The Daily Gardener

Today we celebrate the avid gardener who transformed the gardens at what was once the largest private residence in the United States. We'll also learn about the man who created many new citruses through hybridizing. We'll hear some January advice from a Dig For Victory brochure from WWII. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a fun fiction book set on an English estate called Winterfold. And then we'll wrap things up with the story of the man behind the Wagner Tree. Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart To listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to "Play the latest episode of The Daily Gardener Podcast." And she will. It's just that easy. The Daily Gardener Friday Newsletter Sign up for the FREE Friday Newsletter featuring:

• A personal update from me
• Garden-related items for your calendar
• The Grow That Garden Library™ featured books for the week
• Gardener gift ideas
• Garden-inspired recipes
• Exclusive updates regarding the show

Plus, each week, one lucky subscriber wins a book from the Grow That Garden Library™ bookshelf. Gardener Greetings Send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes, and so forth to [email protected] Curated News Three Friends of Winter Tour | Snug Harbor Facebook Group If you'd like to check out my curated news articles and original blog posts for yourself, you're in luck. I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. So, there's no need to take notes or search for links. The next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community where you'd search for a friend... and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events January 8, 1828 On this day, Eliza Ridgely married her fifth cousin and son of a Maryland Governor, John Carnan Ridgely. The couple lived on the Hampton Plantation built by John's great-uncle Charles Ridgely III in 1790. After construction, it was the largest private residence in the United States. Eliza was the third mistress of Hampton and an avid gardener. During the decades following their marriage, Eliza and John had five children, and Eliza spent a great deal of time improving Hampton's gardens and landscape. In 1859, the horticulturist Henry Winthrop Sargent wrote that "[Hampton] expresses more grandeur than any other place in America." He was not a fan of that grandeur - Henry preferred a more natural garden landscape. Hampton's garden landscape history dates back to the late 1780s when Captain Charles Ridgely acquired an Irish-born gardener and indentured servant named Daniel Healy. Daniel oversaw the Great Terrace's creation with its winding path and the 80x50-foot parterres that make up Hampton's Falling Gardens. Eliza left her mark on the gardens at Hampton by doing something completely different. She fell in love with the Victorian garden trend of "carpet bedding," which leveraged plant colors to create designs - like diamonds or circles. Other plants just provided contrasting colors. In his book, The Garden Triumphant, David Stuart said, "In the early Victorian bedding system, plant individualities were of no importance, each individual [plant] merely yielding the color of its flowers to the general show… The obsession with 'show' with plants merely as a 'blaze of colors' was all." Regarded as an accomplished gardener and horticulturist, Eliza had grand garden dreams. She installed extensive gardens, and her love for carpet bedding would have been a radical departure from gardening etiquette of the time. Because, before this trend, it was considered poor taste to plant a plant next to another one of the same color and variety. That was a big no-no. In fact, in 1839, Henry Winthrop Sargent issued another dig at Eliza's formal gardens when he said, they"quite disturb one's ideas of republican America." He was definitely not a fan. Over 4,000 acres surrounded Hampton House, and Eliza had more than enough room to develop impressive greenhouses, which along with the lavish gardens, were tended by slaves. And many people who tour Hampton today are surprised to learn that. They were not aware that slavery existed as far north as Maryland. During their marriage, Eliza and John loved to travel, and on their journeys through Europe and Asia, Eliza collected exotic trees and plants for her Hampton gardens. Eliza's love of citrus trees led to creating an orangery to help her citrus collection survive the harsh Baltimore winters. Eliza Ridgely added specimen trees to Hampton's formal landscape. Today a Lebanon Cedar stands on the mansion's south lawn of the Great Terrace. And Ridgely family history says that Eliza brought the exotic tree to Hampton as a little seedling in a shoebox from the Middle East. Eliza also selected the white and pink Saucer Magnolias that bloom in the spring and the magnificent fan-leafed ginkgo at the corner of the house. But, the oldest trees on the property are catalpas that predate the home. And although they are quite common now, Eliza brought urns to Hampton. Made of Italian marble, Eliza's fashionable urns surrounded the mansion. Now during Eliza's lifetime, the urns would have been called "vases," and they were meant to add classical beauty to the garden. In 1854, American Farmer Magazine wrote that Eliza's gardens expressed "more grandeur than anything in America." The magazine also admired her irrigation system, saying that, "a reservoir at the mansion… radiates to different sections of the garden where hydrants are placed, and by a hose, the entire garden can be watered at pleasure. Last summer, when all other places in the neighborhood were dry and barren, the flower garden at Hampton presented a gorgeous array of bloom… Petunias, Verbenas, Geraniums, and other summer flowering plants, looked as though they lacked no moisture there." With the end of slavery after the Civil War, the Hampton estate fell into decline as the family struggled to maintain it. A little while later, Eliza died at the age of 64. She was buried in the family cemetery on the estate. Today the Hampton estate is a National Historic Site. And if you go to visit it someday, it's worth noting that the plants today are different. Many of the plants that are on the property need to be deer-resistant. The famous portrait of the long-necked Eliza Ridgely standing beside her harp was painted by Thomas Sully - it hangs today in the National Gallery of Art. January 8, 1892 Today is the birthday of the agricultural botanist and plant wizard Walter Tennyson Swingle. Walter was a very popular botanist during his lifetime. Walter introduced the Date Palm to California, and he created many new citruses through hybridizing. In 1897, Walter made the first man-made cross of a Bowen Grapefruit and a Dancy Tangerine in Eustis, Florida. In 1909, Walter created the Limequat, a cross between the Key Lime and the Kumquat. That same year, Walter created the Citrangequat, a trigeneric citrus hybrid of a Citrange and a Kumquat. Walter developed the Citrange, a combination of the Sweet Orange and the trifoliate orange, as he was attempting to breed an orange tree that could withstand colder weather. Walter was born in Pennsylvania. He knew all about cold weather. His family quickly moved to Kansas, where Walter was home-schooled and ultimately educated at Kansas State Agricultural College. In short order, Walter began working for the government at the United States Bureau of Plant Industry in the Department of Agriculture. And the USDA immediately put him to work, sending him to nearly every country in the world. Walter brought Egyptian Cotton to Arizona and Acala Cotton to California. However, Walter's most significant accomplishment was the introduction of the Date Palm to America. The Date Palm was something swingle discovered during a visit to Algeria. And this is how we know how clever Walter was - he was indeed intelligent and observant because he noticed that Algeria's climate and soil mirrored that of California. In fact, Walter was optimistic about the Date Palm's chances in California right from the get-go, writing: "No heat is too great and no air too dry for this remarkable plant, which is actually favored by a rainless climate and by hot desert winds. The Date Palm can withstand great alkali quantities in the soil- more than any other useful plant… It is probably the only profitable crop that can succeed permanently.' Now when the Date Palm arrived in California, the Coachella Valley was identified as the perfect spot to grow them. By 1920, over a hundred thousand pounds of Dates were grown in California. Thanks to Walter Swingle, Dates are one of California's main exports. Today, the total value of the Date crop is approaching $100 million every single year. Unearthed Words January is a time when you should be thinking and planning, ordering your seed potatoes, vegetable seeds, fertilizers, and so on, and making sure that your tools are in good order and that you are ready to begin gardening in real earnest next month, or as soon as local conditions will let you. — Ministry of Agriculture, "Dig For Victory" Pamphlet, January 1945 Grow That Garden Library A Place For Us by Harriet Evans This book came out in 2015, and this is a best-selling fiction book. I bought this book a few years ago when I saw the beautiful alliums on the cover - I love alliums - and along with many of my fiction favorites, the cover is incredibly appealing to gardeners. A Place for Us is, "an engrossing novel about a woman who, on the eve of her eightieth birthday, decides to reveal a secret that may destroy her perfect family." Kirkus Reviews wrote: "From an English estate called Winterfold, Martha Winter sends out invitations for her 80th birthday party with a puzzling statement: 'There will be an important announcement. We ask that you please be there.' Only her husband, David, a well-known cartoonist, knows what this announcement might be. The Winters have been fixtures in their Somerset village for 45 years, raising their three children, Florence, Bill, and Daisy. Told from the perspectives of various family members as they receive Martha's invitations, it's clear this family's story is full of unanswered questions." This book is 448 pages of a heartwarming, true-to-life family saga - the perfect book to blissfully carry you away this winter. You can get a copy of A Place For Us by Harriet Evans (and enjoy the beautiful cover) and support the show using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $2. Treat yourself! Today's Botanic Spark Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart January 8, 2000 Today is the anniversary of the death of a leading botanist in the study of ferns, Warren "Herb" Wagner, Jr. Herb was the founder of modern systematics for plants and animals. Biologists still use "Wagner trees" to classify plants and animals based on presumed phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history - DNA hard at work! Herb Wagner once said, "Deer in the winter are nature's closest thing to actual zombies. They chew everything in their path." Thanks for listening to The Daily Gardener. And remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

Today we celebrate an American poet, essayist, and editor who is often remembered in a photograph where she is dressed as Saint Barbara with a laurel wreath around her head. We'll also learn about the woman who started a flower club that offered rare and exotic plants to Swedish homemakers during World War II. We'll hear about the enticing words used to describe the gorgeous plants in garden catalogs - they work so well on gardeners. We Grow That Garden Library™ with an old book by a stylist who loves to incorporate nature into her interior designs. And then we'll wrap things up with a cheery story about the man who saw life through rose-colored glasses—chin up. Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart To listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to "Play the latest episode of The Daily Gardener Podcast." And she will. It's just that easy. The Daily Gardener Friday Newsletter Sign up for the FREE Friday Newsletter featuring:

• A personal update from me
• Garden-related items for your calendar
• The Grow That Garden Library™ featured books for the week
• Gardener gift ideas
• Garden-inspired recipes
• Exclusive updates regarding the show

Plus, each week, one lucky subscriber wins a book from the Grow That Garden Library™ bookshelf. Gardener Greetings Send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes, and so forth to [email protected] Curated News Beautiful Bark on Deciduous Trees | Fine Gardening | Kristin Green Facebook Group If you'd like to check out my curated news articles and original blog posts for yourself, you're in luck. I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. So, there's no need to take notes or search for links. The next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community where you'd search for a friend... and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events January 7, 1861 Today is the birthday of the American poet, essayist, and editor Louise Imogen Guiney. Louise was the daughter of a Tipperary-born Civil War General named Patrick Guiney. And after living in constant pain from his war injuries, Louise's father died when she was 16. But her dad's bravery and morality helped to shape Louise's work. As her family struggled to make ends meet, Louise worked several jobs. In 1894, she ended up working for her local post office in Auburndale, Massachusetts. She was the postmistress. And when locals protested her appointment because she was Catholic, her friends responded to the backlash by buying so many stamps that Louise kept her job and actually even got a raise. I think of that little incident when I read a poem often attributed to Louise - but its origins remain uncertain. The foolish fears of what may come, I cast them all away Among the clover-scented grass, Among the new-mown hay; Among the hushing of the corn, Where drowsing poppies nod. Ill thoughts can die, and good be born, Out in the fields of God. During Louise's early life in Boston, she lived on Pinckney Street. And that street served as a hub for creatives like Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne, the Thoreau family, and the publisher Elizabeth Peabody. Imagine living there... Louise's work was featured in popular magazines like Harper's and The Atlantic Monthly. And has she matured in her adulthood, Louise fell in love with England's history and she made repeated trips there before permanently moving to the country in the early 1900s. In one of her beautiful pieces of correspondence, Louise was asked if her poem A Song Of The Lilac could be set to music - and it was. It's a charming verse that goes like this: And when by night the May wind blows The lilac-blooms apart, The memory of his first love Is shaken on his heart. Today if you search for Louise online, you'll see beautiful images of her dressed as Saint Barbara with a laurel wreath around her head and, in some photos, someone faintly penciled a halo above her head. January 7, 1898 Today is the birthday of the Swedish botanist and children's book author Vivi Laurent-Täckholm. During World War II, Vivi started a flower club that offered rare and exotic plants to Swedish housewives. Vivi's club debuted several popular houseplants, including pothos and two types of Plectranthus, green-leafed and variegated. As Plectranthus australis grew in popularity, thanks to Vivi's flower club, it became known as Swedish Ivy. The genus name, Plectranthus, refers to the spur-shaped flowers and comes from the Greek words for spur and flower: plectron and anthos. And if you've never seen a Swedish Ivy flower, don't worry - the little flowers aren't particularly showy. But it sure is a thrill to get your Swdish Ivy to bloom - I've had that pleasure - and I hope someday you will be able to enjoy it as well. The species name (australis) means southern and refers to its native home of South Africa. Although it is neither Swedish nor an ivy, the stems trail, and it does resemble an ivy. With its square stems, it is easy to tell that Swedish Ivy is a member of the mint family, and it is also related to the coleus. Now, I always like to recommend Swedish Ivy as a perfect first houseplant for beginners. I love to grow it in a tall or cylindrical planter - or a hanging basket. And if you want to try to grow Swedish Ivy - it's pretty simple. Swedish Ivy thrives in bright indirect light. Now, the key here is the words indirect light - don't put it in full sun, or the leaves will burn. And if your Swedish Ivy looks leggy, it needs more light. If your Swedish Ivy has yellow leaves, it's probably overwatered. In fact, it's better to keep your Swedish Ivy on the dry side than too wet. So think about all of that and if you have some issues with your Swedish Ivy - you're going to need to change the way you're taking care of it. All that said, I like to give my Swedish Ivy a spa day every so often. I think that a lovely shower in the sink with a dollop of Dawn dish soap helps to keep my Swedish Ivy dust-free and also keeps pests away, as well as providing more humidity - which they love. Finally, don't be afraid to prune your Swedish Ivy. You can prune it back to 6-inch stems. I always think about it as giving my Swedish Ivy a haircut. You don't just let these plants grow on into infinity - they'll always look better with a little pruning and shaping - just like your hair does after a fresh cut. Then, put the cuttings into a vase of water. In a few weeks, the cuttings will be rooted, and then you can just pop them into the soil and you'll have a whole new plant. You can also use this method to make your plant fuller and more robust-looking - especially if you have a new plant. You can always add more rooted cutting to fill the plant in. It's one of Swedish Ivy's best features - they are so easy to root from cuttings. Now, if you love the green-leaved Swedish Ivy, you would probably also enjoy the sister species of this plant. There is a variegated version with white-edged leaves. I especially love that in a bright-colored pot, something orange or purple, or chinoiserie. Then there's another species - the Argentatus - that features bright, silvery leaves. This one is really fun and I love telling people that it's a sister to the Swedish Ivy because they often don't believe it. And then finally, Amboinicus - the Cuban or Caribbean oregano species - has big, soft green leaves. It's very friendly and you get a bonus with it: a powerful oregano fragrance. I love that in the kitchen. Wouldn't that be lovely in a pot on your kitchen counter? Unearthed Words Since before Christmas, I have been nibbling, in odd moments, at my new catalog. I try to write word pictures of plants, which might make them irresistible. When I began the nursery twenty years ago, I issued a very small list with descriptions of plants, as I saw them, in place of photographs which I could not have afforded. My catalog has grown with the nursery over the years, but there are still no pretty pictures. I have not actually gone into the cost because, while I know they might help some readers, I myself, deep down, do not want to change. I am very attracted by good photographs in other catalogs, but I find I easily forget them. It is the difference between watching television and listening to a good radio play. I can take the works of the best writers and gardeners, such as Vita Sackville-West, Graham S. Thomas, or Christopher Lloyd, to bed and be lost till midnight, reading their thoughts and seeing their plants and gardens as a musician hears music reading a score. — Beth Chatto, garden writer and gardener, Beth Chatto's Garden Notebook, January Grow That Garden Library A Passion for Detail by Charlotte Moss This book came out in 1991, and it's an oldie but goodie. In this book, Charlotte shares her interior design's beauty, which often includes elements from the natural world. To Charlotte, much of our spaces' visual appeal can be found in the little details - and the same is true with our gardens. In Charlotte's book, gardeners will be inspired by the variety of objects Charlotte displays - from dried flowers and vases to specimen plants and vintage pots. Charlotte encourages us to see the beauty in everyday items and incorporate things that bring us the most pleasure - even if those items are traditionally used outdoors in the garden. This book is 192 pages of inspiration courtesy of Charlotte Moss, incorporating rustic whimsy and romance in the little details that create gorgeous rooms. You can get a copy of A Passion for Detail by Charlotte Moss and support the show using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $3 Today's Botanic Spark Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart January 7, 1927 Today is the anniversary of the death of the American lyricist and columnist for the Atlanta Constitution, Frank Lebby Stanton. A son of the south, Frank was influenced by hymn-writers like Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley. Extraordinarily popular during his lifetime, Frank's charming and straightforward verse evoked a feeling of nostalgia and sentiment. For instance, Frank wrote the words for the Tin Pan Alley hit song, "Mighty Like a Rose." Among Frank's many famous verses is this one: So many creeds like the weeds in the sod – so many temples, and only one God. And Frank's most famous four-lined verse is also a favorite of gardeners - and it is inscribed on his Atlanta tombstone: This world we're a'livin' in Is mighty hard to beat. You get a thorn with every rose. But ain't the roses sweet? Thanks for listening to The Daily Gardener. And remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

Today we celebrate a botanist regarded as the "Father of Paleobotany" - the study of ancient plants that uses plant fossils. We'll also learn about the guitarist who went on a self-imposed 30-year exile - spending most of his time painting and gardening. We hear some thoughts on growing poisonous plants. We Grow That Garden Library™ with one of my favorite garden poetry books - I always carry it with me. And then we'll wrap things up with a great article that helps us identify trees in winter - no small task. Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart To listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to "Play the latest episode of The Daily Gardener Podcast." And she will. It's just that easy. The Daily Gardener Friday Newsletter Sign up for the FREE Friday Newsletter featuring:

• A personal update from me
• Garden-related items for your calendar
• The Grow That Garden Library™ featured books for the week
• Gardener gift ideas
• Garden-inspired recipes
• Exclusive updates regarding the show

Plus, each week, one lucky subscriber wins a book from the Grow That Garden Library™ bookshelf. Gardener Greetings Send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes, and so forth to [email protected] Curated News The Best Indoor Plants for any Purpose | Garden Design | Anne Balogh Facebook Group If you'd like to check out my curated news articles and original blog posts for yourself, you're in luck. I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. So, there's no need to take notes or search for links. The next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community where you'd search for a friend... and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events January 6, 1761 Today is the birthday of the Bohemian theologian, mineralogist, geognost, entomologist, and botanist. Kaspar Maria von Sternberg Remembered as one of the most important natural scientists of the first half of the 19th century, Kaspar is regarded as the "Father of Paleobotany." In 1818, Kaspar founded the National Museum in Prague. Today, the botanical genus Sternbergia honors Kaspar Sternberg. Sternbergia is a genus of plants in the Amaryllis family and comprises eight recognized species of flowering bulbs that look like Crocus. The most popular Sternbergia is the lutea, a garden favorite described by Clusius in 1601. White Flower Farm describes Sternbergia lutea this way: "These lovely, fall-flowering bulbs are Crocus look-alikes with bright yellow blooms. The foliage appears with the yellow flowers in fall and persists until spring. Bulbs multiply freely where they are happy—in a hot, sunny, very well-drained spot. Add a bit of lime to sweeten the soil, and planting will quickly fill out. Try pairing with one of the glorious blue flowers of fall, such as Caryopteris or Salvia, for a heavenly contrast. A member of the Amaryllis family, so the bulbs are essentially pest free, resistant to deer and voles. Heirloom, pre-1601. 10 per sq. ft." January 6, 1946 Today is the birthday of the guitarist, singer, songwriter, and co-founder of Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett. After his immense success with Pink Floyd, Syd released two solo LPs and then disappeared into a self-imposed 30-year exile where he spent most of his time painting and gardening. Before his life with Pink Floyd, Syd attended the Camberwell Art School. One of the pieces he created was a beautiful watercolor - a delicate-looking still life of a dried flower bouquet. In 2006, Syd died of cancer at the age of 60. Before he died, Syd was a patient at Addenbrooke Hospital in Cambridge. In 2017, his friend, the sculptor Stephen Pyle, and a garden designer named Paul Harrington were planning to install the Syd Barrett Garden at Addenbrooke. Stephen's sculpture for the garden depicts Syd riding his bicycle - hands-free - with a guitar in one hand and artist brushes in the other. Unearthed Words The year 1967 started with an all-out alert on the danger of poisonous plants. On January 6th, the Times published a story about a lecture on the subject by John M. Kingsbury, the author of a useful small book titled Deadly Harvest: A Guide to Common Poisonous Plants. At a very early age, I remember, I was to recognize what plants are to be avoided completely. At a very early age, I remember, I was taught how to recognize and stay away from deadly nightshade, poison ivy, and poison sumac. (I was, just as early, taught the delights of chewing tender young checkerberry leaves and sassafras root.) To me, it would be ridiculous, though, not to grow monkshood, foxglove, hellebore, larkspur, autumn crocus, poppies, lilies of the valley, buttercups, and many other flowers now present in my borders just because they have some poison in them. — Katharine S. White, gardener and garden writer, Onward and Upward in the Garden Grow That Garden Library A Nature Poem for Every Night of the Year by Jane Hunter This book came out in 2020, and like the companion book, A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year, this book is one of my favorites. In this book, Jane has gathered a beautiful and soothing collection of poetry inspired by the natural world and perfect for bedtime reading. "Now more than ever, we need something to comfort and distract us from the cares of everyday life. Keep this beautiful book by your bedside and enjoy a dreamy stroll through the natural world and its wonders every evening, just before you go to sleep. All the great time-honored poets are here—William Wordsworth, John Keats, Emily Dickinson, Robert Bridges—along with some newer and lesser-known voices. The verses reflect and celebrate the changing seasons: read Emily Brontë on bluebells in spring and Edward Thomas's evocative "Adlestrop" in summer, and then experience golden autumn with Hartley Coleridge and visit John Clare's "Copse in Winter." Stunningly illustrated with seasonal scenes, this wonderful anthology will delight you for years to come." This book is 496 pages of soothing bedtime poetry inspired by the natural world. You can get a copy of A Nature Poem for Every Night of the Year by Jane Hunter and support the show using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $23 Today's Botanic Spark Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart January 6, 1996 On this day, The News and Observer out of Raleigh, North Carolina, shared an article called The Naked Secrets of Trees in Winter by Lee Reich. Here's an excerpt: "Trying to identify leafless trees during the winter is a nice game to play alone or with a companion." Lee reminds us that trees like the Paper Birch are easy to spy because of their peeling white bark. And the Catalpa tree is another easy one - with its long brown pods. And the Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) is fun to spy: the lower branches droop downward, midlevel branches are horizontal, and upper limbs turn upward. That said, most trees are challenging to identify this time of year. Lee suggests using some expert books that guide you through tree identification steps, such as Fruit Key & Twig Key to Trees and Shrubs by William Harlow or Winter Tree Finder by May Theilgaard and Tom Watts. Now, one of the first steps in tree identification is to look at the buds' arrangement on new twigs. Are the buds "opposite" - meaning, are they in pairs on opposite sides of each twig? Well, that narrows things down a bit because few deciduous trees have opposite buds. So, think about your Ashes, Dogwoods, Maples, and Horse Chestnut - they're the most common trees with opposite buds. Are the buds "alternate" - meaning that they are single and separated from each other along the length of the stem. Another question to ask is, "What is the shape of the buds?" Flowering Dogwood buds look like small buttons capping short stalks. The Pawpaw has velour-like brown buds. And finally, think about twig color and bark. They can both provide more clues. The Boxelder (Acer negundo) has purple twigs with a cloudy coating. The American hornbeam has smooth blue-gray bark with ripples like muscle. Thorns can provide identification clues as well. Common trees with thorns are the black locust, honey locust, hawthorn, or wild plum. And fruits and nuts provide another clue for tree identification. Finally, Lee writes, "Still at a loss for a tree's identity? Break off a twig and make a slanting cut to expose the pith. Chambered rather than continuous pith characterize black walnuts and butternuts. Butternut trees have chocolate-brown pith, and black walnut trees have toffee-brown pith. The taste of a twig sometimes is the giveaway. Black cherry will taste like bitter almond, and yellow and river birch will taste like wintergreen. There is one more handy identifier. Deciduous trees are supposed to be leafless now, but a few leaves often hang on well into the winter. They will be dead dry and twisted but often still "readable." Not only that, but those on oaks and beeches are so reluctant to fall that one can spot these species even at some distance by their skirt of dry leaves." Thanks for listening to The Daily Gardener. And remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

Today we celebrate an iconic tree of England - a holy tree with biblical and cultural significance. We'll also learn about a botanist whose last name is similar to the surname of Carl Linnaeus's in-laws - and that has caused some confusion over the years. We'll take a look back at some unflattering words about the winter garden from a man who was a close personal friend of Nathaniel Hawthorne. We'll hear a little secret to making Hyacinths look fabulous when forcing Hyacinth Bulbs indoors. We Grow That Garden Library™ with one of my favorite books - part of a new set that features garden poetry. And then we'll wrap things up with the wassailing of apple trees - a delightful ceremony that takes place on the 12th night of Christmas (that would be tonight.) Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart To listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to "Play the latest episode of The Daily Gardener Podcast." And she will. It's just that easy. The Daily Gardener Friday Newsletter Sign up for the FREE Friday Newsletter featuring:

• A personal update from me
• Garden-related items for your calendar
• The Grow That Garden Library™ featured books for the week
• Gardener gift ideas
• Garden-inspired recipes
• Exclusive updates regarding the show

Plus, each week, one lucky subscriber wins a book from the Grow That Garden Library™ bookshelf. Gardener Greetings Send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes, and so forth to [email protected] Curated News How to Make a White Berry Wreath | Better Homes & Gardens | BH&G Crafts Editors Facebook Group If you'd like to check out my curated news articles and original blog posts for yourself, you're in luck. I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. So, there's no need to take notes or search for links. The next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community where you'd search for a friend... and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events January 5, 1786 On this day, a winter-blooming hawthorn- the iconic Glastonbury Thorn - blossomed. In all previous years, the beautiful Glastonberry Thorn, Crataegus monogyna 'Biflora' ("Cra-TAY-gus Mon-uhj-EYE-ah") had flowered on Christmas Day. But by 1786, Britain had adopted the Gregorian calendar, which affected the bloom time, and so the tree bloomed eleven days past schedule. Unlike other hawthorns, the Glastonbury Thorn miraculously flowers twice a year. The first bloom occurs in winter around Christmas time, which is why it has long been considered sacred. The second flush occurs in spring around Easter - hence the name 'biflora.' And every Christmas, a budded branch is sent to the Queen. Legend has it that the original plant - widely called the holy thorn - was planted in Somerset, more than 2000 years ago, by the Uncle of Jesus Christ, Joseph of Arimathea. And so the legend says that after the crucifixion, Joseph visited the area and pushed his walking staff into the ground where it rooted and became the holy thorn. In 1986, the Glastonbury Thorn was featured on a beautiful Christmas stamp. But the recent history of the tree is not so happy. In 2010, vandals removed almost every branch from the Glastonbury Thorn. Thankfully, Kew's arboretum team arrived in time to take cuttings from some of the damaged branches. With the help of these skilled arborists, the mother tree was replaced, and sister trees were planted in other secret locations throughout England. January 5, 1780 Today is the anniversary of the death of the English academic, attorney, politician, and gardener, who sat in the House of Commons, Robert More. A passionate amateur botanist, the botanist Philip Miller, named the plant genus Morea ("Mor-AY-ah") in honor of Robert More. But later, Carl Linnaeus altered the spelling to Moraea ("mor-ah-EE-uh") to honor his wife's maiden name. And in 1803, the Belgium painter Pierre-Joseph Redouté created one of the most beautiful early illustrations of Morea. Morea is a rare and delicate plant in the Iris family. Moreas are not as hardy as the common iris. And instead of growing from rhizomes or bulbs, Moreas grow from corms. Unlike bulbs, corms are a little different because they don't have a bulb's layered scales. Corms produce little cormlets that can be broken away from the parent plant for propagation. Familiar plants that grow from corms include gladiolus and crocus. Like bulbs, corms thrive in nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. Most corm perennials prefer sunny locations and when you plant them, make sure to plant them with the pointed side up at a depth about four times the size of the corm - that's a good rule of thumb. In case you're wondering, you can find Morea in some specialty bulb catalogs. January 5, 1874 On this day, the English merchant and author Henry Arthur Bright recorded a rather bleak comment about winter gardens in his famous book called Year in a Lancashire Garden. "A 'winter garden' is generally nothing more than a garden of small evergreens, which, of course, is an improvement on bare soil, but which is in itself not singularly interesting." Unearthed Words The January 1860 garden column of the famous fashion magazine the New Monthly Belle Assemblee recommended the Hyacinth Bottle and Flower Support as being ideal for growing [Hyacinths] indoors. The slender bottle with bulbous base was nothing new; hyacinths were often grown in water, not soil, in these small glass vases, which usually came in a variety of colors from cranberry red to cobalt blue, but the supporting wire was an innovation, designed to support the stem with its heavy bloom and keep it all neat and tidy. — Mandy Kirkby, gardener and garden writer, A Victorian Flower Dictionary Grow That Garden Library A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year by Jane Hunter This book came out in 2018, and it's one of my favorite books. In this book, Jane has selected 365 of the most beautiful poems ever written. "From William Wordsworth's springtime daffodils and Christina Rossetti's birdsong to John Keats's autumnal odes and Longfellow's "Woods in Winter," these poems pay tribute to the beauty of nature and the changing seasons. Works from such beloved writers as William Blake, Robert Burns, Emily Dickinson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, John Keats, Amy Lowell, and Shakespeare take you through the year, along with 12 evocative black-and-white line drawings. Enjoy Thomas Hardy's "Birds at Winter Nightfall," Robert Frost's "Spring Pools," Rudyard Kipling's "The Glory of the Garden," Elizabeth Jennings's "Song at the Beginning of Autumn," and many more." I carry this beautiful book around in my backpack, and I refer to it all the time. This book is 496 pages of inspiring poems about the natural world curated for every day of the year. You can get a copy of A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year by Jane Hunter and support the show using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $16. Today's Botanic Spark Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart In England, tonight, there's an ancient custom - an old pagan ritual - that involves waking up the apple cider trees with wassailing on the 12th night of Christmas. The written folklore around wassailing says that if you wassail apple trees on January 5th, the 12th day after Christmas, you'll reap a bountiful harvest in the year. Apples fall under the rose plant family, which also includes other fruits like peaches, pears, plums, and cherries. Now, Cider apples are not great eating apples. They tend to be small, not especially attractive, and bittersweet - which may be why Benjamin Franklin famously said, "It's bad to eat apples. It is better to turn them all into cider." If you've ever bobbed for apples and wondered why apples float - it's because they're made up of 25 percent air. Thus it takes roughly 36 apples to make a single gallon of apple cider. And do you store your apples in a bowl on the table? If so, bear in mind that apples can ripen up to ten times faster when stored at room temperature instead of being kept in the fridge. Although it takes most apple trees on average four to five years to produce fruit, an average tree yields 840 pounds of fruit once they start producing. Now wassail means "good health," and by wassailing the trees, you wish for good tree health, fertility, and productivity. Tonight's wassail tradition involves many elements. There's someone dressed as a Green Man - a man of the earth - who usually leads the festivities. There's the crowning of a King and Queen of the wassail. Then the King and Queen lead the wassailers to the orchard or a special apple tree. At the tree, cider is poured on the soil around the tree, a symbolic return of the fruit's blessing. Then, bread is dipped in cider and left on the branches for the robins and other creatures in nature. Then toasting the tree with a traditional song that goes: Old apple tree we wassail thee And hope that thou will bear For the Lord doth know Where we shall be Come apples another year. For to bloom well And to bear well so merry let us be Let every man take off his hat And shout out to the old apple tree. For to bloom well And to bear well so merry let us be Let every man take off his hat And shout out to the old apple tree. Chant: Old Apple tree, we wassail thee, And hope that thou will bare Hatfuls! Capfuls! Three-bushel bagfuls! And a little heap under the stairs! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Then there's the clanging of pots and pans, hooting and hollering, and shooting off cap guns and shotguns to scare away all the evil spirits - the final step in a thorough wassail of an apple tree. Thanks for listening to The Daily Gardener. And remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

Today we celebrate an English botanist who discovered which way sap flows in plants. We'll also learn about a female Dutch botanist who fought for equity and is now remembered as a trailblazer. We'll remember a thoughtful and witty garden writer whose only book became a garden classic. We hear some thoughts on the garden in winter from one of my favorite authors. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book that shares the story of the French naturalist and medical doctor Aimé Bonpland ("bon-plon"). And then we'll wrap things up with a little garden trivia in honor of National Trivia Day. Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart To listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to "Play the latest episode of The Daily Gardener Podcast." And she will. It's just that easy. The Daily Gardener Friday Newsletter Sign up for the FREE Friday Newsletter featuring:

• A personal update from me
• Garden-related items for your calendar
• The Grow That Garden Library™ featured books for the week
• Gardener gift ideas
• Garden-inspired recipes
• Exclusive updates regarding the show

Plus, each week, one lucky subscriber wins a book from the Grow That Garden Library™ bookshelf. Gardener Greetings Send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes, and so forth to [email protected] Curated News Invasive Species Spotlight: Garlic Mustard | Washington Gardener | Jacqueline Hyman Facebook Group If you'd like to check out my curated news articles and original blog posts for yourself, you're in luck. I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. So, there's no need to take notes or search for links. The next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community where you'd search for a friend... and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events January 4, 1761 Today is the anniversary of the death of the English clergyman, botanist, and physiologist Stephen Hales. Stephen applied himself to many different areas of science. Stephen spent most of his life studying tree sap and blood flow. Do you know the direction sap flows in a plant? Stephen figured this out - it flows upward - and he also examined other fascinating aspects of plants like the sap's pressure, the pressure roots exert on sap, and how fast shoots and leaves grow. He also demonstrated that plants absorb air. Stephen's curiosity about sap and blood flow led him to become the first person to measure blood flow, blood volume, and blood pressure. Stephen was always thinking about the forces around us - from our internal blood pressure to external air pressure. It's not surprising that Stephen became curious about air quality and whether improved airflow could help fight typhus. And so, Stephen invented a ventilator to purify stale air. Stephen's device was essentially large bellows that had to be moved by hand, but they were still effective and were used in ships, prisons, and mines. And there was another use for Stephen's ventilator: it also preserved and dried food. In the twilight of his life, Stephen had royal visitors. Frederick, Prince of Wales, and his wife, Princess Augusta, both stopped by to discuss gardening and botany. And it was Stephen Hales who gave Princess Augusta advice on the creation of Kew Gardens. Today, Stephen is remembered in the genus for the snowdrop tree, the Halesia carolina. And since 1927, the Stephen Hales Prize is awarded to a scientist who made an outstanding contribution to plant biology science. January 4, 1883 Today is the birthday of a Dutch plant pathologist and the first female professor in the Netherlands, Johanna Westerdijk, who went by "Hans." In 1906, Johanna completed her thesis on the regeneration of mosses, and she was hired to be the director of a major botanical institute at the ripe old age of 23. By 1917, Johanna became the first female professor in the Netherlands. During her tenure, Johanna supervised 56 doctoral students - half of them women - and she strongly believed in equal opportunities for women. She once said, "I strive for a genuinely equal division of men and women in high positions." To illustrate how her peers perceived Johanna during her lifetime, check out this excerpt from The Lincoln Star Journal from October 29, 1914. Johanna had traveled to America to visit the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the article was titled, "Woman Botanist Who Smokes and Drinks Publicly." "A famous woman botanist, who both drinks and smokes In public, is now in the United States. Doctor [Charles] Bessey of the State University met her in St. Louis a short time ago. The name of the peculiar woman is Doctor Johanna Westerdtjk, and she is in charge of the pathological laboratories in Amsterdam. "She was quite enraged because botanists did not pay quite as much attention to her in St. Louis as she thought she deserved," said Doctor Bessey. "She insists that women should have the same rights as men and is in rebellion against American conventions. In large hotels, wherever it is permissible, she stays up late and drinks and smokes In the lobby." Doctor Bessey has a picture of all the botanists in attendance at the Missouri Botanical Gardens' anniversary. There is Miss Johanna Westerdijk, cigarette in hand. She appears to be the only one of any of the men or women in the picture who is smoking. Doctor Bessey believes that there is little danger of the learned doctor coming as far as Lincoln on her American travels." Joanna led an all-female team of scientists who identified the fungus that caused Dutch Elm disease. Joanna's Dutch Elm Committee was a group she formed on her own to fund additional research for elm disease. Johanna was a pioneer in plant pathology and fungi, and her system is still used to classify species. Today Johanna is remembered for some great quotes: "Both work and play are needed to create a beautiful mind." and "Even fungus dies from a dull and monotonous life." Today, at the university, there's a wall showing the photos of all the professors of her time - all men, of course - and right there, in the lower bottom left frame, is a painting of Johanna. And almost four years ago, on February 12, 2017, the Fungal Biodiversity Centre Institute was renamed the Westerdijk Institute in honor of Joanna. She served as the Institute's Director for over fifty years. Today, the Westerdijk Institue is the largest microbial, fungal resource center in the world. January 4, 1918 Today is the birthday of the American writer and gardener Eleanor Perenyi. We lost Eleanor in 2009, at the age of 91. Her book, Green Thoughts, is widely considered to be a classic of garden writing. Sadly, it was Eleanor's only book. Eleanor wrote about working in her Connecticut garden, and she was not a fan of rock gardens, chemical pesticides, or petunias. She once called petunias, "as hopelessly impractical as a chiffon ball dress." And her book Green Thoughts gives us many more witty quotes and sayings from Eleanor. Here are a few of my favorites: "A little studied negligence is becoming to a garden." "The double hoops for peonies are beyond-description maddening to unfold and set in place. Two people are needed, one of them with better control of his temper than I have." "I ordered a modern purple martin house myself and proceeded to construct a dreadful object: unpainted, it looked like a cheap motel; painted blue and white, it looked like a cheap Greek motel and had to be thrown out." "A killing frost devastates the heart as well as the garden." And finally, here's a quote for gardeners who are too hard on themselves. Eleanor recognized that this happens - quite a bit. "It takes a while to grasp that not all failures are self-imposed - the result of ignorance, carelessness, or inexperience. It takes a while to grasp that a garden isn't a testing ground for character and to stop asking, "What did I do wrong?" Maybe nothing." Unearthed Words I have had to enjoy the winter garden vicariously, with the help of books. The best for this purpose I've found is Elizabeth Lawrence's new one. Gardens in Winter (Harper), which has allowed me to share the delights of the author's garden in Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as the gardens and woods she knows from her wide reading. Miss Lawrence is a classicist and can cite Virgil and the English poets as freely as she does Gertrude Jekyll and Jane Loudon. In this volume, she leads us most often to the English garden of Canon Henry Ellacombe, from whose two books In a Gloucestershire Garden (1896) and In My Vicarage Garden (1902) she often quotes. She also takes us to Walden Pond and Concord, in the winter sections of Thoreau's Journal. In North Carolina, Miss Lawrence says, there are two springs—the first in autumn, just after the killing frosts, and then the true spring, which starts on St. Valentine's Day—but she reminds us that it was Thoreau who wrote, "All the year is a spring," and her book seems to prove this to be true, even in the North. She has collected winter-garden notes and-flowering dates from her network of correspondents all over the United States and shares these with her readers. Though we Northerners will envy her her iris and camellias in November, her roses and hardy cyclamens in December, and her violets and hoopskirt daffodils in January, she shows us that all winter, even in the most frigid and unlikely spots, there are flowers or shrubs in bloom or, at the very least, in fruit, if we look for them carefully. — Katharine S. White, gardener and garden writer, Onward and Upward in the Garden, Grow That Garden Library A Life in Shadow by Stephen Bell This book came out in 2010, and the subtitle is Aimé Bonpland in Southern South America, 1817–1858. In this book, Stephen shares the story of the French naturalist and medical doctor Aimé Bonpland, one of the most important South American scientific explorers in the early nineteenth century. Working alongside Alexander von Humboldt, Aimé later conducted his own research and went much farther south than Humboldt. Stephen outlines Aimé's movements through Argentina, Paraguay (where he was imprisoned for nearly a decade), Uruguay, and south Brazil. By exploring the interior of South America, Aimé's experience is a unique account of the natural world - along with the social and economic circumstances of the era. Stephen's well-researched book is no longer in print, but you can still find rare copies online. This book is 336 pages of fascinating history, showing Aimé Bonpland's life in rich detail. You can get a used copy of A Life in Shadow by Stephen Bell and support the show using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $62 Today's Botanic Spark Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart Today is National Trivia Day, and in honor of that, I thought I'd close today's show with some Garden Trivia with you. Questions:

1. Are Almonds in the rose family?
2. What is the world's tallest tree?
3. In the 1600s, what flower had the most value?
4. Where was the Poinsettia discovered?
5. What is the largest flower in the world?

Answers:

1. Yes - along with apples, peaches, pears, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, and more
2. The coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)
3. The Tulip. In the 1600s in Holland, tulips were worth more than gold and caused the crash of the Dutch economy. The craze was called tulip mania or tulipomania.
4. Mexico. In 1825, the first U.S. minister to Mexico, Joel Poinsett, introduced the plant to America.
5. The titan arum (Amorphophallus titanium)

Thanks for listening to The Daily Gardener. And remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

Today we'll celebrate a Scottish baker and botanist who left a charming collection behind as his legacy - and I must say, he had a head full of dark hair reminiscent of Beethoven. We'll also learn about the White House's first Christmas tree and the adorable grandchild who thoroughly enjoyed it. We'll recognize the work of a woman who envisioned a world where women were taught horticulture without threatening jobs for male gardeners. We hear a delightful poem called Jack Frost - it's adorable. We Grow That Garden Library™ with about celebrity gardens - and these folks are major trendsetters in the world of fashion and interior design. And then we'll wrap things up with a few versions of The Gardener's Night Before Christmas - maybe they will inspire you to write one of your own. Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart To listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to "Play the latest episode of The Daily Gardener Podcast." And she will. It's just that easy. The Daily Gardener Friday Newsletter Sign up for the FREE Friday Newsletter featuring:

• A personal update from me
• Garden-related items for your calendar
• The Grow That Garden Library™ featured books for the week
• Gardener gift ideas
• Garden-inspired recipes
• Exclusive updates regarding the show

Plus, each week, one lucky subscriber wins a book from the Grow That Garden Library™ bookshelf. Gardener Greetings Send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes, and so forth to [email protected] Curated Garden News Brooklyn Botanic Garden in 1918: A Time of Pandemic, War, and Poverty | Brooklyn Botanic Garden | Kathy Crosby Facebook Group I share all of my curated news articles and original blog posts with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. So, there's no need to take notes or search for links. The next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community where you'd search for a friend... and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events December 24, 1866 Today is the anniversary of the death of the Scottish geologist, botanist, and baker Robert Dick. The artist Joanne B. Kaar recently created a replica of Robert's moss box to honor his work. This was a little box that Robert used to carry moss back to his bakery. Now Joanne's moss box features fold-down flaps with delightful discoveries that call to mind the spirit of Robert Dick. And I share a video of Joanne's marvelous creation in the Facebook Group for the show. So if you want to check it out, it's a masterpiece, and it's a thrill to see that video. I followed up with Joanne, and when I emailed her, I asked for her insights on Robert. And Joanne replied with a lovely interview she did back in 2017. Here's an excerpt: "Wearing a swallowtail coat, jeans, and a chimney-pot hat, Robert Dick often had children following him from his bakery in Thurso, as they were curious to know what he was doing on his walks. He was not only a baker but also a renowned self-taught botanist, a geologist, and a naturalist. Interested in entomology, he collected moths, beetles, butterflies, and bees. To bring the samples home he pinned them to the inside of his hat." She continues, "Dunnet Head was one of his favorite places to walk, describing it as having a forest of ferns. Dunnet Head Lighthouse was built in 1831, an event Robert Dick must have witnessed. Robert Dick saved old letters, envelopes, newspapers, and documents to keep his collection of small plants and mosses in. His herbarium collection is now in Caithness Horizons Museum, Thurso, and contains around 3,000 specimens." Now when I was researching Rober,t I stumbled on an old document by Sir Roderick Murchison, the Director-General of the Geographical Society. Roderick delivered a wonderful speech at Leeds in September 1858, where he mentioned meeting the multi-talented baker Robert Dick. "In pursuing my research in the Highlands… it was my gratification.. to meet with a remarkable man in the town of Thurso, named Robert Dick, a baker by trade. I am proud to call him my distinguished friend. When I went to see him, he spread out before me a map of Caithness and pointed out its imperfections. Mr. Dick had traveled over the whole county in his leisure hours and was thoroughly acquainted with its features. He delineated to me, by means of some flour which he spread out on his baking board... its geographical features. (How clever of Robert to use flour to show the topography of the county!) Here is a man who is earning his daily bread by his hard work; who is obliged to read and study by night; and yet who can instruct the Director-General of the Geographical Society. But this is not half of what I have to tell you of Robert Dick. When I became better acquainted with this distinguished man and was admitted into his sanctum—which few were permitted to enter—I found there busts of Byron, of Sir Walter Scott, and other great poets. I also found books, carefully and beautifully bound, which this man had been able to purchase out of the savings of his single bakery. I also found that Robert Dick was a profound botanist. I found, to my humiliation, that this baker knew infinitely more of botanical science—ay, ten times more—than I did; and that there were only some twenty or thirty British plants that he had not collected… These specimens were all arranged in most beautiful order, with their respective names and habitats." After Robert's death on this day in 1866, a memorial obelisk was installed to honor him in the Thurso Cemetery. Today, the curator at Caithness Horizons Museum, Joanne Howdle, has digitalized the precious Robert Dick Herbarium. December 24, 1889 On this day, the White House's first Christmas tree was set in place to delight "Baby McKee," the favorite grandson and namesake of President Benjamin Harrison. A 1967 article from the Indianapolis Star said, "There had never been a Christmas tree in the White House before. Some people thought the whole thing pretty frivolous but President Harrison was adamant and set the gardeners to finding the just-right tree. It was to be tall and full and round like the trees he had had when he was a boy and found oranges and nuts in the toes of his stockings." All through Christmas Eve afternoon, the White House gardeners worked to set the tree in place in the library over the Blue Room. No one was permitted to decorate the tree; that honor was reserved for the president and his wife. However, history tells us that the gardeners all stayed to watch. After dinner, President Harrison and first lady Caroline Scott Harrison decorated the tree with fat ropes of tinsel and old-fashioned candles. The President crowned the tree with a large star, and the first lady "stretched and stooped to fill the branches with presents." The Harrison White House at Christmas was the picture of a classic Victorian holiday scene. One can almost imagine the scene that day - with Baby McKee or little Benjamin - his wispy blond hair, sailor hat, and long white hand-tucked dress imitating the President as he walked the library with his lamb on wheels behind him. Benjamin was also quite taken with his jack-in-the-box. December 24, 1936 Today is the anniversary of the death of the influential English gardening author and instructor, Frances Garnet Wolseley. A lifelong single lady, Frances devoted herself to gardening and gardening education. In 1902, on her thirtieth birthday, Frances created the Glynde College for Lady Gardeners on her father's garden in East Sussex. Although her classes had only around a dozen students, Frances managed to attract some famous students included Gertrude Jekyll, Ellen Willmott, and William Robinson. And online, there's a fantastic picture of Frances that shows her mowing a lawn with a push and pull mower with the help of one of her students - they're both standing on either side of this thing - it took two people to run it. It's hard to believe, but in the early 1900s, pictures of women mowing were being shown in advertisements for lawnmowers - they were trying to appeal to women to mow the lawn. In her 1908 book, Gardening for Women, Frances wrote, "It must be borne in mind that horticulture is still a comparatively new profession for women and that unless those who enter it strive to give full time and application to learning its details they cannot hope to be successful ...they should spare no pains to gain a complete education, for only then … can they expect remuneration." Unearthed Words Someone painted pictures on my Windowpane last night — Willow trees with trailing boughs And flowers, frosty white, And lovely crystal butterflies; But when the morning sun Touched them with its golden beams, They vanished one by one. — Helen Bayley Davis, American poet and writer, Jack Frost Grow That Garden Library Gardens of Style by Janelle McCulloch This book came out in 2018, and the subtitle is Private Hideaways of the Design World. In this book, Janelle takes us to visit the inspiring private gardens of celebrated fashion and design tastemakers. Thanks to Janelle's work, we can understand how these beautiful sanctuaries - these gardens - have influenced creative work and life. Throughout history, Mother Nature has been a frequent source of inspiration in fashion and design. Fashion designers like Christian Dior to have used gardens and botanicals in their collections. Like us, these designers and their interior design counterparts find that gardens restore their creativity and revitalize their energy. Janelle's book takes us, "from the lush foliage of the Dominican Republic to the graceful flowerbeds of America's East Coast, the charming roses and clipped boxwood of England's country manors, and the patterned parterres of France's enchanting Provence region—Gardens of Style illustrates the symbiotic relationship between horticulture and haute couture and between nature's beautiful forms and those found in interior design. For instance, the garden of former Hermès designer Nicole de Vésian (duh-VAY-zee-an) is a sublime weave of patterns and textures, while the garden of Christian Dior features many of the roses that inspired his glamorous gowns." This book is 240 pages of beautifully photographed gardens to delight and inspire, along with stories that show the connection between trendsetters and their horticultural havens - it's a beautiful coffee table book. You can get a copy of Gardens of Style by Janelle McCulloch and support the show using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $14. Today's Botanic Spark Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart Over the years, newspapers have shared a parody of The Night Before Christmas, written by Charles and Janice Jensen in the 1960s. The original version first appeared in the New York Times, and as I share it with you, you'll realize how far we've come since the 1960s in terms of our daily gardening practice. I'll share this version first, and then I have another version written in the 1980s - twenty years later. The Jensen version goes like this: Twas the night before Christmas and all through the yard The branches were bare and the ground frozen hard. The roses were dormant and mulched all around To protect them from damage if frost heaves the ground. The perennials were nestled all snug in their beds While visions of 5-10-10 danced in their heads. The new planted shrubs had been soaked by the hose To settle their roots for the long winters doze. And out on the lawn, the new-fallen snow Protected the roots of the grasses below. When what to my wondering eyes should appear But a truck full of gifts of gardening gear. Saint Nick was the driver, the jolly old elf And he winked as he said, I'm a gardener myself. I've brought wilt-proof, rootone, and B-nine, too. Father can try them and see what they do. To eliminate weeding, I've brought 2-4-D, And to battle the bugs, 5 percent DDT. To seed your new lawn, I've a patented sower; And since it will grow, here's a new power mower. For seed planting days, I've a trowel and a dibble. And a roll of wire mesh if the rabbits should nibble. For the feminine gardener, some gadgets she loves, Plant stakes, a sprinkler, and waterproof gloves; A chemical agent for her compost pit, And for enjoying the flowers, a flower arranging kit. With these colorful flagstones, lay a new garden path. For the kids to enjoy, a new bird feeder and bath. And last, but not least, some well-rotted manure. A green Christmas year-round, these gifts will ensure. Then jolly St. Nick, having emptied his load, Started his truck and took to the road. And I heard him exclaim through the engines loud hum: Merry Christmas to all and to all a green thumb! Well, things have changed a lot since the 1960s. So if you were a little shocked by what you heard in that version, that was standard gardening protocol for that decade. By 1987, Carolyn Roof in Paducah, Kentucky, had written her own version for gardeners in her garden column. Here's an excerpt from hers: Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the garden not a creature was stirring, not even a wren. The work tools were hung in the tool shed with care, in hope that springtime soon would be there. The flowers were mulched all snug in their bed, while visions of show winners danced in my head. And Richard in his blanket and I with the cat had settled down for a long winter's chat. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the chair to see what was the matter. Away to the window, I flew like a flash, tore open the drapes and threw up the sash. When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature UPS truck and eight tiny gardeners, With a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his workers they came, and he whistled and called them by name. Now Shepard, Now Appleseed, Now Thompson and Morgan, On Wayside, On Burpee, On Parks and Starks. As the dry leaves that before the wild tornado fly when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So on to the patio, the gardeners flew with a truck full of tools, plants, and flowers, too. And then in a twinkling, I heard by the glade, the digging and planting of each little blade. As I drew in my head and was turning around, past the sliding glass door, he came with a bound. He was dressed all in grubbies, mud boots on his feet, and his clothes were all soiled with mulches and peat. A bundle of tools, plants, and bulbs were on his back, and he looked like a nurseryman opening his pack. He spoke not a word but went on with his work, and landscaped the yard, then turned with a jerk. He sprang to his truck, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all drove like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night." However, my favorite ending is from the first poem. Here's how the Jensens ended their poem: And I heard him exclaim through the engines loud hum: Merry Christmas to all and to all a green thumb! Thanks for listening to The Daily Gardener this year. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

Today we celebrate a gardener who was also a Founding Father and a Governor of New York. We'll also learn about a botanist who brought back the Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae "strel-IT-zee-ah REJ-in-ee") as well as a plant that is now the oldest living potted plant at Kew. We hear a charming poem that takes us through the seasons by an English poet who was friends with many poets, including Mary Wollstonecraft. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a good ol' garden book that teaches how to grow your own food. And then we'll wrap things up with another delightful story about the Mistletoe - this one is a heart-warmer. Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart To listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to "Play the latest episode of The Daily Gardener Podcast." And she will. It's just that easy. The Daily Gardener Friday Newsletter Sign up for the FREE Friday Newsletter featuring:

• A personal update from me
• Garden-related items for your calendar
• The Grow That Garden Library™ featured books for the week
• Gardener gift ideas
• Garden-inspired recipes
• Exclusive updates regarding the show

Plus, each week, one lucky subscriber wins a book from the Grow That Garden Library™ bookshelf. Gardener Greetings Send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes, and so forth to [email protected] Curated Garden News 6 Great Plants for a New Perennial Design | Fine Gardening | Greg Loades Facebook Group I share all of my curated news articles and original blog posts with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. So, there's no need to take notes or search for links. The next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community where you'd search for a friend... and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events December 23, 1745 Today is the birthday of the American Founding Father and gardener John Jay. When he wasn't serving as the second Governor of New York and the United States' first Chief Justice, John Jay loved to garden. John's ancestral home was in Rye, New York. And today, the Jay Heritage Center oversees the Jay Estate and the incredible landscape, which includes stone ha-ha walls from 1822, one-and-a-half acres of historic sunken gardens from the 1700s, a meadow, an apple orchard, and elm tree allée. And here's a little fun fact about John Jay: His great-granddaughter, Mary Rutherfurd Jay, grew up on the ancestral Jay estate. She became one of America's earliest landscape architects and an advocate of horticultural education and women's careers. In 1801, John and his wife, Sarah, retired to their farmhouse in Bedford, Westchester County. Yet, their dream of settled farm life was cut short when Sarah died at age 45. John never remarried, and he lived out his remaining 30 years on this earth as a gentleman farmer. Today the John Jay Homestead features four gardens that reflect the John Jay family:

• The Formal Gardens feature a fountain and a sundial.
• The Terrace Garden features deer resistant plants and an apple orchard in a nod to John Jay's original orchard.
• And the old cutting garden is now an Herb Garden that was re-designed by Page Dickey, who laid out a 17th-century English knot garden.
• There's also a Teaching Garden to inspire kids to get involved in horticulture.

Personally, I find the most touching garden of all is the blue and white North Courtyard Garden, which was inspired by a book of pressed flowers from John's daughter, Maria Jay. This charming blue and white garden features violets, poppies, and irises, which bloom from spring to fall. And, I should mention that all of the gardens at the John Jay homestead are tended by local garden clubs. December 23, 1805 Today is the anniversary of the death of the Scottish gardener, botanical illustrator, and the very first plant hunter for Kew, Francis Masson. After proving himself capable at Kew, Joseph Banks sent Francis on an expedition to southern Africa, where he met up with the Swedish botanist Carl Peter Thunberg. Together Francis and Carl ventured into the veldt and the Blue Mountains. Surviving the extreme heat, lack of water, and dangerous wild animals, Francis made it back to England in 1775. With his gardener's eye for ornamentals, Francis brought back many plants and seeds to England. In a letter to Linnaeus, Francis reported he had "added upwards of 400 new species to his Majesties collection of living plants". Among Francis' specimens were gladioli, irises, kniphofias, lobelias, and pelargoniums as well as the stunning bird of paradise flower, which was named to honor the wife of George III, Queen Charlotte: a patroness of the arts, an amateur botanist in her own right, and a champion of Kew Gardens. And the name of the plant recognized the fact that the Queen was born in Germany in an area called Mecklenberg-Strelitz. And so, the botanical name for the Bird of Paradise is the Strelitzia reginae ("stray-LIT-zee-ah REJ-in-ee.") As for Francis, after his trip to South America, he went on expeditions to North America, Portugal, and Northern Africa. But in 1785, Francis returned to his favorite destination: South Africa. This time, Francis spent a decade there - botanizing deep into the country's interior. And it was during this time that Francis discovered the arum lily and the calla lily. And when he wasn't plant hunting, Francis was busy cultivating his magnificent personal garden in Cape Town. Today, gardeners marvel at Francis' drawings of South Africa's Cape Floral Kingdom. In the twilight of his life, Francis experienced a dreadful voyage to North America. Between two run-ins with pirates and terrible weather, Francis' ship barely made it to New York. And after discovering the Trillium grandiflorum on his way to Canada, Francis died on this day in 1805. It was Francis Masson who pioneered plant exploration and transformed European gardens through his discoveries of over 1700 species. Today at Kew Gardens, you can see the oldest potted plant in the world - it's an Eastern Cape Giant Cycad (Encephalartos altensteinii). It basically looks like a large potted palm cycad. It was brought to England in 1775 after Francis Masson's first trip to South Africa. Unearthed Words Through springtime walks, with flowers perfumed, I chased a wild, capricious, fair Where hyacinths and jonquils bloomed, Chanting gay sonnets through the air; Hid amid a briary dell Or 'neath a Hawthorn-tree, Her sweet enchantments led me on And still deluded me. While summer's 'splendent glory smiles My ardent love in vain essayed, I strove to win her heart by wiles, But still a thousand pranks she played; Still o'er each, sunburned furzy hill, Wild, playful, gay, and free, She laughed and scorned; I chased her still, And still, she bantered me. When autumn waves her golden ears And wafts o'er fruits her pregnant breath, The sprightly lark its pinion rears; I chased her o'er the daisied heath, And all around was glee - Still, wanton as the timid hart, She swiftly flew from me. Now winter lights its cheerful fire, While jests with frolic mirth resound And draws the wandering beauty nigher, 'Tis now too cold to rove around; The Christmas- game, the playful dance, Incline her heart to glee — Mutual we glow, and kindling love Draws every wish to me. — Ann Batten Cristall, English poet and schoolteacher, Through Springtime Walks Grow That Garden Library The Grow Your Own Food Handbook by Monte Burch This book came out in 2014, and the subtitle is A Back to Basics Guide to Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Fruits and Vegetables. In this book, Monte puts together a simple resource for gardeners eager to reap the benefits of homegrown vegetables and fruits. Monte shares detailed instructions for fall and winter food growing and the specific health benefits for each crop. Learn how to grow, how to harvest, and how to store your own food. This book is 240 pages of guided instruction from Monte Burch - showing you how to grow all types of vegetables, fruits - and even grains. You can get a copy of The Grow Your Own Food Handbook by Monte Burch and support the show using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $5. Today's Botanic Spark Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart December 23, 1978 On this day, The Oshkosh Northwestern out of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, published a story called Mystical Mistletoe Is Historical Sprig By Pat Vander Velden. "Pliny the Elder, a first-century Roman naturalist, was one of the first freelance writers to recognize mistletoe as a lucrative story idea. He chronicled the esteem that the druids held for the mystical evergreen that grows on oak, elm, apple, hawthorn, and poplar trees. According to Pliny, the druid's name for the plant was ol-liach "all heal." The druids thought it could cure everything from sterility to the common cold. As late as the 17th century, Nicholas Culpepper said, "Mistletoe is good for the grief of itch, sores, toothaches, and the biting of mad dogs and venomous beasts." Nathaniel Hawthorne was not that impressed. In 1855 he wrote about mistletoe and called it "An uninteresting plant with white wax-looking berries dull green on parasitical stem." Hawthorne was puzzled by the raging fad of the day. "The maids of the house did the utmost to entrap the gentlemen, old and young, and there to kiss them. After which they were expected to pay a shilling." Obviously, Hawthorne was frugal and didn't approve of paying for his affection. Probably the most famous of writers to refer to mistletoe is Charles Dickens. In The Pickwick Papers, Mr. Pickwick kisses Lady Tollimglower under the mistletoe. "Mister Pickwick, with a gallantry that would have done honor to a descendant of Lady Tollimglower ... led her beneath the mystic branch and saluted her in all courtesy and decorum . . . " The custom of kissing under the mistletoe is lost somewhere between the druids and Dickens." Thanks for listening to The Daily Gardener. And remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

Today we celebrate the botanist and doctor who established the nation's first public botanical garden. We'll also learn about the English Victorian author who loved roses. We'll recognize the inspiring former president and owner of Tulsa Greenhouse and Four State Wholesale. We'll hear an excerpt about pruning from a peach farmer. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book from American garden royalty - it's part garden book and part cookbook. And then we'll wrap things up with a story about the only First Lady recognized by The American Horticultural Society with their highest honor, the Liberty Hyde Bailey Award. Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart To listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to "Play the latest episode of The Daily Gardener Podcast." And she will. It's just that easy. The Daily Gardener Friday Newsletter Sign up for the FREE Friday Newsletter featuring:

• A personal update from me
• Garden-related items for your calendar
• The Grow That Garden Library™ featured books for the week
• Gardener gift ideas
• Garden-inspired recipes
• Exclusive updates regarding the show

Plus, each week, one lucky subscriber wins a book from the Grow That Garden Library™ bookshelf. Gardener Greetings Send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes, and so forth to [email protected] Curated Garden News Tree ferns are older than dinosaurs. And that's not even the most interesting thing about them | World Economic Forum | Gregory Moore Facebook Group I share all of my curated news articles and original blog posts with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. So, there's no need to take notes or search for links. The next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community where you'd search for a friend... and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events December 22, 1835 Today is the anniversary of the death of the doctor and botanist David Hosack. He was 65. In 2018, David Hosack's story was brilliantly told in the biography by Victoria Johnson called American Eden. David was a New Yorker and he was a leading doctor in America during the early days of the country. David had a fantastic gift: he was able to form incredible relationships with leading thinkers of his time. Doctor Benjamin Rush was his mentor, and England's top botanist William Curtis trained him in botany and medicinal plants. At the age of 25, David returned to his alma mater, Columbia University, to teach medicine and botany. David's patients included Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. And if you've watched the musical Hamilton, you know that although David was one of the best physicians available, he could not save Hamilton. David Hosack established the nation's first public botanical garden in the middle of Manhattan. David initially focused on medicinal plants, but he soon added vegetables, grasses, grains, fruits. And exotics collected from all over the world. It really was a paradise. David's medical students used his garden as an extension of their classroom and that was a first for students on this side of the Atlantic. At its zenith, David's garden boasted of having over 2,000 different species of plants - just incredible. It was David's pioneering work with plants that allowed him to teach an entire generation of doctors brand-new remedies to common medical problems. Now, unfortunately, David's vision for the garden way exceeded his financial ability to keep it going. Sadly David was forced to sell off and dismantle his botanical dream. And today, his former garden is the site of Rockefeller Center. Yet David's garden and his work had inspired botanists all over the world. And although his botanic garden did not survive, David's dream of a garden of discovery and learning would be carried out through the work of other pioneers like Henry Shaw, Charles Sprague Sargent, and David Fairchild. In the twilight of his life, David's wife died. After remarrying a very wealthy woman, David built a country estate with an incredible garden (of course) where he enjoyed his remaining days on earth. December 22, 1880 Today is the 140th anniversary of the death of the English Victorian author George Eliot. George Eliot was the pen name for a woman named Mary Ann Evans, and her many works like Silas Marner and Middlemarch are packed with images from the garden. To Mary Ann, plants were the perfect representation of faith. Like faith, our botanical friends require care and feeding to grow and flourish. On October 1st, 1841, Mary Ann wrote a letter to her old governess, Maria Lewis. She wrote: "Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love - that makes life and nature harmonise. The birds are consulting about their migrations, the trees are putting on the hectic or the pallid hues of decay, and begin to strew the ground, that one's very footsteps may not disturb the repose of earth and air, while they give us a scent that is a perfect anodyne to the restless spirit. Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." My favorite quotes from Mary Ann, (George Eliot), are about her love of roses. She wrote: "I think I am quite wicked with roses. I like to gather them, and smell them till they have no scent left." And, Eliot wrote this little poem about roses: "You love the roses—so do I. I wish The sky would rain down roses, as they rain From off the shaken bush. Why will it not? Then all the valleys would be pink and white, And soft to tread on. They would fall as light As feathers, smelling sweet; and it would be Like sleeping and yet waking, all at once. Over the sea, Queen, where we soon shall go, Will it rain roses?" This concept of raining roses was something Eliot wrote about several times. She loved that idea. This last quote about roses is the one she is most famous for: "It never rains roses; when we want more roses, we must plant more..." December 22, 1928 Today is the birthday of the president and owner of Tulsa Greenhouse and Four State Wholesale, William B. Arnett. The origins of Bill's greenhouse went back to 1916, when it was founded by Gordon Vernon Voight back in the early days of Tulsa. During the depression, Bill's dad and a partner took over the retail nursery business started by Voight, and they, in turn, developed it to include a wholesale operation. After learning the ropes from his father, Bill officially took over the business in 1966. Bill and his wife Louise ran the business together. While they raised their four daughters, they oversaw five retail shops, three wholesale houses, and one growing facility. Now, the wholesale side of the business created exciting opportunities for Bill. At one point, The Tulsa Greenhouse provided flowers for florists across four states. Bill enjoyed sharing his expertise with others. And in addition to personally training florists, Bill influenced an entire generation of new designers by contributing to design schools every holiday season. A lover of fresh flowers, Bill prided himself on knowing every aspect of the business, including how to grow each of the flowers in his nursery. In his obituary, Bill's family recalled the time Bill flew on the first jet airliner out of Tulsa. Now, this was no vacation. Bill had brought along a bouquet of fresh roses, and he wanted to see just how fast he could ship them across the country. He was a true floral businessman. At the time of Bill's death, he'd lost his wife Louise (after being married to her for 60 years), he'd served as president of the Wholesale Florists and Florist Suppliers of America, he'd left a mark on the florist industry in the heart of the country, and he'd closed his business in 2005 (after 90 years of operating in Tulsa). And I found out about Bill after I stumbled on his obituary online. In Bill's obituary, one of his daughters said something that I thought was such a beautiful quote and a wonderful tribute about what it was like to grow up with her dad, "We were surrounded by flowers all our lives — there were flowers galore." Unearthed Words My thoughts turn to the work of pruning. Ideally, the first blasts of winter have left their mark and strip the trees of leaves. But I've seen antsy farmers prune while lots of leaves still hang in the tree. The work is slow, and it's hard to see. I delay my pruning because, for me, vision is crucial. The art of pruning involves seeing into the future. I can easily spot the dead branches by their dried, dark, almost black wood. But it's hard to envision new growth and the new shape the tree will take two or three or four years from now. When I prune, I have to keep that vision in mind. Otherwise, I'll hesitate and grow timid and insecure, as I gaze down the just-worked row and see all the butchered trees and fallen limbs lying in the dirt. With each dead limb, there's hope for new growth. That's why I enjoy this part of pruning: I'm always working with the future. I'm like a bonsai gardener with my peach trees, shaping each tree for the long term. When working with dying trees, I feel one of the most important and strongest emotions a farmer has: a sense of hope. — David Mas Masumoto ("Mahs Mah-sue-moe-toe"), Peach & Grape Farmer and Author, Epitaph for a Peach, Pruning Grow That Garden Library The Four Season Farm Gardener's Cookbook by Barbara Damrosch and Eliot Coleman This book came out in 2013, and the subtitle is From the Garden to the Table in 120 Recipes. In this book, America's most respected gardening couple Barbara Damrosch and Eliot Coleman, share what they've learned from growing and eating on their extraordinary Four Season Farm in Maine. This book shows you how to grow what you eat and how to cook what you grow. And this book is an excellent resource for the times we are living through - there's even a section for what to plant for a yearly cycle survival garden. Barbara and Eliot divide their book into two parts. The first half covers gardening, and the second part is devoted to the recipes. I should also mention that Barbara is a master cook. This book is 496 pages of step-by-step instructions from America's garden royalty - it's a big book with an even greater value. You can get a copy of The Four Season Farm Gardener's Cookbook by Barbara Damrosch and Eliot Coleman and support the show using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $3 Today's Botanic Spark Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart December 22, 1912 Today is the birthday of the American socialite and the First Lady of the United States as the wife of the 36th President, Lyndon B. Johnson, Claudia Alta Taylor Johnson who always went by "Lady Bird". On her 70th birthday, Lady Bird made her greatest contribution to American botany when she gave a financial endowment and a land grant of 60 acres to found the National Wildlife Research Center in Austin, Texas. A non-profit dedicated to conservation and preservation, the Center conducts scientific research on wildflowers as well as other native and naturalized plants. Together with Helen Hayes MacArthur, Lady Bird served as the co-chair of the center. For her philanthropy and love of nature, Lady Bird was awarded the American Horticultural Society's highest honor, the Liberty Hyde Bailey Award. Although her work as the first lady had brought her incredible experiences, Lady Bird wrote: "My story begins long before that - with a love of the land that started in my childhood." Thanks for listening to The Daily Gardener. And remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

Today we celebrate the Scottish botanist who is remembered for the phenomenon known as Brownian Motion. We'll also learn about the woman remembered as the Queen of the Traditional English Country Garden. We'll have a little mini-class on Mistletoe and the etymology of its name. We'll listen to a verse from a garden writer and forager who grows wild plants during the winter. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book that features a dozen gardens of an incredible modern garden designer. And then we'll wrap things up with a century-old article that shared a new way to water plants. Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart To listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to "Play the latest episode of The Daily Gardener Podcast." And she will. It's just that easy. The Daily Gardener Friday Newsletter Sign up for the FREE Friday Newsletter featuring:

• A personal update from me
• Garden-related items for your calendar
• The Grow That Garden Library™ featured books for the week
• Gardener gift ideas
• Garden-inspired recipes
• Exclusive updates regarding the show

Plus, each week, one lucky subscriber wins a book from the Grow That Garden Library™ bookshelf. Gardener Greetings Send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes, and so forth to [email protected] Curated Garden News 6 Healthy Winter Vegetables That Don't Require a Whole Lot of Space To Grow | Well + Good | Emily Laurence Facebook Group If you'd like to check out my curated news articles and original blog posts for yourself, you're in luck. I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. So, there's no need to take notes or search for links. The next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community where you'd search for a friend... and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events December 21, 1773 Today is the birthday of Scottish botanist Robert Brown. Robert made important contributions to botany and (science in general) through his pioneering use of the microscope. In particular, Robert is best known for being the first to notice the natural continuous movement of minute particles. Today we call that phenomenon of movement Brownian Motion. Now how did Robert come up with this? Well, for his 1827 experiment, Robert looked through his microscope at pollen immersed in water, and he started to notice subtle movements of the pollen - even though the water was still. He's what he wrote about it, "These motions… arose neither from currents in the fluid, nor from its gradual evaporation, but belonged to the particle itself" Now, at the time, Brown was unable to explain why the particles moved. It wasn't until 1905 that Einstein was able to understand the cause of Brownian motion fully. Einstein suggested that this motion was due to the movement of water particles - in essence, little atoms in the water that were bumping into the pollen. And I thought you'd get a kick out of this: Einstein also famously said, "If I could remember the names of all these particles, I'd be a botanist." Today, Brownian Motion helps explain the "spin" from black holes. Robert Brown also coined the term nucleus in living cells. In Latin, the term nucleus means "little nut." Robert Brown was the first person to recognize the difference between angiosperms (flowering plants) and gymnosperms (non-flowering plants like conifers). And houseplant enthusiasts will appreciate knowing that Robert named the Hoya plant genus after his friend and fellow botanist Thomas Hoy who was also a gardener for the Duke of Northumberland. Now, Robert also worked closely with Ferdinand Bauer - one of the world's most accomplished natural history artists. Together they joined Captain Matthew Flinders on a ship called Investigator. The Flinders expedition was the first to circumnavigate Australia. With the assistance of Peter Good, who was hunting for viable seeds and live plants for Kew Gardens, Robert amassed a large collection of specimens during his years in Australia. And as a result of all his time and work in Australia, Brown published the remarkable survey on Australian flora, which he called The Prodromus. The Prodromus opened doors for Robert Brown when it attracted the attention of Joseph Banks. The two became great friends, and Banks asked Brown to serve as his personal botanical librarian. When Banks died in 1820, he left his home, collections, and library to Robert Brown - along with a large yearly allowance. December 21, 1918 Today is the birthday of the English garden designer, lecturer, prolific garden writer, and one of the greatest gardeners of the 20th century, Rosemary Verey. Regarded as the "Queen of the Traditional English Country Garden," Rosemary's garden masterpiece is a blend of nature and geometry, traditional and cottage. You'll see graceful draping of wisteria, blousy roses, warm stone, and symmetrical chimneys create Rosemary's intimate, timeless, and genteel garden that has been described as a bucolic dream. And I thought you'd enjoy hearing Rosemary's thoughts on the winter garden: "I love the garden in winter, almost as much as the summer." "Winter's palette is clear and spare, restrictive enough to curb the excesses of even the most daring gardeners." "A garden in winter is the absolute test of the true gardener." The seeds of Rosemary's magnificent garden were sown in her relationship with a young Landscape Architect named David Verey. After marrying David in 1939, the couple moved into his ancestral home Barnsley House - a Cotswold-stone manor house - near Cirencester in Gloucestershire. Unlike garden designers who cut their teeth on other people's gardens. Rosemary honed her skills as a gardener and developed her signature style in her own backyard at Barnsley House. After a while, Rosemary went on to work with many famous clients. Rosemary helped design Elton John's gardens at Woodside, and she also worked with Prince Charles. Rosemary Verey's book Classic Garden Design (1984) gives us insight into how much she learned from studying gardens of the past, with their topiary, knot gardens, and box-edged beds. Many classic elements exist in her Barnsley garden: she mixes formal style with roses and herbaceous perennials, which softens and adds interest - even in winter. One of the reasons Rosemary's garden garnered so much attention was because it was a departure from the formal style of English gardening that was so popular during the 1970s. And just to give you an example of how popular Rosemary's gardens were: She opened her garden for a single day in 1970, and it became so popular that the garden was open every day except Sunday and visited by over 30,000 people every single year. One of the most significant elements of Rosemary's Barnsley House garden is the yellow Laburnum Walk. Laburnums are small European ornamental trees that have hanging clusters of yellow flowers. Rosemary had seen Russell Page's Laburnum Arch, which was the likely inspiration for her Laburnum Walk. If you ever see it, Rosemary's walk is a vision. The laburnums romantically drape over a sea of allium parted by a concrete walkway texturized with pebbles. It is absolutely glorious. That's why many consider Rosemary's Laburnum Walk to be one of the most iconic garden plantings of the last fifty years. And it was Rosemary Verey who introduced and popularized the potager. Today's Rosemary's potager garden is one of the favorite attractions to the visitors of the fabulous grounds of Barnsley House. Today, you can go to Barnsley House because it's no longer a family home. It has transitioned from the Verey family home to a boutique hotel and spa. And Rosemary once said this about Barnsley House, "Although I arrived here more than fifty years ago, I constantly try to see the garden with new eyes. This is the wonderful thing about gardening; trees are ever-growing taller, shrubs developing, ground cover taking over. Then scene changes and every year has its own character, influenced by frost, rainfall, and sunshine – elements over which we have no control; but we can aim to plan so that each season has its moments of interest, with winter scent, spring blossoms and bulbs, summer exuberance and autumn color." December 21, 1997 On this day, The Saskatoon Sun, out of Saskatchewan, Canada, shared an article about the tradition of mistletoe. "Mistletoe is especially interesting botanically because it is partially parasitic. As a parasitic plant, it grows on the branches of trees, sending out roots that penetrate into the branches to take up nutrients. Mistletoe's common name is derived from the ancient belief that the plant was propagated from bird droppings. This belief was related to the then-accepted principle that life sprang spontaneously from dung. Mistletoe is derived from an old English word Mistletan. Mistel is the Anglo-Saxon word for dung, and tan is the word for twig, so mistletoe translates to "dung-on-a-twig." By the 16th century, botanists had discovered that the plant's sticky seeds tended to cling to the bills of birds so that they were left on branches where birds rubbed their bills to clean them." Unearthed Words Most weeds don't make it through winter. They need warm rain and steady sun. Frozen soil inhibits root growth; snowfalls discourage sprouts. Even watercress, which usually positions itself in flowing water, gets hurt by a freeze. If you live in an area where the snow falls over several months, you know that small sigh of sadness when you go out to gather wild things, and frost has taken over. This year I've been cultivating weeds indoors to ease those winter doldrums. I've got Chicory, Dandelion, and Poke Roots potted in buckets in a kitchen corner. I've got Watercress stretching out of a pot standing in freshwater. I've got Chickweed daily going to seed three months early on the window sill. While my wild Winter Garden doesn't provide the abundance of the outdoors, it grows leaves enough to garnish winter meals with sprigs of wild flavor, nutrients, and color. — Susan Tyler Hitchcock, garden writer, and forager, Gather Ye Wild Things Grow That Garden Library The Gardens of Luciano Giubbilei by Andrew Wilson This book came out in 2015, and it is the second edition. In this book, Andrew showcases the incredible work of the garden designer Luciano Giubbilei ("Lou-CHAN-no JOO-bee-lay"). Known for the understated elegance of his garden designs, Luciano utilizes the composition of space and evolves his approach to suit his clients and his maturing ideas. This book spotlights a dozen gardens from Luciano's portfolio. And every detail is shared: from Mood boards to final plantings. Andrew's book thoughtfully includes pages on nursery production, site development, sourcing plants, the artists that Luciano works with, Luciano's working methods, and how Luciano finds inspiration - And I love that level of detail. This book is 240 pages of Luciano Giubbilei's work - it's a coffee table book - and a celebration of a magnificent dozen of his creations - along with planting plans, archival documents, and gorgeous photographs from garden photographer Steven Wooster. You can get a copy of The Gardens of Luciano Giubbilei by Andrew Wilson and support the show using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $47 Today's Botanic Spark Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart December 21, 1917 On this day, The Weekly Tribune out of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, shared a little story about the Right Way to Water Plants. Now back in 1917, the concept of watering plants via wicking was new and confusing. Here's a little glimpse into how it was introduced to the general public: "Lucien Daniel, a French botanist, has discovered that young hothouse plants and slips of vegetables, as well as flowers, thrive far better by a system of continuous watering than by drenching the soil at stated periods. The new method depends upon the law of capillary attraction. Near each plant is placed a jar containing water, into which is dipped one end of a strip of linen or cotton, whose other end lies near the plant. With this uninterrupted supply of water, drop by drop, the plants thrived, greatly outdistancing other plants, which were submitted to an intermittent drenching." Thanks for listening to The Daily Gardener. And remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

Today we celebrate the man who cleverly saved the Royal Botanic Garden during the French Revolution. We'll also learn about the woman who lavishly decorated her bathroom with a garden theme almost a hundred years ago. We look back at a successful bid to save a 700-year-old Christmas Tree in Oregon. We'll remember one of the great nurserymen and rosarians of our time… after two years, we still feel his loss. We hear words about the peace that comes in winter by the writer Rachel Peden. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book subtitled, "How to Have Your Yard and Eat It Too." And then we'll wrap things up with the story of an arboretum that came to life thanks to the vision and obsession of one Atlanta man. It's quite the story. Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart To listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to "Play the latest episode of The Daily Gardener Podcast." And she will. It's just that easy. The Daily Gardener Friday Newsletter Sign up for the FREE Friday Newsletter featuring:

• A personal update from me
• Garden-related items for your calendar
• The Grow That Garden Library™ featured books for the week
• Gardener gift ideas
• Garden-inspired recipes
• Exclusive updates regarding the show

Plus, each week, one lucky subscriber wins a book from the Grow That Garden Library™ bookshelf. Gardener Greetings Send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes, and so forth to [email protected] Curated Garden News The Best Plants For Stunning Winter Bark | Gardening Etc | Sarah Wilson Facebook Group If you'd like to check out my curated news articles and original blog posts for yourself, you're in luck. I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. So, there's no need to take notes or search for links. The next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community where you'd search for a friend... and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events December 18, 1829 Today is the anniversary of the death of a French naturalist, biologist, and academic, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. Lamarck died lonely, blind, and impoverished in Paris on this day in 1829. He was buried in a common grave. Regarded as the Father of Evolutionary Theory, Lamarck paved the way for Darwin's Origin of the Species. By 1809, Lamarck had worked out a complete theory of evolution. Lamarck speculated on the inheritability of acquired traits. He believed that all life evolved upward - beginning with dead matter, progressing from simple to complex forms, and ending in "human perfection." A progressive thinker, Lamarck also proposed an early version of continental drift. By 1790 Lamark was working as a botanist at the Royal Herbarium in Paris. As the French Revolution intensified, Lamarck saved the Royal Garden by quietly and ingeniously renaming it. Instead of The Royal Garden, the sign simply read The Garden of Plants. Lamark's little sign trick worked, and the garden was saved. December 18, 1930 On this day, The Boston Globe shared a little snippet called "Bathrooms like Gardens." Here's an excerpt: "Lady Cromer has her favorite flower, the iris, as the motif of her bathroom. The walls are painted with growing irises in flower on the bank of a river, the river being the bath itself, and the whole effect is that of a charming garden." December 18, 1958 On this day, the Statesman Journal out of Salem, Oregon, reported on a 700-Year-Old Tree Saved From Axemen. "[In Seaside, Oregon], a giant 700-year-old Christmas tree has been added to a five-acre tree farm park dedicated to the public. The Sitka Spruce, 195 feet tall and 15 feet, 9 inches in diameter… contains enough wood to build six two-bedroom houses. The ink was barely dry on England's Magna Carta when the spruce sprouted. The tree passed its 500th birthday before the American Revolution. The American Forestry Association, which keeps records on big trees. lists a 180-foot Sitka Spruce in Washington's Olympic National Park as the largest tree. While it boasts an eight-inch edge in diameter, it is 15 feet shorter than Oregon's champion." December 18, 2018 Today is the second anniversary of the death of the rose breeder and writer David Austin. When David passed away, I found some old advertisements that he posted in The Observer in 1973. That post was already twelve years after creating his first commercially available Rose - the Constance Spry. A 1973 ad showed how early-on David found his calling. It read: "Old-fashioned roses, shrub roses, rare and unusual roses, many of our own breeding. Roses of charm, and fragrance. The country's finest collection."A handbook of roses" free." Unearthed Words Under the big Swamp Maple in the east lot, the gray geese and the white Pilgrim ganders gather silently. During winter nights, they sleep in the open face tool shed, and often in the night, they think of new expressions of scorn and at once utter them. ("We are the watchdogs, we geese. We saved Rome.") That peaceful morning they walked on the clinging, moist snow and were still. They looked thoughtful as if contemplating the sense of peace that provided the whole farmscape. I realized to my astonishment that if total peace ever actually befell the whole world all at one time, it would be the most spectacular sight mankind has ever seen. Nobody would be able to believe it, or, perhaps, even to survive it. — Rachel Peden, ecologist and writer, The Land, The People Grow That Garden Library Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist by Michael Judd This book came out in 2013, and the subtitle is How to Have Your Yard and Eat It Too. In this book, Michael shares his life at his Long Creek Homestead in Frederick, Maryland. Michael's gorgeous property includes 25 acres of mixed woodland, food forests, gardens, and a nursery designed for experimentation and education. Michael's book is his how-to manual for following in his footsteps: transforming a sea of grass into a flourishing edible landscape that pleases the eye as well as the taste buds. With his delightful personality and quick humor, Michael explains the complexities of permaculture design into his simple do-it-yourself projects like:

• Herb Spirals
• Food Forests
• Raised-Bed Gardens
• Earthen Ovens
• Uncommon Fruits
• Outdoor Mushroom Cultivation, and more . . .

The book features beautiful photography and practical designs that can be easily grafted to the urban landscape's micro-habits, scaled up to the acreage of homesteads, or adapted to already flourishing landscapes. This book is 144 pages of an edible landscaping primer with a permaculture twist to help anyone with a desire to turn their landscape into a luscious and productive edible Eden. You can get a copy of Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist by Michael Judd and support the show using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $14. Today's Botanic Spark Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart December 18, 1999 On this day, The Marshfield News-Herald out of Marshfield, Wisconsin, published a story called "Dream Fulfilled: Georgia Man Lovingly Cultivates Arboretum at His Home." The story features Tom Cox, a man who has a passion for trees. Here's an excerpt: "Tom, 54, is a boy on a great adventure. It's as if he has played in every tree's branches, smelled and felt every leaf. He uses careful, precise words when he talks about the textures of leaves: crisp, refined, leathery, or lacy. It is the same with bark. One is striated, another like patchwork. Still, another is smooth like silk. Tom describes in meticulous detail how certain trees will look in 10 or 15 years. He envisions the blossoms, leaf color, or berries the trees will display at different ages and seasons. Tom purchased 14 acres, built a house, planted trees on half the property, and started his private Arboretum, which he shares with garden clubs and groups like Trees Atlanta. Now he has 600 trees, with varieties representing 38 countries, and he tends them all himself. Small signs identify each by genus and species. His wife Evelyn does some weeding and mulching, but he doesn't ask her to water. Or mow. He cuts the grass, careful to avoid nicking a tree. Evelyn travels with her husband to many weekend plant shows. She calls their 10-year-old station wagon the "dirt mobile." Tom calls it the "plant mobile." She laughs about her trips home, crowded by some 60 to 70 plants. Evelyn said, "I've had to fend off an occasional spider or two. Most of all, I just enjoy seeing him enjoy it. When he first started, he'd buy bare-root plants and call me outside every Saturday to look at a new bundle of sticks and at tree bark. He's really into bark, you know." To Tom, unusual trees aren't hard to grow, just hard to find because nobody asks for them. His Japanese apricot, which blooms bright orange in February, is one example. "Everybody would have one if they only knew about it." And, he often spots unusual trees in local hardware stores. One of his favorite evergreen trees is a Japanese black cedar he bought at an Ace Hardware in south Atlanta. Thanks for listening to The Daily Gardener. And remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."