McCormick's company would go on to become the International Harvester Company. McCormick was a devout Christian. He made a fortune from his reaper and much of his wealth went to charity. It was Cyrus McCormick who said, "There's a special place in God's kingdom for businessmen who put their money where their mouth is." In 1940, the three-cent postage stamp commemorated McCormick. And today the original McCormick Farm is owned by Virginia Tech. McCormick came up with all of these wonderful witticisms about business here's a fun one.. "Trying to do business without advertising is like winking at a pretty girl through a pair of green goggles. You may know what you are doing, but no one else does." #OTD It was on this day in 1872 that the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olsted was nominated in absentia as Vice President of United States. Banker James McKim and philanthropist Robert Minturn, (who was instrumental in the creation of New York's Central Park), proposed a ticket featuring Olmsted as Vice President and as President, William Groesbeck (a former United States representative from Ohio). The party involved was the national American Democratic Republicans. When Olmsted heard the news, he immediately quashed his own nomination. He posted a rebuttal in the New York Post that said, "My name was used without my knowledge in the resolutions of the gentlemen who met on Friday at the Fifth Avenue Hotel..." Privately, Olmsted was delighted by the support. It was one more sign of the revered public figure that Olmsted had become. #OTD Today is officially the first day of summer. It's the longest day of the year and it always marks the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere. It's also known as the summer solstice. A solstice happens when the suns's zenith is at its furthest point from the equator. Solstice has Latin origins and means sun-stopping. Unearthed Words Here are some quotes from Donald Culross Peattie, who was born on this day, in Chicago, in 1898. Peattie was regarded as the most-read nature writer in America during his time. "What is a weed? I've heard it said that there are 60 definitions. For me, a weed is a plant out of place." "I have often started off on a walk in the state called mad-mad in the sense of sore-headed, or mad with tedium or confusion; I have set forth dull, null and even thoroughly discouraged. But I never came back in such a frame of mind, and I never met a human being whose humor was not the better for a walk." "All the great naturalists have been habitual walkers, for no laboratory, no book, car, train or plane takes the place of honest footwork for this calling, be it amateur's or professional's." Today's book recommendation: Flowering Earth by Donald Culross Peattie The Hartford Times said this about Peattie's masterpiece: "Here is Mr. Peattie at his superb best.... [H]e makes the story of botany and its pursuit as fascinating to the reader as it is to him, and the reading of it a delight." Peattie's book was first published in 1939. The book is part of natural history, part biography, and part philosophical reflection. Peattie's voice is warm and lyrical; the voice of a poet. Today's Garden Chore It's another Photo Friday in the Garden. June 21 is National Selfie Day. So, today, take pictures of yourself in the garden. I did this with my student gardeners a few weeks ago and I have all of these adorable pictures of them peeking out from behind blossom and foliage in the garden. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart On this day in 1843, The New England Farmerpublished a simple post on weeding. Here's what it said: "The checking of weeds and the stirring of the soil must be most perserveringly and faithfully performed, if you expect to obtain good crops. No weed should be suffered to mature being destroyed: "One years seeding," says the old proverb, "makes seven years weeding." Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
There is nothing that can beat eating fresh food from the garden. It seems every meal around here has fresh basil lettuce from the garden and little cherry tomatoes. Today, I was at my favorite olive oil store and they sell this little gizmo called the Zip Slicer. You load it up with your cherry tomatoes or grapes, and then you slice them all in one quick motion. It's fantastic if you eat tomatoes and grapes a lot. It cuts down on the prep time and I think around here we've been eating Caprese salad about three times a week. So there you go. Check it out: the Zip Slicer. Brevities #OTD It was on this day in 1757 that the botanist John Bartram wrote a letter to Philip Miller. Miller was the chief Gardner at the Chelsea Physic Garden from 1722 until his death. He corresponded with botanists from all over the world, including John Bartram. Miller even trained William Forsyth after whom Forsythia is named. When Bartram wrote to Miller he shared some of his personal preferences as a gardener. First, he shared his desire for variety in the garden. He said, "One or two is enough for me of a sort." Later in the letter, he shared his dislike for plants that weren't hardy in Pennsylvania. He wrote to Miller saying, "I don't greatly like tender plants that won't bear our severe winters but perhaps annual plants that would perfect their seed with you without the help of a hotbed in the spring will do with us in the open ground."
#OTD It was on this day in 1803 that President Thomas Jefferson sent a formal letter to his private secretary and aide, Meriwether Lewis. Lewis was a captain in the first United States infantry. Jefferson wrote him to request that he might lead an expedition of the Missouri River. Jefferson never mentioned botany in the letter, but he clearly was thinking about it; and Lewis knew it. As he was preparing for his trip, Lewis connected with Benjamin Smith Barton. Barton had written the first American textbook on botany and he gave Lewis a little crash course on the subject.
#OTD It was on this day in 1861 that Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins was born. In the 1700s, Dr. James Lind had made it known that eating limes would cure a sailors scurvy. Hopkins work call these substances accessory food factors. Today, we know them as vitamins.
#OTD And it is on this day in 1892 that Benjamin Lincoln Robinson was appointed the curator of the Asa Gray Herbarium at Harvard. When Robinson took over, both the herbarium and the library were in dire straits. Robinson was instrumental in acquiring funds and extending the growth of the herbarium in library. Today, the Gray Herbarium and library are still housed at Harvard at 22 Divinity Ave.
#OTD And It was on this day hundred years ago that Isabella Abbott was born. She was the first native Hawaiian woman to earn a PhD in science. Abbott became known as the "First Lady of Limu" or seaweed. When she was a little girl, she spent hours gathering seaweed for her mother to cook in traditional Hawaiian foods. I found a video online of an interview that Leslie Wilcox did with Abbott back in 2008. When Wilcox asked Abbott about her love of studying seaweed, she said, "There are so few of us [compared to] the thousands of people work on flowering plants. Flowering plants mostly have the same kind of life history so they become kind of boring; they make pretty flowers and make nice smells, they taste good - many of them. But, they're not like seaweeds. With every one you pick up, it does go through life a different way ... It's a game, it's a game I bet with myself the whole whole time from the time I cut it on the outside I say oh I think this might be in such-and-such a family, or something like that, and by the time I get to some magnification on the microscope... Oh No. 100% wrong. So let's begin again." You can watch the video of the interview with Isabella Abbott in the Facebook Group for the Show: The Daily Gardener Community Unearthed Words Green Summer No farther than my fingertips, No weightier than a rose, The essence of green summer slips Into a waiting pose. The tilted bowl of heaven Has spilled its blue and gold Among the vines and grasses Where autumn is foretold. Skylarks trill the melody, Crickets cry it over; Summer hides her mystery In fields of hay and clover. Alice Mackenzie Swaim
Today's book recommendation: The Hillier Manual of Trees & Shrubs by John Hillier This book is considered a classic in horticultural literature. The best part about it remains all of the notes that were compiled by members of the Hillier family. Among all of them, they had an amazing amount of direct experience growing plants and assessing their performance in different regions. Over 10,500 plants representing more than 650 genera are described in detail, making it an indispensable guide for any keen gardener or botanist.
Today's Garden Chore Don't forget to pinch back some of your perennials; this is also known as the Chelsea Chop. The simple technique helps control plant height and delay bloom. You can use the Chelsea Chop on a number of herbaceous perennials in your garden. Plants like mums, lysimachia, helenium, aster, sedum, and so forth. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart It was on this day in 1831 that the botanist and founding member of the Torrey Botanical Club, Coe Finch Austin, was born. He was a noted expert on the mosses and liverworts of North America. To give you an idea of his fearlessness while he was collecting plants, here's a little story I read across: Coe was visiting his brother in New York and he decided he wanted to climb High Tor. Austin climbed the mountain; stopping along the way to add specimens to his shoulder bag. When he reached the top, Austin surprised his brother and handed him the specimens with instructions to meet him at the base of the mountain. His brother realize that this meant Austin was going to descend along the most dangerous face of the mountain. He tried to stop him, but Austin did not relent. His brother waited for him at the meeting place on the base. After a while, and without a sound, his brother suddenly appeared. He came bearing specimens and had a huge smile on his face. Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
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