The Daily Gardener

Today we celebrate an English poet who was good friends with Alexander Pope. We'll also learn about the French painter, famous for his landscapes. We celebrate the co-creator of a new hybrid of popcorn called "snowflake." We also celebrate some of the flowers of the July garden with some poetry. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book that helps us explore the world of botanical fragrance. And then we'll wrap things up with a story about a legendary Indiana botanist. But first, let's catch up on some Greetings from Gardeners around the world and today's curated news. Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Gardener Greetings To participate in the Gardener Greetings segment, send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes and so forth to [email protected] And, to listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to play The Daily Gardener Podcast. It's that easy. Curated News 9 Hanging Garden Ideas That Will Turn Any Small Space Into a Lush Indoor Jungle | Tehrene Firman | WellandGood.com If you're living in a small apartment, there's really not a whole lot of room to make your greenery dreams come true. Unless you take things vertically, that is. 1. Plant wall 2. Hanging Bottles 3. Kokedama 4. Upcycled Stick 5. Wall Containers 6. Above-the-Bed Shelf 7. Doorway Garden 8. Wire Wall Grid 9. Scrap Wood Did you know Tarragon is an artemisia? Alright, that's it for today's gardening news. Now, if you'd like to check out my curated news articles and blog posts for yourself, you're in luck, because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events 1730 Today is the anniversary of the death of the English writer and poet Elijah Fenton. His tomb is ornamented with a pair of sleeping angels. Alexander Pope composed his epitaph. The first two lines are inspired by the poet Richard Crashaw. At Easthamstead, Berks, 1729 THIS modest stone, what few vain marbles can, May truly say, Here lies an Honest Man; A Poet blessed beyond the Poet's fate, Whom Heav'n kept sacred from the proud and great; Foe to loud Praise, and friend to learned Ease, 5 Content with Science in the vale of peace. Calmly he looked on either life, and here Saw nothing to regret, or there to fear; From Nature's temperate feast rose satisfied, Thank'd Heav'n that he had lived, and that he died. Elijah Fenton is remembered for working with Alexander Pope and William Broome to translate the Greek epic poem The Odyssey. Pope had specifically asked Elijah for his help with the major undertaking. Elijah is credited with many wonderful verses: Wedded love is founded on esteem. Beware of flattery, 'tis a weed Which oft offends the very idol--vice, Whose shrine it would perfume. O blissful poverty! Nature, too partial to thy lot, assigns Health, freedom, innocence, and downy peace. In a book about Elijah Fenton, it says, "It is late justice, to Fenton, to point out how often the footsteps of the greater poet may be tracked to his garden plots; how the tones, and something more, of his verses, are echoed in strains which give them their best chance of immortality. Pope was accustomed to say that Fenton's "Ode to Spring" addressed to Lord John Gower, was the best Ode in the English language since Dryden's Cecilia." O'er winter's long inclement sway, At length the lusty Spring prevails; And swift to meet the smiling May, Is wafted by the Western gales. Around him dance the rosy Hours, And damasking the ground with flowers, With ambient sweets perfume the morn; With shadowy verdure flourished high, A sudden youth the groves enjoy, Where Philomel laments forlorn. — Elijah Fenton, Ode to Spring Nature permits for various gifts to fall On various climes, nor smiles alike on all. The Latian eternal verdure wear, And flowers spontaneous crown the smiling year; But who manures a wild Norwegian Hill To raise the Jasmine or the coy Jonquil? Who finds the peach among the savage sloes Or in black Scythia sees the blushing Rose? Here golden grain waves over the teeming fields And they're the vine her racy purple yields; Rich on the cliff the British Oak ascends Proud to survey the seas her power defends; Her sovereign title to the flag she proves Scornful of softer India's spicy Groves. — Elijah Fenton, Variety of Nature 1796 It's the birthday of the artist Camille Corot ("CAH-MEEL CAH-row"), born in Paris. Corot was a French painter, famous for his landscapes, and he inspired the landscape painting of the Impressionists. Corot's quotes about painting are inspiring to gardeners. Here's a little sample of his sensitive perspective on the natural world: "Beauty in art is truth bathed in an impression received from nature. I am struck upon seeing a certain place. While I strive for conscientious imitation, I yet never for an instant, lose the emotion that has taken hold of me." Here are some of Corot's words about Nature at the end of the day: "...Everything is vague, confused, and Nature grows drowsy. The fresh evening air sighs among the leaves - the birds, these voices of the flowers are saying their evening prayer." Imagine sitting beside Corot as he wrote, "I hope with all my heart there will be painting in heaven." Gardeners would reply, "I hope there is a garden." 1907 On this day, Orville Redenbacher was born. Orville was a USDA scientist and the co-creator of a new hybrid of popcorn called "snowflake." It was lighter and fluffier than traditional popped kernels, and Orville became a household name with his commercials for his popcorn. To this day, Orville Redenbacher is the number one selling popcorn in the world. Nebraska produces more popcorn than any other state in the country. Unearthed Words Today we celebrate some of the flowers of the July garden. We like people not just because they are good, kind, and pretty but for some indefinable spark, usually called "chemistry," that draws us to them and begs not to be analyzed too closely. Just so with plants. In that case, my favorite has to be Physoplexis comosa. This is not merely because I am writing at the beginning of July when the plant approaches maximum attractiveness. — Geoffry B. Charlesworth, garden author, On the Physoplexis comosa or the Devil's Claw or Tufted Horned Rampion Light love in a mist, by the midsummer moon misguided, Scarce seen in the twilight garden if gloom insist, Seems vainly to seek for a star whose gleam has derided Light love in a mist. All day in the sun, when the breezes do all they list. His soft blue raiment of cloudlike blossom abided Unrent and unwithered of winds and of rays that kissed. Blithe-hearted or sad, as the cloud or the sun subsided, Love smiled in the flower with a meaning whereof none wist Save two that beheld, as a gleam that before them glided. Light love in a mist. — Algernon Charles Swinburne, English poet, Love in a Mist The marigold, whose courtier's face Echoes the sun, and doth unlace Her at his rise, at his full stop Packs and shuts up her gaudy shop. — John Cleveland, English poet, The Marigold Grow That Garden Library Scentual Garden By Ken Druse This book came out in October of 2019, and the subtitle is Exploring the World of Botanical Fragrance. The author Joe Lamp'l said, "A brilliant and fascinating journey into perhaps the most overlooked and under-appreciated dimension of plants. Ken's well-researched information, experience, and perfect examples, now have me appreciating plants, gardens, and designs in a fresh and stimulating way." Ken Druse is a celebrated lecturer and an award-winning author and photographer who has been called "the guru of natural gardening" by the New York Times. He is best known for his 20 garden books published over the past 25 years. And, after reading this book, I immediately began to pay much more attention to fragrance in my garden. The book is 256 illustrated pages of 12 categories of scented plant picks and descriptions for the garden - from plants to shrubs and trees. You can get a copy of Scentual Garden By Ken Druse and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $40. Today's Botanic Spark 1987 Today in 1987, The Indianapolis Star announced the release of the biography of the legendary turn-of-the-century Indiana botanist Charles Clemon Deam who went by "Charlie". This biography of Charlie was written by Robert C. Kriebel, editor of the Lafayette Journal and Courier. Charlie Deam was a self-taught botanist, and he also served the state of Indiana as a forester. And there's a little story about Charlie in this article from The Indianapolis Star that I thought you would enjoy: In his home herbarium, Charlie kept a loaded pistol in a desk drawer. One time, Charlie was hosting a guest in his home. Charlie brought his guest into the herbarium, and they began chatting about plants and taxonomy. Charlie gave his guest quite fright when, without warning, he opened the desk drawer, pulled out the gun, and fired two or three shots through the open window. And all the while, Charlie uttered some disparaging comments about the "canine ancestry of a rabbit," that had been terrorizing his garden.

Today we celebrate St. Swithin's Day. We'll also learn about the English architect who brought classical Roman architecture and the Italian Renaissance to gardens. We celebrate the botanist who attempted to sell his cow to buy a botany book by Robert Morison. We also celebrate the birthday of a botanist and a teacher of Emily Dickinson. We learn about the grand opening of Niagra Falls. Today's poems feature insects. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book about making gardening and yard work less work and more enjoyable. And then we'll wrap things up with a heart-warming story about a beloved gardener and journalist from Ireland. But first, let's catch up on some Greetings from Gardeners around the world and today's curated news. Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Gardener Greetings To participate in the Gardener Greetings segment, send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes and so forth to [email protected] And, to listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to play The Daily Gardener Podcast. It's that easy. Curated News New research pinpoints which of the world's trees are climate change-ready | The Global Plant Council "Botanists from Trinity College Dublin have discovered that "penny-pinching" evergreen species such as Christmas favorites, holly and ivy, are more climate change-ready in the face of warming temperatures than deciduous "big-spending" water consumers like birch and oak. Remarkably, we found that with rising CO2 evergreen trees and shrubs are more efficient in using water than deciduous plants in cooler climate locations. Still, there is no evidence for such a pattern in parts of the world with warmer climates. The reason for the detected differences in the evergreen and deciduous plant responses to climate change lies in their leaf texture. The leaves of evergreens are generally thicker and sturdier than deciduous plants in colder climates, while they are mostly similar in texture between the two groups in the warmer climates." St. Swithin's Day (Click to read this original post) Alright, that's it for today's gardening news. Now, if you'd like to check out my curated news articles and blog posts for yourself, you're in luck, because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events 1573 Today is the birthday of the English architect, Inigo Jones. Inigo introduced classical Roman architecture and the Italian Renaissance to Britain. He left his mark on London building designs, such as the classically styled Queen's House for Anne of Denmark. Today, gardeners remember that Inigo designed the layout for Covent Garden square ("Cuv-int"). The Duke of Bedford asked Inigo to build a residential square using the Italian piazza for inspiration. The Duke felt he had to include a church, but he told Inigo to put up something simple like a barn. Inigo's famous response was that the Duke would have "the finest barn in Europe." And Covent Garden became the excellent setting for London's farmer's market for over three centuries. 1751 It's the anniversary of the death of the botanist John Wilson. It was John Wilson who first attempted a systematic arrangement of the plants of Great Britain in the English language. From a professional standpoint, John was a shoemaker and then a baker. There is a little story that is often told about John with regard to his love of botany. Apparently, John was so intent on learning about botany that he almost sold his only cow to buy a book written by the Scottish botanist and taxonomist Robert Morison. The transaction would have almost certainly caused John's financial ruin had a neighbor lady not purchased the book for him. And there's another story that reveals John's self-taught botanical expertise and personality. John had traveled to the county of Durham, where he met a man who enjoyed growing rare plants. Confident he could beat John, the man challenged him to a plant-naming contest. To his shock and dismay, John was able to name all of the rare specimens in his garden. When it was John's turn, he looked about and grabbed a wild herb growing nearby, which the man simply dismissed as a weed. John stated that the word "weed" was not sufficient, and he said that the man's answer proved he was merely a gardener and not a botanist. And that's how John Wilson ended up winning the contest. 1793 Today is the birthday of Almira Hart Lincoln Phelps. Almira wrote about nature, and her textbook, Familiar Lectures on Botany, was first published in 1829. Almira taught at Amherst Academy, and her textbook was undoubtedly known and used by Emily Dickinson, who was a student there. The following quotes show us that Almira was hip to the idea of mindfulness over 200 years ago. Here's what she wrote: "So, in the physical world, mankind is prone to seek an explanation of uncommon phenomena only, while the ordinary changes of nature, which are in themselves equally wonderful, are disregarded. How often are the beauties of nature unheeded by man, who, musing on past ills, brooding over the possible calamities of the future, building castles in the air, or wrapped up in his own self-love and self-importance, forgets to look abroad, or looks with a vacant stare. Each opening bud, and care-perfected seed, is as a page, where we may read of God." 1885 On this day, thousands of people watched as Niagra Falls was officially opened. The area had been thoroughly cleaned up, improved, and made more accessible. Prior to the restoration, Frederick Law Olmsted said of the Falls, "I have followed the Appalachian chain almost from end to end, and traveled on horseback, in search of the picturesque; over four thousand miles… without finding … the same quality of forest beauty which was once abundant about the falls." Unearthed Words Today's poems are about insects: The Poetry of earth is never dead: When all the birds are faint with the hot sun, And hide in cooling trees, a voice will run From hedge to hedge about the new-mown mead; That is the Grasshopper's — he takes the lead In summer luxury, — he has never done With his delights; for when tired out with fun He rests at ease beneath some pleasant weed. The poetry of earth is ceasing never: On a lone winter evening, when the frost Has wrought a silence, from the stove there shrills The Cricket's song, in warmth, increasing ever, And seems to one in drowsiness half lost, The Grasshopper's among some grassy hills. — John Keats, English Romantic poet, On the Grasshopper and Cricket Mosquito is out, it's the end of the day; she's humming and hunting her evening away. Who knows why such hunger arrives on such wings at sundown? I guess it's the nature of things. — Niels Mogens Boedecker, Danish-American author and illustrator, Midsummer Night Itch Grow That Garden Library How to Cheat at Gardening and Yard Work by Jeff Bredenberg This book came out in 2009 and the subtitle is Shameless Tricks for Growing Radically Simple Flowers, Veggies, Lawns, Landscaping, and More. Jeff Bredenberg outlines essential tips for beginning gardeners. He aims to show gardeners: "How the right tool can save you time—and save your back, that doing less for your lawn actually means a better result, why planting a diversion crop cuts down on your pest-patrol efforts, and that groundcovers and foliage plants are no-hassle solutions for weedy flowerbeds." The book is 384 pages of tips and tricks - all shared with today's gardener in mind. You can get a copy of How to Cheat at Gardening and Yard Work by Jeff Bredenberg and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $2. Today's Botanic Spark 1838 Today is the birthday of the Irish practical gardener and journalist, the passionate William Robinson. It's been fun researching William Robinson, and I came across many different accounts of a story from his early days in horticulture. This gem was particularly memorable, and I thought you'd enjoy hearing about it: When he was young, William was working on the estate of an Irish baronet. One cold night, the fires for keeping the greenhouses warm failed - the reason is unclear. Whatever the particulars, whether he argued with his boss, forgot to tend the fire, or acted in revenge, the result was that the tender plants in the greenhouse died. That night, William left, and he walked all the way to Dublin - which he did not reach until the following morning. When William arrived in Dublin, he asked for a Dr. David Moore, the head of the botanical garden, and when they met, he asked Moore what he should do. Well, Moore must have liked William because he offered him a job on the spot - but not with the greenhouses. Instead, William was put in charge of herbaceous plants - plants that die back in the winter and return in the spring after their season of rest (no greenhouse required!) These plants also included English wildflowers. In any case, the truth remains that William Robinson forever after did not care for greenhouses, and he did not allow them at Gravetye Manor.

Today we celebrate the botanist who climbed Pikes Peak and discovered the Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris). We'll also learn about the man who is remembered for the Boysenberry. We celebrate a 1978 entry from John T. White's Country Diary. We also celebrate the environmentalist who fell in love with Maine. We hear the poem written by the Scottish children's author that celebrates grasshoppers. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book about gardening on one and a half acres - featuring unexpected plant combinations, beautiful photography, garden inspiration, and a testament to the power of microclimates in a garden. And then we'll wrap things up with the night-blooming plant that caused a sensation in 1933. But first, let's catch up on some Greetings from Gardeners around the world and today's curated news. Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Gardener Greetings To participate in the Gardener Greetings segment, send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes and so forth to [email protected] And, to listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to play The Daily Gardener Podcast. It's that easy. Curated News 26 Ideas for a Summer Garden Party | Janet Loughrey | Garden Design When summer heats up, it's time to sit back and relax in your yard. After all that hard work of weeding, planting, and mulching, what better way to enjoy the season than to throw a garden party? Celebrate with these festive tips. 1. Cozy Up The Back Yard Get the yard ready by updating your accessories for a fresh look. 2. Accessorize With Containers Dress up the yard with decorative containers brimming with colorful plants. 3. Pick A Theme Host a party based on a flower that's in season—such as sunflowers. 4. Set The Mood Nothing says magic and romance more than twinkling lights at night. 5. Create A "Happy Hour" Garden Grow a medley of herbs, fruits, and vegetables, and make refreshing drinks with ingredients fresh from your garden. 6. Grow Your Own Party Food Use fresh ingredients from your garden to whip up a delicious meal. 7. Play Games After drinks and appetizers with your guests, set up some outdoor games, and get active. 8. Take The Bite Out Of Bugs Keep pests off your guests without using chemical bug sprays. Get the party started and celebrate summer in the garden with family and friends. Alright, that's it for today's gardening news. Now, if you'd like to check out my curated news articles and blog posts for yourself, you're in luck, because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events 1820 Today the botanist Edwin James, along with two companions, made the first ascent of Pikes Peak, Rocky Mountains, Colorado. Interested in plants from a very young age, James botanized extensively in his home state of Vermont, and he compiled the very first Flora of Vermont plants. James left his mark on the botanical world when he went on one of the first expeditions of the American West - traveling from Pittsburgh to the Rocky Mountains. On the way of Pikes Peak, James came across the mountain Columbine, Aquilegia caerulea, which ultimately became known as the Colorado Blue Columbine and the State Flower of Colorado. James' account of his climb up Pikes Peak stated: "A little above the point where the timber disappears entirely commences a region of astonishing beauty . . . covered with a carpet of low but brilliantly flowering alpine plants. . ." And James' words, "a region of astonishing beauty," became the title of a 2003 book on the botanical history of the Rocky Mountains by Roger Lawrence Williams. After the expedition, James married and settled in Burlington, Iowa. In a sidenote that reveals his loving heart, James' home was part of the Underground Railroad. James died in 1861 after an accident. There is a monument to James on Pike's Peak, and the Des Moines County Medical Society planted Rocky Mountain Blue Columbine on his grave in the Rock Springs Cemetery in Iowa. Newspaper accounts say the location of Edwin James' grave was in the most picturesque part of southeastern Iowa. 1918 Bastille Day was celebrated in Paris. Accounts say it was a clear day. The skies over Paris were filled with French airplanes. Flowers covered the streets, and the air was fragrant, sweetly scented with strawberries. 1950 Today is the anniversary of the death of the plant hybridizer Rudolph Boysen. In the 1910s and '20s, Boysen had been playing around with plant genetics. He worked on an 18-acre farm owned by John Lubbens in Napa Valley. On one June morning, Boysen took a walk along a creek bank to inspect some of his new berry creations. Boysen was astonished when he saw that one of the vines bore fruit that was almost two inches long. The fruit would become known to the world as the Boysenberry. Boysenberries are similar to blackberries but have a larger, juicier, and sweeter fruit. The Boysenberry is a cross between the loganberry, the raspberry, and the blackberry. In 1927, Boysen advertised them as "the sensation of the 20th Century." Now as luck would have it, the grower, Walter Knott, had been looking for new varieties of berries. When Knott got some of Boysen's plants, he knew it was the berry he had been looking for over the past decade. Knott gave Boysen credit by naming the plant in his honor. But, Knott managed to make an empire for himself with the proceeds - establishing the world-renown Knotts Berry Farm. As for Boysen, he never earned a dime from the Boysenberry. 1978 Today John T. White's Country Diary was shared in The Guardian (www.theguardian.com) "The calendar said July 1 but the weather over Dungeness was more suited to January. Low clouds swept over the lighthouse and the foghorn sent out it's melancholy warning, three times every half minute, into the misty Channel. I was glad of jersey and anorak and turned my back to the driving rain as I explored the shingle wilderness. I was accompanied by the sea swallows, the terns flying so low that they zig-zagged between the willow scrub like yachts tacking so close that I could see crabs and small fish in their beaks. I decided to follow their route and stumbled over a succession of shingle ridges that mark the steady seaward extension of the headland. The flora, at least, was summery in its brilliance. Vipers Bugloss, dark blue, red-tipped, standing stiffly in the bare shingle. Valerian towering above carpets of Yellow Stonecrop and the white flowers of Sea-Beet rising from clumps of thick, fleshy leaves. Most remarkable in that wild garden was the Nottingham Catchfly, a rare plant, highly localized in its occurrence; its white ragged petals drooping with water. Anglers lined the shore, standing four-square behind their fixed rods and, above them, almost hovering as they turned into the strong breeze, were the terns, heads dipped, to survey the rough waves, plummeting down to take their share of the fish." 1946 On this day, the environmentalist Rachel Carson arrived in Maine and she promptly fell in love with the state. That summer, she rented a cabin on the Sheepscot River. She wrote: "The only reason I will ever come back is that I don't have brains enough to figure out a way to stay here for the rest of my life. … My greatest ambition is to be able to buy a place here and then manage to spend a great deal of time [here]." Rachel's time in Maine resulted in her classic book The Sea Around Us. And it made it possible for Rachel to realize her dream. In 1953, She bought a summer home in Maine. Five years later, Olga Owens Huckins and her husband, Stuart, observed birds and insects dropping dead in her Duxbury garden within 24 hours of the Massachusetts State Mosquito control program spraying DDT over her bird sanctuary at a rate of 2 pounds per acre. The day Olga's property was sprayed, the pilot had extra DDT fuel oil in his tank, and he decided to dump it right over Olga's land. As a former Boston newspaper reporter, Olga voiced her anger and frustration in an editorial. Olga wrote, "The 'harmless' shower-bath killed seven of our lovely songbirds outright. We picked up three dead bodies the next morning right by the door. They were birds that had lived close to us, trusted us, and built their nests in our trees year after year." After writing the paper, Olga wrote another letter to her old friend Rachel Carson. Olga's letter sparked four years of research for Rachel. She put it all together in a book called Silent Spring. Rachel's book opened people's eyes to the hazards of DDT, and public opinion eventually forced the banning of DDT in 1972. Today, Olga & Stuart's property has new owners. Judith and Robert Vose, III, continue to preserve the site as a bird sanctuary and also as a way to honor the brave women who stepped forward when it was put in harm's way: Olga Huckins and Rachel Carson. Unearthed Words Come take up your Hats, and away let us haste To the Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast. The Trumpeter, Gad-fly, has summoned the Crew, And the Revels are now only waiting for you. And there came the Beetle, so blind and so black, Who carried the Emmet, his Friend, on his Back. And there was the Gnat and the Dragon-fly too, With all their Relations, Green, Orange, and Blue. And there came the Moth, with his Plumage of Down, And the Hornet in Jacket of Yellow and Brown; Who with him the Wasp, his Companion, did bring, But they promised, that Evening, to lay by their Sting. A Mushroom their Table, and on it was laid A Water-dock Leaf, which a Table-cloth made. The Viands were various, to each of their Taste, And the Bee brought her Honey to crown the Repast. Then close on his Haunches, so solemn and wise, The Frog from a Corner looked up to the Skies. And the Squirrel well pleased such Diversions to see, Mounted high over Head, and looked down from a Tree. Then the Grasshopper came with a Jerk and a Spring, Very long was his Leg, though but short was his Wing; He took but three Leaps, and was soon out of Sight, Then chirped his own Praises the rest of the Night. — Robert Michael Ballantyne, Scottish children's author, The Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast Grow That Garden Library A Tapestry Garden by Marietta and Ernie O'Bryne This book came out in 2018, and the subtitle is The Art of Weaving Plants and Place. Gardenista said, "This is the fascinating story of a tireless and simpatico couple, a pair of gardeners who have spent more than 40 years assembling a mind-boggling collection of plants and installing them in unexpected, sometimes truly revolutionary, combinations. . . . Throughout the book, we are offered useful tidbits and advice. . . [and] informative sections on specific plants such as Arisaemas ("Aris-SAME'ah"); trilliums; bulbs, corms, tubers, and rhizomes; and hellebores. . . . remarkably cheery and philosophical." From the publisher: "Marietta and Ernie O'Byrne's garden—situated on one and a half acres in Eugene, Oregon—is filled with an incredible array of plants from around the world. By consciously leveraging the garden's many microclimates, they have created a stunning patchwork of exuberant plants that is widely considered one of America's most outstanding private gardens. Profiles of the O'Byrne's favorite plants—include hellebores, trilliums, Arisaemas, and alpine plants—and they include comprehensive growing information and tips on pruning and care. A Tapestry Garden captures the spirit of a very special place." The book is 264 pages of unexpected plant combinations, beautiful photography, garden inspiration, and a testament to the power of microclimates in a garden. You can get a copy of A Tapestry Garden by Marietta and Ernie O'Bryne and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $17. Today's Botanic Spark 1933 On this day The Journal Times out of Racine, Wisconsin posted a notice about a local sensation: Mrs. William Vyvyan's night-blooming cereus. "Mrs. Kitty Shephard of Waukesha and Miss Loraine Brehmer of Milwaukee are making an attended visit at the William Vyvyan home. Mrs. Vyvyan had many visitors on Monday evening, who came to see the rare plant, the night-blooming cereus, which had four beautiful blossoms." Do tell. Well, the night-blooming cereus, is one of the desert's most unique plants. the night-blooming cereus is a member of the cactus family. Native to Arizona and the Sonoran Desert, the plant is also commonly called the Queen of the Night or the Princess of the Night. Now, generally, the cereus is grown as a houseplant, and it is often a pass-along plant - passed on from one friend to another. And, you should know, if you get one, that as a plant, it can be a bit of a mess. It's generally rather untidy and unruly. But it can be pruned without hurting the cactus. To create more of the Cereus night-blooming cactus, all you have to do is just pot up the cuttings. Just keep in mind that the night-blooming Cereus won't flower until it is four or five years old. And, the number of blooms increases as the plant ages. But once it blooms, the white flower is genuinely incredible. It's almost seven inches in diameter and smells divine - which is a good thing since you have it in your home. And it's true. It is a night-blooming plant. The flowers start to bloom at 9 or 10 p.m. and they are fully open by midnight. Then, the morning sun will cause the petals to fall off and die.

Today we celebrate the Roman leader who is still honored with flowers. We'll also learn about one of the best botanical writers of all time. We celebrate the man remembered with the naming of the Cottonwood. We also celebrate the life of a beloved English poet through his poetry - every year on this day, he is still remembered with flowers. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book about a teacher from the Bronx who germinated an idea and started a movement, changing his life and the lives of his students. And then we'll wrap things up with the inspiring story of the Fairchild Tropical Garden. But first, let's catch up on some Greetings from Gardeners around the world and today's curated news. Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Gardener Greetings To participate in the Gardener Greetings segment, send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes and so forth to [email protected] And, to listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to play The Daily Gardener Podcast. It's that easy. Jennifer's Pesto Resources (During the Pandemic) Pine Nuts from Amazon Curated News 12 front garden ideas – inviting designs to boost your curb appeal | Real Homes These front garden ideas will transform your home, creating a smarter and more individual look 1. Keep The Route To The Front Door Simple 2. Choose Big Plant Pots To Create An Impactful Look 3. Choose Sympathetic Materials For The Path 4. Highlight Your Front Door 5. Hide The Bins In A Bin Shed 6. Pay Attention To Paintwork In A Small Front Garden 7. Paint Your Front Gate An Inviting Colour 8. Choose Cost-effective Gravel To Cover Ugly Surfaces 9. Parking Or Garden? 10. Choose A Planting Structure For Year-Round Interest 11. Pick A Front Garden Colour Scheme 12. Consider Front Garden Security Alright, that's it for today's gardening news. Now, if you'd like to check out my curated news articles and blog posts for yourself, you're in luck, because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events 100BC Today is the birthday of the Roman leader Julius Caesar. On this day, Romans lay a wreath at his statue and throw flowers in the Forum where Caesar was murdered. 1858 Today is the anniversary of the death of Jane Loudon, who married the prolific garden writer and publisher: John Claudius Loudon. Jane was a fantastic writer in her own right, but she also possessed an inner determination; she was a survivor. When her father lost the family fortune and died penniless when Jane was only seventeen, it marked the beginning of her career writing Science Fiction. In her books, Jane wrote about cultural and technological advancements that eventually came to pass. For instance, the women in her books wore pants. In any case, her successful book, The Mummy was published anonymously, in 1827, in three parts. Now, in one of her books, Jane featured something she imagined would come to pass: a steam plow. And that concept attracted the attention of John Claudius Loudon - her future husband. Loudon wrote a favorable review of her book, but he also wanted to meet the author. Loudon didn't realize Jane had written the book using a nom de plume of Henry Colburn. Well, long story short and much to Loudon's delight, Henry was Jane; they fell in love and married a year later. The Loudons were considered high society, and they called Charles Dickens, a friend. As John and Jane grew old together, John's arms stopped working as he grew older, after an attack of rheumatic fever. As a result, Jane became John's arms, and she handled most of his writing. And, when his arms got so bad that surgeons needed to amputate his right arm, they found him in his garden, which he said he intended to return to immediately after the operation. Two weeks before Christmas in 1843, John was dictating his last book to Jane, and the book was called, A Self Instruction to Young Gardeners. Around midnight, he suddenly collapsed into Jane's arms and died. To honor John's memory, Jane completed the book on her own. 1890 Today is the anniversary of the death of the American explorer, soldier, and the first Presidential candidate of the Republican Party, John Charles Frémont. Frémont is remembered as "The Pathfinder" after helping many Americans who were heading West by creating documents and maps of his expeditions. In fact, John and his wife, Jesse, created an entire map of the Oregon Trail. Now, when Frémont saw Nebraska for the first time, he didn't see merely an endless prairie; he saw beauty. To Fremont, the entire state was one big garden, accentuated with fertile soil, swaying grasses, and wildflowers as far as the eye could see. Fremont was one of the first explorers to write about cottonwood trees. He discovered them near Pyramid Lake in Nevada on Jan 6, 1844. Years later, botanists would name the Cottonwood in his honor, calling it the "Populus fremontii." Cottonwoods are the fastest growing trees in North America. And, the Cottonwood was sacred to Native Americans. To the Apaches, the Cottonwood was a symbol of the sun. In Northern Mexico, Cottonwood boughs were used in funeral rights, and the Cottonwood was a symbol of the afterlife. And, there's an old Native American Legend that tells how the Cottonwood tree gave birth to the stars. For a time, the tree held the stars and kept them safe. But then, one late spring, the stars were released until they filled the night sky. And, every spring, we can remember the legend when we see the female trees release their star-shaped seeds into the air. Now when I was growing up, all of the beautiful elm trees at my childhood home succumbed to Dutch elm disease. My parents selected cottonwoods because they knew they would grow quickly - up to six feet or more each year. They couldn't stand how naked the house looked without the beautiful large elm trees. In truth, there's no comparison between a cottonwood tree and an elm tree, which is regarded as one of the most beautiful trees by landscape painters. Still, Cottonwood trees do grow quickly. But be forewarned: Cottonwood trees often have weak wood that can easily be injured or damaged. Cottonwood trees are in the Poplar species. Only the female trees produce the fluffy cotton seeds that float through the air and collect in your garden and garage in June. Unearthed Words Today is the birthday of the English poet John Clare who was born on this day in 1793. Each year on his birthday, the children of his village make little flower posies, and then they lay them on his grave where they read poems they write in his honor. All nature has a feeling: woods, fields, brooks Are life eternal; and in silence they Speak happiness beyond the reach of books; There's nothing mortal in them; their decay Is the green life of change; to pass away And come again in blooms revivified. Its birth was heaven, eternal is its stay, And with the sun and moon shall still abide Beneath their day and night and heaven wide. — John Clare, English poet, All Nature Has a Feeling Loud is the summer's busy song The smallest breeze can find a tongue, While insects of each tiny size Grow teasing with their melodies, Till noon burns with its blistering breath Around, and day lies still as death. — John Clare, English poet, July Grow That Garden Library The Power of a Plant by Stephen Ritz This book came out in 2017, and the subtitle is A Teacher's Odyssey to Grow Healthy Minds and Schools. Stephen Ritz is the founder of Green Bronx Machine and has devoted his teaching career to improving health and academic results for children in the South Bronx. His work has been featured by major media and documentaries, including Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, and his TEDx talk has been viewed over one million times. Dubbed the Pied Piper of Peas, Ritz and his family reside in the Bronx and continue to farm with children all year round. Tom Colicchio said, "The only thing bigger than the impact Stephen has had helping countless students understand the importance of their food choices is his infectious personality. The Power of a Plant outlines the remarkable work he has done to date and provides a blueprint for how educators around the world can implement his learnings effectively." The book is 304 pages of Stephen's's story - "a green teacher from the Bronx who let one idea germinate into a movement and changed his students'' lives by learning alongside them." You can get a copy of The Power of a Plant by Stephen Ritz and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $7. Today's Botanic Spark 1986 On this day, The Billings Gazette ran a story about the Fairchild Tropical Garden in a post called Florida Garden is a Must for Touring Northerners. It starts out this way: "Northern garden-lovers looking for a lush botanical escape from their own barren landscapes claim that this garden is at its best when northern winters are at their worst. Others say that it is prettiest right now and in the fall. In any case, this 83-acre botanical garden just south of Miami's Coconut Grove is a four-season attraction for those who are interested in plants, beauty, or in oddities. The Fairchild Tropical Garden is a distinguished first cousin of the Arnold Arboretum in Boston, a place where rare plants are preserved, the public is educated, and serious research is conducted. Be forewarned that a visit can quickly reduce the most seasoned gardener to amateur status. You may know all about the different kinds of Iris and Lilacs, all about how to prune raspberries or harden off Tomato starts; you may even know your way around rare shrubs and trees. But what do you know about Lilly Pilly, Bushman's poison, Cannonball trees, or Shower-of-Orchid vines? A trip to Fairchild Tropical Garden is like a trip to a foreign country - actually, several foreign countries. More than 4,000 different plants from Australia, Sumatra, the Bahamas, Burma, South Africa, Jamaica, Zamboanga, and many other tropical regions have taken root here. There are Ficus Trees considerably larger than the one under your skylight. In fact, only a few representative species are grown here because of the great area each mature one requires. A single tree has been known to cover acres! "Ficus" means fig, and some kinds do bear edible fruit. So do some members of the philodendron family, which grow outdoors here year-round. One, called "Monstera deliciosa" (believe it or not), sets fruit that is among the world's most delectable. The Bromeliads... can be seen here growing on and among rocks and trees... There are ... jewel-colored tropical Water Lilies, ... Orchids that bloom year-round on the grounds … the orange and purple Bird-of-Paradise and the Columbian Flamingo Flower, or Anthurium, which looks a bit like a shiny red patent-leather Calla Lily. Many of the plants are definitely odd. The 40-foot-tall Cannonball Tree, a native timber tree in some South American countries, produces fragrant, fleshy, 6-inch purple blossoms on strange special branches that the trunk sprouts near the ground at flowering time. These are followed by 8-inch rusty cannonballs, dangling from heavy strings suspended from the trunk, that make a noise when the wind blows them against one another. In their native South American countries, these "cannonballs" are often hollowed out and turned into drinking cups. Another curiosity is the Calabash tree, whose egg-shaped fruit, when dried and filled with seed or BB shot, becomes the maracas familiar in Latin music. The garden is named after Dr. David Fairchild, an American plant explorer responsible for introducing many important species and varieties of plants to us, such as soybeans, dates, and improved varieties of rice, wheat and cotton. He was a close friend of the garden's founder, a New York tax attorney named Col. Robert H. Montgomery [co-founders of what is today the world's largest accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers. Montgomery] spent his fortune on collecting tropical plants and providing a place for them to grow. The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is located at 10901 Old Cutler Road, Miami."" During the pandemic, the Garden is open every day, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., with special times available for seniors and individuals who identify as vulnerable. For your safety and theirs, guests and members must preregister for timed entry. Reserve Your Timed Ticket and Review their COVID Policies and Procedures on their website.

Today we celebrate the man who inspired National Simplicity Day (It's dedicated every July 12th). We'll also learn about the tragic death of a Scottish botanist and prolific plant collector. We celebrate the friendship between Charles Darwin and his mentor. And, we also celebrate a woman who started botanizing late in life, yet made a significant impact on the world of horticulture. In Unearthed Words, we celebrate the fern. By this time in July, you are either loving them or digging them out of your garden. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a grilling guide for gardeners. And then we'll wrap things up with a sweet little story about the botanical name for San Francisco. But first, let's catch up on some Greetings from Gardeners around the world and today's curated news. Subscribe Apple|Google|Spotify|Stitcher|iHeart Gardener Greetings Wedding Tulle from Amazon To participate in the Gardener Greetings segment, send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes and so forth to [email protected] And, to listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to play The Daily Gardener Podcast. It's that easy. Curated News I feel as if my garden has finally come of age | Nigel Slater | The Guardian The title of this post definitely caught my eye: I feel as if my garden has finally come of age. I thought Nigel did such an excellent job of capturing why he felt that way and what that meant in terms of the evolution of his garden. I wanted to give you a few excerpts that I thought were particularly touching and relatable. "Getting rid of the rectangle of mown grass that passed for a garden was almost the first thing I did when I moved into my new home on a bitterly cold New Year's Day, 20 years ago. I learned quite quickly that every disaster in the garden is an opportunity in disguise. Then, he writes about how he uses the Chelsea Chop in his garden. This is just a technique where you cut back your perennials to delay bloom time, and you also make the plant a little less leggy. Of late, the garden has settled into a gentle rhythm. Once a year, on a dry spring day shortly after the Chelsea Flower Show, everything gets a serious trim – the "Chelsea Chop" as it is known. Hedges are clipped, topiary is shaped, and overhanging branches of the fig and medlar tree are pruned. A tidy-up that might appeal to the sort of gardener who power-washes their flagstones and scrubs the moss from their pots, but, to me, it feels as if a much-loved and elegantly aging friend has gone in for a round of cosmetic surgery. Not unrecognizable, but slightly cold and distant and, to my mind, a little dishonest. For a couple of weeks a year, the garden doesn't quite feel like mine." I love Nigel's description of how Chelsea Chopping his garden makes him feel. It can be tough for gardeners to Chelsea Chop their gardens. New gardeners, especially, will feel a pang of uncertainty as they cut back perfectly good plants for the first time. I know it seems counter-intuitive. I thought it was hilarious that Nigel likens it to a round of cosmetic surgery. Now, I will forever think of the Chelsea Chop through Nigel's eyes. Finally, I wanted to share Nigel's perspective on his garden today. I found it particularly touching: I would like to say that the garden I have now will probably be my last. Twenty years on from digging up the lawn, I have a space that is more inspirational and restful than I could have ever imagined. I feel the garden has come of age. Yet the space still refuses to stand still. Even now, there are changes afoot. This year I reintroduced the vegetables and sweet peas that I missed so much. Tomatoes and calendulas now grow in huge terracotta pots on the kitchen steps, and there is an entire table of culinary herbs. There are tubs of marigolds and stands of bronze fennel. Next year there may be more. The garden will never be "finished." I have no idea what will happen next. All I know is that there won't ever be a lawn." July is the month of the lotus in China. This reminded me of a video I shared last year in the Facebook Group for the Show from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, which shows Senior Horticulturist, Pat Clifford, teaching their intern Hazel, how to remove the older leaves of the Giant Water Lily, so the pond does not get overcrowded. Using a pitchfork, Pat carefully folds the giant lily pad first in half, then quarters, and then once more. Then he stabs the large folded pad with the pitchfork, hoists it in the air to let the water drain out, and then flops the beast down on the edge of the pond. The camera zooms in to reveal the most savage thorns that grow on the underside of the lily pad and all down the stem of the plant. It was so surprising to see how vicious the thorns are - rivaling the thorniest rose. Propagate Pelargoniums Through Cutting If you've never taken cuttings of your pelargoniums before, you will be delighted with the results. Pelargoniums are also known as cranesbills or hardy geraniums. All you need to do is snip off short lengths of your favorite pelargonium, remove any leaves from the lower part of the stem that will get pushed into your growing medium, dip the stem in some rooting powder, and then place it in the pot. Pelargoniums root so quickly - you'll have many new plants in just a few weeks. Alright, that's it for today's gardening news. Now, if you'd like to check out my curated news articles and blog posts for yourself, you're in luck, because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events 1817 Today is the birthday of the American essayist and philosopher Henry David Thoreau. An advocate for living a simple life, National Simplicity Day is observed every July 12th in Thoreau's honor. Thoreau said: "Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders." "Gardening is civil and social, but it wants the vigor and freedom of the forest and the outlaw." 1834 On this day, about a month before his 35th birthday, the Scottish plant explorer David Douglas and his little Scottish terrier named Billy arrived at the northern tip of Hawaii. After landing, David met up with a man named Ned Gurney. And I know it's hard to imagine, but Gurney actually made his living by trapping feral cattle in large pits. As a young man, Gurney had been convicted of stealing and had been shipped to Australia. But, somehow, he had made his way to Hawaii. It was on this day in 1834 that Gurney's path crossed with Douglas. That morning, Gurney told authorities that he had breakfast with Douglas, gave him directions, and sent him on his way. Tragically, by noon, Douglas's body, along with an angry bull, was found in one of the pits. And sadly, Douglas's dog Billy, who traveled with him on almost all of his expeditions, was sitting there, above the pit, all alone by his master's pack. Today we realize that how Douglas ended up in the pit remains a mystery. We will never know for sure what happened. But, we do know that Douglas was responsible for the identification of over 200 new plant species in North America, including the famous Douglas-fir. Despite his lack of formal training, Douglas sent more plants back to Europe than any other botanist of his time. There is a memorial to Douglas in Honolulu which says: "Here lies Master David Douglas - an indefatigable traveler. He was sent out by the Royal Horticultural Society of London and gave his life for science." And on the second bronze tablet there is a quote by Virgil: "Even here the tear of pity springs, And hearts are touched by human things." 1835 On this day, Charles Darwin wrote a letter to his friend John Stevens Henslow. He wrote: "In a few days' time, the Beagle will sail for the Galapagos Islands. I look forward with joy and interest to this, both as being somewhat nearer to England and for the sake of having a good look at an active volcano." Throughout his life, Darwin exchanged many letters with Henslow, who was a professor of Botany and Mineralogy at Cambridge University. His correspondence was a powerful influence on Darwin, shaping his thinking about the natural world. When they were young men, Henslow and Darwin had walked the Cambridgeshire countryside together. Their walks inspired Darwin to study the natural world and to travel. And, it was thanks to Henslow that Darwin received the invitation to join captain Robert FitzRoy on the HMS Beagle. Henslow had recommended Darwin for the journey because of his likable personality. Once Darwin was officially part of team Beagle, Henslow gave him a gift, a copy of Humboldt's Narrative, an account of Humboldt's travels in South America. In it, Henslow had inscribed these words: "J. S. Henslow to his friend C. Darwin on his departure from England upon a voyage around the world. September 21st, 1831." Well, needless to say, Darwin treasured this gift above all others. At his death, the book was safely brought to Cambridge University Library - where it remains to this day. 1938 Today is the anniversary of the death of the botanist Ynes Mexia ("EE-nez Muh-HAY-ah"). In terms of her botanical career, Ynes was a late bloomer. The first half of her life was turbulent, but at the age of 50, Ynes joined the Sierra Club. Nature had always been a balm to her. Eager to get some formal training, Ynes decided to enroll at Berkeley to take botany classes. She would take classes there on and off over the next 16 years. Ynes's goal was not to graduate but simply to learn more about plants. When she wasn't in school, Ynes fell in love with fieldwork. She said, "I found a task where I could be useful and really produce something of lasting worth; while living out among the flowers." Ynes was especially drawn to unique plants, and she absolutely adored sunflowers. In fact, on one of her botanizing trips, she discovered an entirely new genus of Compositae. And, Ynes's ability to speak Spanish came in handy as she botanized in the southwestern part of the United States, Mexico, and South America. Ynes's collecting efforts proved extraordinary. Many scholars argue that she was the most accomplished plant collector of her time. Ynes's first botanizing trip alone netted 500 specimens - the same number that Darwin brought back on the Beagle. Over Ynes's career, she collected 150,000 specimens and discovered over 500 brand-new plant species. Now, her botanist peers were well aware of her staggering amount of work, but not many liked her. Still, she did work closely with botanists Alice Eastwood, John Thomas Howell, and Agnes Chase. In 1938, Ynes had returned to Mexico in search of new specimens. But the pain in her stomach got the best of her; she was forced to return to the United States, and she died at Berkeley from lung cancer. Ynes' estate was donated in part to the Redwood Preserve in California. And there's a forty-acre grove there that has one of the tallest trees on the planet. Today, if you visit, that grove is named in Ynes's honor. Today, some 80 years after her death, scientists are still processing the plants she collected. And there's an excellent PBS short about Ynes Mexia ("EE-nez Muh-HAY-ah") that was narrated by narrator Julianna Margulies. Unearthed Words Here is the fern's frond, unfurling a gesture, Like a conductor whose music will now be pause And the one note of silence To which the whole earth dances gravely – A dancer, leftover, among crumbs and remains Of God's drunken supper, Dancing to start things up again. And they do start-up – to the one note of silence. The mouse's ear unfurls its trust. The spider takes up her bequest. And the retina Reins the Creation with a bridle of water. How many went under? Everything up to this point went under. Now they start up again Dancing gravely, like the plume Of a warrior returning, under the low hills, Into his own kingdom. — Ted Hughes, English writer and Poet Laureate, Fern Grow That Garden Library The Gardener & the Grill by Karen Adler and Judith Fertig This book came out in 2012, and the subtitle is The Bounty of the Garden Meets the Sizzle of the Grill. Dr. Mark Knoblauch said, "Americans have become so accustomed to firing up their backyard grills for all sorts of meats, from large joints to everyday burgers, that they forget that vegetables, flourishing in the nearby garden, profit equally from the punch of flavor that barbecuing bestows. Grilling potato slices before tossing them with strongly herbed French vinaigrette adds a level of flavor often lacking in mayonnaise-dressed potato salads. Grilling green tomato slices before sandwiching them with cream cheese delivers a somewhat less heavy alternative to frying. For all their imaginative ways of grilling greens, Adler and Fertig by no means ignore fish and meat. Fish tacos brim with leafy greens and blackened fish pieces, and there's even a comforting burger. The authors advocate grilled slices of bread, and they present examples from Afghan, Indian, and Italian traditions. Searing fruits such as peaches, apples, and figs underlies a number of sweet desserts." This book is 224 pages of recipes and tips - all shared with today's gardener in mind. You can get a copy of The Gardener & the Grill by Karen Adler and Judith Fertig and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $1. Today's Botanic Spark 1969 During this week in 1969, newspapers across the country were sharing this little snippet about San Francisco. "San Francisco was originally known as Yerba Buena. Spanish for "good herb," a small mint-like plant early explorers found." Over the years, people have left their hearts in San Francisco. As the author Rudyard Kipling said, "San Francisco has only one drawback –' tis hard to leave."

Today we celebrate National Rainier Cherry Day.

We'll also learn about the Scottish Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens of Calcutta and Kew.

We celebrate a journal entry from this day in 1938 by one of Canada's most-beloved naturalists.

We also celebrate a rare orchid breeder from Denver.

We honor the discovery of a very unusual dwarf Amaryllis species.

Today's poetry features a beloved mid-summer tree: the Linden.

We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book that will inspire you to decorate your outdoor space for comfort and beauty, and for coaxing us all to enjoy our gardens as a space for breakfasts, lunchtime picnics, and even dinners by candlelight.

And then we'll wrap things up with the 103rd birthday of a Danish botanist.

But first, let's catch up on some Greetings from Gardeners around the world and today's curated news.

Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart

To participate in the Gardener Greetings segment, send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes and so forth to [email protected]

And, to listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to play The Daily Gardener Podcast. It's that easy.

How to Harvest and Dry Flowers & Herbs From Your Garden | The Nerdy Farm Wife

This is an excellent post by Jan Berry. Here's an excerpt:

"Learn how to harvest and easily dry flowers and herbs from the garden. Also included is a list of common flowers and herbs along with ideas for using them!

An ideal time to collect fresh flowers and herbs from your garden is on a dry, sunny day, after morning dew has evaporated, but before the midday sun is out in full force.

Some flowers, such as dandelion, chamomile, calendula and lavender can be dried whole. The petals from larger flowers, such as roses and hollyhocks, should be separated from the flower head before drying. An exception to this is if you're drying small rosebuds. They can also be dried whole, just be sure to turn a few times a day so one side doesn't dry flatter than the other.

I dry flower clusters, like elder flowers and lilacs, upside down on a towel as shown above, to help preserve some of the shape. Small branches of leaves that easily lay flat when placed on a surface, such as elderleaf, can stay together while drying. Leaves that cluster together, like lemon balm and mint, often do best if you detach each leaf before drying."

It's National Rainier Cherry Day.

Rainier cherries were bred at Washington State University by crossing Vans and Bings.

They are one of the most delicate and challenging cherries to grow because of one big drawback: their thin red-yellow skin. This makes them super sensitive to the elements, and they bruise easily.

Even if a grower can address these challenges, they still must contend with the birds.

Birds LOVE Rainiers and can eat as much as 1/3 of the cherry crop before the harvest arrives. Watch what happens if you add a few Rainier Cherries to your bird feeder.

Deadhead to Encourage More Blooms

What happens if you don't deadhead?

You might miss out on valuable time that your plant could use to create that second flush of blooms.

Plants to deadhead include coreopsis, blue and white clips, geraniums, and dianthus.

Another reason is to encourage more blooms the following year.

Dead flower heads become seed pods, and that takes energy from the plant. So be sure to deadhead peonies, roses, iris, and lilies.

As a general rule, when any plant looks leggy, it will benefit from deadheading or plain ol' pruning.

Alright, that's it for today's gardening news.

Now, if you'd like to check out my curated news articles and blog posts for yourself, you're in luck, because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community.

There's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group.

1857 On this day in Fettercairn Scotland, the amateur botanist David Prain was born.

He would ultimately become the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens of Calcutta and Kew.

In 1887, David was sent to Calcutta to be the curator of the herbarium. While he was there, he researched Indian Hemp along with crops like Wheat, Mustard, Pulses, and Indigo. But, David's most crucial work involved Cinchona plantations. The bark of Cinchona trees contains quinine, which is used to treat malaria. In David's obituary, it said that he set up a system with the local post offices to send quinine to every Indian village and undoubtedly saved countless lives.

After David returned to England, he became the director at Kew. During his tenure, David implemented many notable changes. David oversaw the effort to have the medicinal garden installed at Cambridge Cottage, and he acquired the Japanese gateway for the 1910 Japan-British exhibition. In terms of promotional efforts, David also reinstated the Kew Bulletin.

David's most significant professional challenge at Kew came not from a plant, but a person. William Purdom was a sub-foreman at Kew, and he was passionate about making sure that the garden staff was being treated fairly.

Tensions started when some of the gardeners discovered that their positions were only temporary. In addition, wages were well below market level. Even though all of these challenges were legacy issues David had inherited, the problems fell squarely on his shoulders.

David's humble origins gave him a heart for his workers, and he did his best to mediate the situation. While David stayed professional, Purdom made it personal, and he pressured David relentlessly. Finally, when he felt despite his best efforts that Purdom would never be satisfied, David forced the issue. David basically said to the powers that be, that they had a choice; it was him or Purdom.

In the end, David got the support he needed, and Purdom moved on. In a noble gesture, David worked to get Purdom a lead spot on the expedition to China sponsored by Harry Veitch and the Arnold Arboretum. Today, history looks back at David Prain with admiration, that he could recognize the talents of an employee, even while disagreeing with him - acting with both fairness and integrity.

1938 On this day Canadian Naturalist Charles Joseph Sauriol ("Sar-ee-all") wrote in his diary:

"I find it hard to come in from the flower borders. My Pansies are a garden of enchantment in themselves. People who love Pansies should grow them from seed. I took the advice and I have never had such a profusion of bloom and of so many colors."

1941 On this day, the Amarillo Daily News ran an article featuring Charles Sumner Lambie, who was a Denver area civil engineer by day and a rare orchid breeder by night.

Charles grew up in Pittsburgh, tending the family garden. He later married Margaret McCandless, and together they raised nine children.

As his engineering firm became successful, Charles's wife said he turned to the hobby of raising orchids as a means of relief from the stresses of his job. Charles shared an upside that he discovered about greenhouse gardening: He no longer suffered from hayfever as he did when he gardened outside.

After sharing the various types of orchids grown by Charles Lambie, the article shared his unique and detailed method for documenting his plants. Here's what it said:

"Mr. Lambie has a card index file ... on each plant. Here is a sample entry from the card of C. Talisman:

L.O. Talisman: 6 inches, December 1938, Christmas; Winter Bloomer, October to early summer, variable. Flowers large, Sepals and petals – Light to dark rose. Lip, dark rich crimson; Throat purple with yellow – gold veins."

Mr. Lambie puts a protective canopy over the orchids when they are in bloom, and he sprays them several times a day.

When Mr. Lambie leaves town on business, Mrs. Lambie makes sure that the orchids are watered several times today.

As the reporter for the story was leaving, Mrs. Lambie showed him a small orchid and shared that Mr. Lambie was given the orchid when he subscribed to an orchid magazine.

The orchid is called the Charles Lambie Rittenberry orchid named for their grandson, and of course, it receives "very careful attention," she added with a smile.

1950 On this day, a very unusual dwarf Amaryllis species was collected in Peru by the eminent botanist, Dr. Ramon Ferreyra ("feh-REY-rah").

Dr. Ferreyra sent the bulbs to another botanist, Dr. Hamilton P. Traub, in the United States.

Unfortunately, the bulbs experienced frost while they were in the mail. Some of the bulbs were totally destroyed, the surviving bulbs all had been damaged.

It took almost 18 months for Dr. Traub to nurse the frosted plants back to health. In recognition of his patience and skill, the Amaryllis was named Hippeastrum traubii.

The Linden, in the fervors of July, Hums with a louder concert. When the wind Sweeps the broad forest in its summer prime, As when some master-hand exulting sweeps The keys of some great organ, ye give forth The music of the woodland depths, a hymn Of gladness and of thanks." — William Cullen Bryant, American poet and editor, Linden

Before midsummer density opaques with shade the checker- tables underneath, in daylight unleafing lindens burn green-gold a day or two, no more, with intimations of an essence I saw once, in what had been the pleasure- garden of the popes at Avignon, dishevel

into half (or possibly three- quarters of) a million hanging, intricately tactile, blond bell-pulls of bloom, the in-mid-air resort of honeybees' hirsute cotillion teasing by the milligram out of those necklaced nectaries, aromas

so intensely subtle, strollers passing under looked up confused, as though they'd just heard voices, or inhaled the ghost of derelict splendor and/or of seraphs shaken into pollen dust no transubstantiating pope or antipope could sift or quite precisely ponder. — Amy Clampitt, American poet and author, Lindenbloom

Kathryn at Home by Kathryn M Ireland

This book came out in 2016, and the subtitle is A Guide to Simple Entertaining.

I ordered a copy of this book at the start of the pandemic. What I thought would be a simple book of eye candy, became an inspiration: for using fresh ingredients from the kitchen garden, decorating my outdoor spaces for comfort and beauty, and for coaxing us out of the house by heading outdoors for breakfasts, lunchtime picnics, teas, barbecues, and dinners by candlelight.

Kathryn Ireland is among House & Garden's "10 to Watch" architects and designers expected to influence 21st-century style. For the last decade, House Beautiful has named her one of the top 100 designers in the United States. She is the author of Creating a Home and Classic Country. She divides her time between Santa Monica, California, and Montauban, France.

This book is 224 pages of gorgeous images and inspiration. It is truly a beautiful scrapbook of ideas and style.

You can get a copy of Kathryn at Home by Kathryn M Ireland and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $9.

1936 On this day, the Danish botanist Clarence Henry Dennesen celebrated his 103rd birthday.

Dennesen was once an internationally recognized authority on botany, and he led a wonderful life.

Dennesen served as a captain under Christian IX in Denmark's war with Germany. He was wounded in battle and captured by the enemy. He was shipwrecked on the Isle of Crete and sailed around Cape Hope. After the adventurous days of the soldier and sailor, he became a professor at the Copenhagen School of Botany, and among his pupils was a little princess who later became Queen Alexandria, mother of King George of England, and a little prince who later became King Constantine of Greece.

The newspaper reported that,

"The men's Bible class of St. John's Lutheran Church, in Jacksonville Florida, had planned a surprise birthday party, but the jolly old Dane winked as he hinted it is hard to surprise the man who has been around for 103 years."

Dennesen immigrated to America in 1881 and lived to be 111 years old.

Now that's an old botanist.

Today we celebrate the man who established the science of botany in America. We'll also learn about the botanist who survived a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness - an incredible story. We celebrate a presentation from 1977 that encouraged, "Take a pill if you will; I say take a plant to cope with everyday stress." We also learn about the little orchid that halted road construction in Louisiana and the British Plant Explorer that uncovered the orchid black market. Today's poetry features poems about summer. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book about infusing your garden with more color. And then we'll wrap things up with an adorable story about a botanically-inspired episode of an old TV show. But first, let's catch up on some Greetings from Gardeners around the world and today's curated news. Subscribe Apple|Google|Spotify|Stitcher|iHeart Gardener Greetings To participate in the Gardener Greetings segment, send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes and so forth to [email protected] And, to listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to play The Daily Gardener Podcast. It's that easy. Curated News Migratory Birds Like Native Berries Best | Audubon "Even when fruits of invasive plants are abundant, migratory songbirds seek out native berries, according to new research. As winter approaches and the food supply dwindles, birds move south and devour fall fruits along the way to fuel their trip. But they don't eat just any fruit on their autumnal journeys: Birds are after native berries, according to a study published in Biological Conservation in January. Even in late autumn, when fruits of invasive plants like Japanese barberry and multiflora rose dominate the landscape, migratory songbirds traversing New England seek out native blueberries, black cherries, and raspberries instead. North American birds evolved alongside North American plants for many thousands of years, so these are the berries they're most familiar with. But that's not the only reason to choose one fruit over another: Previous research has found that native fruits are more nutritious than their invasive counterparts. 'They can't be eating fast food before they take off on really long migrations,' says ecologist Amanda Gallinat at the Utah State University, who led the new study. 'They need something with high energy.'" Our Favourite Garden Blogs..... | Sitting Spiritually The Blackberry Garden Leicester-based 'amateur and somewhat obsessed gardener' Alison Levey opens the gates to her own garden, as well as inspirations and things about gardening that make her happy. Her Instagram is definitely worth a follow to Instagram @blackberrygarden Dig Delve| Dig Delve features the writing of garden and landscape designer Dan Pearson and includes stories about gardens, horticulture, plants, landscape, nature, food ...all with stunning photography by Dan's partner Huw Morgan. The Patient Gardener Helen Johnstone is the Patient Gardener and she says, "the title 'Patient Gardener' is quite aspirational as I'm not a particularly patient person… You will find that my posts are my own thoughts and ramblings mainly about my garden, my trials, and tribulations as well as my triumphs." The Anxious Gardener David Marsden writes about his life as a full-time, working gardener in East Sussex, England. He tends two, large private gardens and shows them, and their wildlife, through the seasons. Sally Nex A garden writer based in Somerset, in the glorious countryside of the south-west of England. Mr Plant Geek Mr Plant Geek is Michael Perry, who brings over 18 years of experience in the horticultural industry to his blog … if you're looking for shortcuts to gardening success, his blog is where to find uncomplicated tips – 'I'm here to clear the fog, and help people enjoy easy gardens again!' The Middle-Sized Garden Alexandra Campbell uses her blog to cover everything from how to use a garden fertilizer, growing vegetables, and how to improve your pruning. Do you have a middle-sized garden? If your garden is bigger than a courtyard but smaller than an acre, this is the one for you. The Curious Gardener Caleb Melchior describes himself as "a plant geek, writer, and designer. I believe in presence - being close, paying attention" Plant Your Shade Trees Wisely. Today's chore was featured in The South Bend Tribune out of South Bend, Indiana, on this day in 1952. Here's what it said, "Don't plant your shade tree so that It shades your neighbor's yard Instead of your own. If you set the tree on the eastern border of your property, it will shade your neighbor's yard instead of your own garden during the hottest part of the day, in the afternoon. ...Consider your plantings as a permanent investment in beauty and comfort that is worth real thought." Alright, that's it for today's gardening news. Now, if you'd like to check out my curated news articles and blog posts for yourself, you're in luck, because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. So, there's no need to take notes or search for links. The next time you're on Facebook, just search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events 1838 On this day, the botanist Asa Gray resigned from the Wilkes Expedition. Gray was frustrated by all of the delays, he was a person of action, and he also disliked Captain Charles Wilkes. Gray disagreed with Wilkes about the Latin descriptions of the new taxa, and he also disagreed with Wilkes's staffing rules. Wilkes wanted to work with Americans only. But, Gray knew the work of the expedition would suffer without the help of European experts. So, Gray decided to pivot, and he left the expedition to accept a position at the University of Michigan. But, before he could officially start that job, Harvard wooed him away. At Harvard, Gray established the science of botany in America, and he guided the country into the international botany arena and made it competitive. And, that was due, in large part, to all of the great relationships Gray had established with European botanists. And, Gray was also terrific friends with Charles Darwin. So, it's no surprise to learn that it was Asa Gray who said, "Natural selection is not the wind which propels the vessel, but the rudder which, by friction, now on this side and now on that, shapes the course." 1949 On this day, a 79-year-old botanist, Dr. Melville Thurston Cook, his wife, and their pilot were rescued by an Air Force helicopter after a week in the Alaskan wilderness. Cook reported they survived on 90 dozen eggs after their plane was forced down in the rugged Brooks Mountain range. As luck would have it, one thousand eighty eggs were aboard the plane as cargo. Cook shared their ingenuity with the world, telling how they had not lacked for variety in their preparation of the eggs, enjoying fried eggs, boiled eggs, poached eggs, scrambled eggs, shirred eggs, and omelet. Naturally, when he wasn't eating eggs, Dr. Cook collected specimens. Dr. Cook, who would be 80 in September, and his wife had been vacationing in Alaska. In newspaper accounts, he said he never doubted the party would be saved. But the crash had impacted their priorities. Following the accident, Cook and his wife moved to be closer to their children. One of their four kids followed Cook's footsteps to become a plant pathologist, Dr. Harold T. Cook. Before the accident, Cook was finishing up his career by working as a visiting part-time professor of plant pathology at Louisiana State University. During his prime, Cook had gone botanizing with Nathaniel Lord Britton and Elizabeth Gertrude Britton in Puerto Rico. He had also worked with Henry Allan Gleason at the New York Botanical Garden - rubbing shoulders with botanical giants. 1977 On this day, Ethan Allen and Elvin McDonald of House Beautiful (ww.housebeautiful.com) gave an inspiring presentation called "Decorating with Plants." McDonald revealed many new decorating-with-plant ideas. Keep in mind; this was three decades before Instagram. Otherwise, McDonald would have no doubt share photos of the over 300 plants in his apartment. In the newspaper promotions for his presentation, McDonald was quoted as saying, "Take a pill if you will; I say take a plant to cope with everyday stress." 1983 On this day newspaper headline on this day in The Town Talk in Alexandria, Louisiana said, 'Rare Plant Halts Road Work.' It turns out, a fifteen-million-dollar highway-widening project near College Station was stopped because it threatened a tiny, rare, and unusual orchid plant. The Spiranthes parksii (ii = "ee-eye"), is also known as Navasota Ladies' Tresses because it grows along the Navasota River. This rare orchid is only six inches tall with white blooms. First discovered in 1945, the Spiranthes parksii was described by Donovan Stewart Correll in his 1950 book, Native Orchids of North America North of Mexico. And, when it became protected, the Navasota Ladies' Tresses were only the 54th U.S. plant species to be classified as endangered. 1988 On this day, British plant explorer Roy Lancaster revealed that a thriving black market for plants was threatening rare Chinese orchids. In the same way, an art collector might buy stolen works of art underground; elite plant collectors are the wealthy clients of orchid smugglers. Lancaster shared the plight of Paphiopedilum armeniacum ("paff-ee-oh-PED-ih-lum ar-MEN-ee-A-cum"), commonly known as the Golden Slipper Orchid - a rare orchid, which was discovered in 1980 but was 100 percent harvested from the world in 1983. In just three short years, the Golden Slipper Orchid had gone from discovery to presumed extinction. Unearthed Words Here are some poems about summer: The summer looks out from her brazen tower, Through the flashing bars of July. — Francis Thompson, English poet, A Corymbus for Autumn Leaving the house, I went out to see The frog, for example, in her satiny skin; and her eggs like a slippery veil; and her eyes with their golden rims; and the pond with its risen lilies; and its warmed shores and the long, windless afternoons; like a dropped cloud, taking one slow step then standing awhile then taking another, writing her own soft-footed poem through the still waters. — Mary Oliver, American poet, Summer Summer is come, for every spray now springs; The heart hath hung his old head on the pale; The buck in brake his winter coat he flings; The fishes flete with new repaired scale; The adder all her slough away she slings; The swift swallow pursueth the flies small; The busy bee her honey now she mings; Winter is worn that was the flowers' bale. And thus I see among these pleasant things Each care decays, and yet my sorrow springs. —Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, English poet and politician, Sonnet 7 Grow That Garden Library The Flower-Powered Garden by Andy Vernon This book came out in 2018, and the subtitle is Supercharge Your Borders and Containers with Bold, Colourful Plant Combinations. The author Sarah Raven said, "Full of good tips, growing and design guides and an invaluable, zippy-zappy plant encyclopedia, Andy Vernon's new book will help you plot your own flower-powered collections to make your garden glow." Andy Vernon is an award-winning garden writer, photographer, and horticultural consultant. This book is 300 pages of illustrated ideas to improve and redo beds, advice on caring for plants, fifteen incredible color themes, and plant-picks to help you create a garden bursting with color. You can get a copy of The Flower-Powered Garden by Andy Vernon and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $5. Today's Botanic Spark 1966 On this day, the New York Daily News shared the TV listing for 9 pm: it was a repeat episode of Bewitched starring Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York. In the episode, rare black Peruvian roses robbed Samantha of her witching powers and gave her little green square spots on her face. Aunt Clara remembers that the Peruvian black rose was used to drive witches out of Peru. She sends Darrin off to gather items for the antidote, and then she brewed them all together. She needed bat wings, porpoise milk, the eye of newt, and an ostrich feather. Luckily for Samantha, Aunt Clara said that she could only get Peruvian black rose sickness once.

Today we celebrate the man who named the lipstick tree and was known as Florida's Burbank. We'll also learn about the incredible work of an extraordinary Russian botanist who was tragically sentenced to death on this day in 1941. And we honor the life of the "Father of Hybrid Corn." Today's poetry is all about a favorite summer crop: tomatoes. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a witty and poetic book about Gardening and Life. And then we'll wrap things up with the story of a Marvel character near and dear to gardener's hearts. But first, let's catch up on some Greetings from Gardeners around the world and today's curated news. Subscribe Apple|Google|Spotify|Stitcher|iHeart Gardener Greetings To participate in the Gardener Greetings segment, send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes and so forth to [email protected] And, to listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to play The Daily Gardener Podcast. It's that easy. Curated News What is Cottage Garden Style? And How to Achieve It... | The Middle-Sized Garden "And, as for garden plants – well, it has been difficult to source exactly the plants we want. We have had to compromise on color and style. Friends have been saying things like 'I wouldn't normally buy scarlet pelargoniums, but they were the only ones I could find.' In theory, cottage garden style started when low paid farm workers filled their gardens with vegetables, herbs and fruit trees for their own use. What are the rules of cottage garden style? There aren't any. That's the whole point. There's no need to plant in threes and fives, or in drifts or to think about color combinations – unless you want to." The Middle-Sized Garden: if your garden is bigger than a courtyard but smaller than an acre. Sowing Biennial Flower Seeds In June And July | Higgledy Garden "The biennials in the Higgledy Seed Emporium have all be chosen to be admirable in the vase. We also have a strong leaning to the old fashioned. *Honesty (Common name) or Lunaria (so named because it's pale seed pod discs resemble the moon). *Sweet William. Sweet Williams just rock! That's all there is to it. They smell amazing…look amazing and are all-round good eggs. Like all biennials, they are a piece of cake to grow from seed. *Foxgloves. Once again, a white foxglove 'Alba 'is a pretty essential bit of kit for the home florist... Don't be without it. *Hesperis. I love this flower…one of my favorites of all the flowers I have ever grown. Simple…pretty…easy to grow…" Alright, that's it for today's gardening news. Now, if you'd like to check out my curated news articles and blog posts for yourself, you're in luck, because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events 1926 The Green Bay Press-Gazette posted an article titled, "Ice Cream Grown on Vine in the yard of Former Kentuckian." The article was about the fabulous Colonel Henry Wallace Johnston, who, until the age of 50, had operated a hardware store in Lebanon, Kentucky. At midlife, he moved to Homestead, Florida. And, in 1912, Henry created a 20-acre estate he called Palm Lodge Tropical Grove. Henry was a character. He enjoyed dressing the part of a tropical explorer, wearing a tropical outfit complete with a white helmet, and looking as if he had just finished playing Jumanji. Henry became known as the Wizard of Palm Lodge or Florida's Burbank (a nod to California's Luther Burbank), and he added over 8,000 incredible specimens of tropical fruits and flowers - many not found anywhere else in America. Truly, Palm Lodge gained Henry worldwide recognition. And, although Henry never traveled outside the United States, he was a natural marketer, and Palm Lodge's impressive reputation brought the plants to him. Henry's story includes the following spectacular facts:

• He grew almost all of his plants from seed.
• He coined the name "lipstick tree".
• He grew a rare flower that produces a perfume called the "Scent of Lilith."
• He grew the Dumb Cane tree or dieffenbachia from Cambodia. He would tell folks that if they bit into the leaves, their tongue would be paralyzed for six weeks.
• He successfully cultivated rubber plants. Harvey Firestone and Henry Ford brought back rubber plants from Madagascar, but only Henry's plants had survived.
• He grew the Palestine Tree, and he wrapped the fruit in cellophane while on the tree to protect against insects. The fruit was used in religious rituals by rabbis, and Henry would send it to them.
• He grew the Gingerbread Palm, and the palm's fruit tasted of gingerbread.
• He furnished almost all of the plants for the State of Florida's tropical exhibit at the Chicago World's Fair.
• He produced nearly 300 different types of fruits and jellies and packaged all of them at Palm Lodge.
• He was a master of the aloe vera plant, and he planted a 15-acre aloe field. By 1920, Henry was regularly harvesting the leaves and bringing them to Miami, and each one had to be individually wrapped to stop the spines from making the jelly ooze out.
• He loved to tell about a plant he called "the ice cream vine," botanically known as the Monstera Deliciosa. The fruit resembles a giant ear of corn minus the husk and tastes like a combination of banana, strawberry, and pineapple.

Henry's Palm Lodge of Florida was a showplace, and there was no charge for admission. Homestead Florida's chamber of commerce advertised that 30,000 people, including botanists, visited the Lodge every year. And, one day, after 2,000 or so guests had passed through the gardens, the register revealed that Henry Ford had visited, unnoticed in the crowd. 1941 Today a Soviet court sentenced the extraordinary twentieth-century Russian botanist Nikolay Vavilov to death by firing squad. Worried about the world's plant biodiversity, Vavilov became a dedicated plant collector, and he had the foresight to build the world's first seed bank in St. Petersburg. Nikolay's life's mission was something he called a "mission for all humanity" and it was tied directly to his drive to build the seed bank: Vavilov wanted to end world hunger and famine, and he planned to accomplish this ambitious goal through science. And he hoped to breed super plants that would be both nutritious and hardy so that they could be grown even in the most challenging locations on the planet. During his life, Vavilov had enjoyed Lenin's support. Vavilov's big ideas knit perfectly together with Lenin's desire for a socialist utopia. But after Lenin died, Vavilov was on the outs. His family was made up of accomplished scientists, and they were considered part of the bourgeoisie and scorned. The events that lead to Vavilov's sentencing and ultimate death had to do with Vavilov's critique of a fellow scientist. Vavilov had publicly criticized a geneticist named Lysenko, who had Stalin's backing. And so, on this day in 1941, Vavilov was sentenced to die. But Vavilov never faced the firing squad. Instead, he died of starvation two years after receiving his sentence. Today, the Vavilov Institute houses over a quarter of a million specimens and is a living monument to Nikolay Vavilov ― the scientist who wanted food security for all of humanity, yet ironically died of starvation in the basement of a Soviet prison. 1942 Today newspapers announced the retirement of the "father of hybrid corn," George Shull. An Ohio farm kid, George was a noted botanist who taught at Princeton University for 27 years. George's work resulted in a one hundred and fifty million-dollar increase in the value of US corn as a result of his crossing pure line varieties with self-fertilized corn. George's uber-productive hybrid yielded ten to forty percent more than ordinary corn. Like many plant breeders, George never made a penny from his creation. Unearthed Words Today's poetry features a favorite summer plant: the Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum) You know, when you get your first asparagus, or your first acorn squash, or your first really good tomato of the season, those are the moments that define the cook's year. I get more excited by that than anything else. — Mario Batali, American chef and writer It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato. — Lewis Grizzard, American writer and humorist Homegrown tomatoes, homegrown tomatoes What would life be like without homegrown tomatoes Only two things that money can't buy That's true love and homegrown tomatoes. — John Denver, American singer and songwriter, Home Grown Tomatoes Now, you see, the poetry I like is... experimental. 'Doesn't have the rhyme' kind of stuff. Like this famous poem by Walter Charles Walter. The poem is called: 'They Were Delicious'. (Mr. Simmons begins reciting the poem while Harold steals Mr. Simmon's lunch and starts to eat it.) I have eaten the tomatoes, that were on the window sill were you saving them for a special occasion I apologize they were delicious so juicy so red — Walter Charles Walter, They Were Delicious From Hey Arnold by Craig Bartlett. Read by Mr. Simmons (This Walter Charles Walter poem is a parody of William Carlos Williams' poem This is Just to Say) Grow That Garden Library The Backyard Parables by Margaret Roach This book came out in 2013, and the subtitle is Lessons on Gardening and Life. And one of my favorite cookbook authors, Anna Thomas, said, "As I read this witty, revealing, sometimes poetic confessional I felt I understood for the first time what a garden could be - a work of art, a source of pleasure and solace, an object of beauty, a provider of nourishment. And why Margaret calls the plot she tends 'my monster.' This is the story of a real relationship: Margaret and her garden, a love story." This book is 288 pages of Margaret's stories about gardening - culled from thirty seasons of growing and learning what works and what does not. You can get a copy of The Backyard Parables by Margaret Roach and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $3. Today's Botanic Spark 1963 Today the Marvel comic botanist Samuel Smithers became Plantman when lightning struck his plant raygun, giving it the power to control and animate all plant life. After losing his duel with the Human Torch in the botanical garden, Plantman was taken to prison. In his last storyline, Plantman transformed into a giant plant monster and attacked the city of Los Angeles in retaliation for humans polluting the world. In his final moments, Plantman was defeated by Ironman. Here's one of Plantman's more famous lines: "Do not speak to the Plant Man of power! Mine was the genius that gave the semblance of life to unthinking plant tissue! There can be no greater power than that!"

Today we celebrate the preeminent botanist of North American deserts. We'll also learn about a beloved botanist and librarian with the Missouri Botanical Gardens. We celebrate the Canadian Landscape artist, who was a member of Canada's treasured Group of Seven. We also celebrate a genuinely great English-Kiwi botanist. We honor summer gardening and garden life with today's poetry. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book about "Two Plant Geeks, One-Tenth of an Acre, and the Making of an Edible Garden Oasis in the City" - and this book is loaded with ideas and inspiration for anyone interested in urban agriculture and permaculture. And then, we'll wrap things up with a sickness caused by Snakeroot. But first, let's catch up on some Greetings from Gardeners around the world and today's curated news. Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Gardener Greetings To participate in the Gardener Greetings segment, send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes and so forth to [email protected] And, to listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to play The Daily Gardener Podcast. It's that easy. Curated News Enveloped In American Gardens | Landscape Architecture Magazine "Showcasing the diversity of American landscapes, past legacies of cultural stewardship, and the skills of generations of landscape architects, the U.S. Postal Service recently released the "American Gardens" stamp series, commemorating ten landmark gardens across the nation. The gardens, many of them created by historically significant designers and makers, raise the visibility of landscape design in the American cultural realm by putting them into our hands and mailboxes every day, everywhere. The stamps were designed by Ethel Kessler and feature photos by Allen Rokach, a former director of photography at the New York Botanical Garden. The stamps are a reminder of the vital role the outdoors offers during the COVID-19 quarantine, says U.S. Postal Service Director of Stamp Services Bill Gicker. "Time spent in nature, especially a beautiful and cared for garden landscape, can be very uplifting and rejuvenating—just what many people can use at this time," he says." Finding Chaucer's true love growing in the woods is a buzz | The Guardian "Herb Paris is the truelove herb of Chaucer's Miller's Tale, combining an aphrodisiac with qualities of piety from medieval plant lore." Alright, that's it for today's gardening news. Now, if you'd like to check out my curated news articles and blog posts for yourself, you're in luck, because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events 1878 Today is the birthday of the American botanist Forrest Shreve. We owe such a debt of gratitude to Shreve. Shreve was THE preeminent botanist of North American deserts during the first half of the twentieth century. Shreve worked out of a laboratory in Tucson, Arizona, and the lab was ideally situated for his research of the western United States and northern Mexico. Shreve relished telling the origin story of his lab: "Of course, you're familiar with the story of Andrew Carnegie, the immigrant boy who became one of America's wealthiest steel magnates... Before he died, Carnegie had established an institution that divided its scientific investigations into twelve departments into widely separated parts of the country." Shreve's Desert Laboratory was part of Division of Plant Biology and was created thanks to the Carnegie gift - which all in - totaled about $25,000,000. In July of 1908, Shreve climbed the Santa Catalina Mountains for the very first time. The group he was with rode on horses to climb the 6,000 feet from Mount Lemmon's desert base to the summit, which is 9,100 feet above sea level. During that climb, Shreve noticed what he called "a continually shifting panorama of vegetation." And it was Shreve's astuteness that helped him realize the most fantastic aspect of desert mountains - which is the changes in vegetation. Those changes are drastic and abrupt, and they are compressed into a few thousand feet of elevation. And you can almost imagine yourself there with Shreve. As you go up the mountain, you begin with seeing desert scrub; then it transitions to grassland, then oak woodland... and then finally pine-oak woodland and forest, then the pink forest, the montane fir forest, and finally subalpine forest - at the very top of the mountain. And I love how Shreve described that change: "a continually shifting panorama of vegetation." Thanks to Shreve's mastery of the North American Desert, he was able to clearly describe and define the four distinct desert regions in the United States. Today, each year, in Shreve's honor, the Forrest Shreve Student Research Award ($1000-2000) is given to support the ongoing research of the hot deserts of North America. 1901 Today the world lost Eva Reed, a botanist, author, and librarian with the Missouri Botanical Gardens. In the years before she died, she had become almost entirely deaf as the result of a fever. In a tragic accident, Reed had been sketching on the tracks of the Burlington railway, near Louisiana, Missouri, when she was hit and instantly killed by a passenger train. 1917 Today is the anniversary of the death of the Canadian artist Tom Thomson - who was a member of Canada's treasured group of artists, and they were known as the Group of Seven. Tom was born to a pioneer family. He grew up in rural Ontario on the shores of Georgian Bay. He had an idyllic childhood. He was the sixth of nine children, and music filled the home that he grew up in. His mom actually read Byron to the kids every night before they went to bed. Tom loved to fish - it would be a lifelong passion. And, although Tom had little formal schooling, the peace of his childhood home is reflected in the tranquility of his paintings. Just Google "Tom Thomson Landscape," and you'll see what I mean. As a young man, Tom went to a business college where his excellent penmanship surfaced. Tom had outstanding handwriting, and it led him to jobs as a pen artist. He followed his brother, George, to Seattle for work and stayed there for a few years. However, he returned to Toronto after breaking up with his sweetheart when she nervously laughed at his proposal. Back in Canada, Tom met the men who would become his artist coaches. Together, they were known as the Group of Seven. One of the seven, Jim MacDonald, suggested Tom's subject should be nature. Tom took the advice to heart, and his work is almost entirely devoted to landscapes -and he prominently featured trees, water, sky, and clouds in his paintings. Gardeners will especially appreciate Tom's paintings of trees. They are unique. And, they convey a feeling of being alive. And you can almost imagine yourself standing right there - beside Tom - in the spot where he painted his trees. In 1912, when Tom first visited the forest at Canada's oldest provincial park, Algonquin Park, his heart was gripped by the beauty. He became obsessed with Algonquin and spent as much time as he could among the Jack Pines, Black Spruce, and Maple. At Algonquin, Tom painted his subjects on a birch panel using oil paints. And tragically, in just five short years of getting started with his paintings at Algonquin, the park Tom loved would witness his untimely death. Tom was a mostly uneducated and untrained painter, and so each member of the Group of Seven played a role in mentoring and teaching him. You can imagine how he surprised and delighted them when his paintings improved so rapidly. Tom soaked up all of their advice. In many instances, his development as a painter was such, that he was surpassing his teachers. Just as Tom's work was rocketing toward greatness, his artistic arc was cut short when he disappeared on this day in 1930. He was only 39 years old. Eight days after his empty canoe was found floating in Canoe Lake, his body was found. The mystery of his death is a cold case that has never been officially solved. In a little spot on Canoe Lake, there is a cairn for Tom with a marker. And his old friend, Jim MacDonald, wrote the inscription for it which reads: "He lived humbly but passionately with the wild, and it revealed itself to him. It sent him out from the woods only to show these revelations through his art, and it took him to itself at last." Today, Tom's work is considered quintessentially Canadian. Remembering his north country friend, Jim wrote, "Tom was never very proud of his painting, but he was very cocky about his fishing." 1934 Today is the anniversary of the death of the great English-Kiwi botanist Leonard Cockayne. Leonard died when he was 79 years old. Today he is regarded as New Zealand's most celebrated botanist. Leonard was born in England and was raised to explore and appreciate the natural world. As a child, Leonard loved pressing flowers. In addition to Leonard, both his brother and sister were great gardeners. In 1879, Leonard left England and made his way to New Zealand. Dominion became his home for the remainder of his life. Ever modest, Leonard once sent a letter to Kew along with a small parcel of seeds. He attached a little note which said, "I may say I am not a nursery gardener, but merely a private individual who spends his whole time in the study of botany." In recognition of his 30 years of tireless work in New Zealand, Leonard won the Darwin medal. Looking back on Leonard's career, Dr. Richter von Goebel and John Paulus Lotsy, two distinguished botanists from the UK, visited him in New Zealand. Those visits were real highlights for Leonard, and they inspired him to continue his work. When he died, Leonard was buried at the open-air museum he founded, which serves as a lasting memorial. From his grave, one can see the native vegetation which had captured his heart, as well as the heights which bear his name.

Unearthed Words We go in withering July To ply the hard incessant hoe; Panting beneath the brazen sky We sweat and grumble, but we go. — Ruth Pitter, The Diehards, 1941 Dirty hands, iced tea, garden fragrances thick in the air, and a blanket of color before me, who could ask for more? — Bev Adams, Mountain Gardening There is a lovable quality about the actual tools. One feels so kindly to the thing that enables the hand to obey the brain. Moreover, one feels a good deal of respect for it; without it, the brain and the hand would be helpless. — Gertrude Jekyll, English gardener and writer I suppose that for most people, one of the darker joys of gardening is that once you've got started, it's not at all hard to find someone who knows a little bit less than you. — Allen Lacy, American garden writer, and columnist The smell of manure, of the sun on foliage, of evaporating water, rose to my head; two steps farther, and I could look down into the vegetable garden enclosed within its tall pale of reeds - rich chocolate earth studded emerald green, frothed with the white of cauliflowers, jeweled with the purple globes of eggplant and the scarlet wealth of tomatoes. — Doris Lessing, British-Zimbabwean novelist, The Habit of Loving My garden is an honest place. Every tree and every vine are incapable of concealment and tell after two or three months exactly what sort of treatment they have had. — Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist and poet It's a comfort to always find pasta in the cupboard and garlic and parsley in the garden. Always explore your garden and go to the market before you decide what to cook. — Alice Waters, American chef and author Grow That Garden Library Paradise Lot by Eric Toensmeier This book came out in 2013, and the subtitle is Two Plant Geeks, One-Tenth of an Acre, and the Making of an Edible Garden Oasis in the City. A very timely book. Publishers Weekly said, "In this charming, true-life tale of urban regeneration and the birth of a forest garden movement, Toensmeier, famous among permaculture enthusiasts for his Perennial Vegetables and as coauthor of Edible Forest Gardens, tells the story behind the Holyoke, Mass., garden that's featured as a test case in the latter, which, in the course of eight years, he and Bates transformed it from a bare backyard wasteland into a flourishing, edible Eden. In true permaculture fashion, the book follows not only the progression of the garden but also its influence on and relations with its creators' lives―including a surprisingly Austen-like romantic element―their neighborhood, and the larger permaculture and forest gardening community. Bates, whose nursery business, Food Forest Farm, is an offshoot of this garden, contributes philosophical and personal essays interspersed throughout the narrative. Fans of Toensmeier and Bates's work will be thrilled to read the details of their experiments with polycultures, their problems with and solutions for pests and overly aggressive plants, and their idiosyncratic plant choices. Adventurous readers with conventional gardens and lawns may be inspired to venture into the more integrated, evolutionary approach that this book so vividly and appealingly portrays." The book is 240 pages of detailed ideas and inspiration for anyone interested in urban agriculture and permaculture. You can get a copy of Paradise Lot by Eric Toensmeier and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $14. Today's Botanic Spark 1965 The Vincennes Indiana newspaper reported on a sickness caused by Snakeroot: "It was about 140 years ago, that the town of Hindustan, Indiana, was abandoned by its residents because of a plague of 'milk fever'. This disease occurs after milk cows have eaten Wild Snakeroot. A few years ago, a botanist [shared] that the Hindustan neighborhood still is the best place in the Midwest to collect Wild Snakeroot for laboratory work." Wild or White Snakeroot is a problem for livestock if they consume it. All parts of the plant are toxic. That toxin gets transferred through the cow's milk, and that's how it becomes a concern for humans; this is known as milk sickness. In the early 1800s, milk sickness resulted in the death of thousands of people; the most famous person to die from it was Abraham Lincoln's mother in 1818.

Today we celebrate a bishop botanist whose love of plants was second only to his love of God. We'll also learn about the botanist daughter of a key botanist in England. We celebrate the botanical entrepreneur and the creator of the influential Curtis Botanical Magazine. We also celebrate the writer who lived and worked in his incredible home called Abbotsford - complete with impressive gardens - on the banks of the River Tweed in the beautiful Scottish borders. In today's Unearthed Words, we honor an English author and poet. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book about Gardening in Your Front Yard - it's packed with ideas and projects for big and small spaces. It's an idea of Gardening in Your Front Yard is gaining popularity and acceptance - one of the positive effects of dealing with the pandemic. And then we'll wrap things up with the story of a famous mystery writer who loved gardening and roses. But first, let's catch up on some Greetings from Gardeners around the world and today's curated news. Subscribe Apple|Google|Spotify|Stitcher|iHeart Gardener Greetings To participate in the Gardener Greetings segment, send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes and so forth to [email protected] And, to listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to play The Daily Gardener Podcast. It's that easy. Curated News Rhodds Farm | National Garden Scheme "The garden at Rhodds Farm was started from scratch in 2005 by Cary Goode. It is a challenging site with overhanging woods on the north side and open pasture to the south. A fabulously peaceful spot with a natural garden where plants are allowed to self-seed. There are lots of mixed borders around a pond for wildlife, a formal garden leading to a brick dovecote, a courtyard garden around a water sculpture, a large gravel garden, wild-flower meadows, woodland planting and a large pond with a boardwalk at the end of the woodland. There are many unusual plants and lots of color and interest throughout the summer with an extensive range of interesting plants. The formal garden with dovecote houses 50 white doves while glorious mixed borders, double herbaceous borders of hot colors, large gravel garden, several ponds, arboretum, wildflower meadow, and 13 acres of woodland. A natural garden on a challenging site that fits the setting with magnificent views. There are also interesting and unusual trees, shrubs, and perennials in this pesticide-free haven." Alright, that's it for today's gardening news. Now, if you'd like to check out my curated news articles and blog posts for yourself, you're in luck, because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events 1713 Today is the anniversary of the death of the passionate plantsman Bishop Henry Compton. Compton was famous for his substantial garden at Fulham Palace, which was home to more than a thousand exotic plants. Naturally, Compton was drawn to rare plants and new specimens. And, his position as a bishop gave him access to the botanical discoveries that were being sent to England from the American colonies. For instance, we know from his correspondence, that Compton was especially intrigued about the swamp honeysuckle from Virginia. Compton sent a young priest and botanist named John Bannister to Virginia to botanize for him. Banister went on to help found the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. Bannister proved to be an excellent contact for Compton. He sent him seeds to grow at Fulham Palace, along with detailed notes about his discoveries. Sadly, Banister's life was cut short when he was accidentally shot during an expedition. Like any avid gardener, Compton sometimes felt a little guilty about the amount of money he spent on gardening. So, as penance, he not only collected plants for his own garden, but he also was a patron to prominent botanical figures - like the Tradescants. 1794 Today is the birthday of the botanist Frances Stackhouse Acton. Frances was the daughter of Thomas Andrew Knight, who served as the second president of the Royal Horticultural Society. Thomas assumed the position at the urging of his friend Joseph A Banks. Now, Knight's inclination was always to turn inward - he was a little introverted. Banks helped him overcome that. Thomas Knight had inherited 10,000 acres of land, and he used the property to conduct all kinds of experiments on plants like strawberries, cabbages, and peas. Frances' father encouraged her to pursue her education, and she often recalled that, "the hours spent with [my father] in his study, or in his garden, as amongst [my] happiest recollections". A born pragmatist like her father, Frances assisted him with his breeding efforts, which were always designed to help make better plants to feed the masses. Francis contributed to her father's work through drawing. She illustrated many of her father's writings, and she established herself as both... "an accomplished botanist and botanical artist." 1799 Today is the anniversary of the death of the botanist and entomologist William Curtis, the creator, and publisher of the influential Curtis Botanical Magazine. William founded the magazine in 1787. Curtis Botanical Magazine made him wealthy, and he often remarked that it had brought him "pudding and praise". William had started out life as an apothecary, but in short order, he discovered that it could not hold his interest. Sir James Edward Smith recalled that William loved being a naturalist more than working in the city. He wrote, "The Apothecary was soon swallowed up in the botanist, and the shop exchanged for a garden!" William was a founder of the Linnaean Society, and he also authored a book about the botany of London called Flora Londiniensis. In 1779, William transformed his Lambeth garden into the London Botanic Garden. William wanted his garden to be a place where visitors could learn all about plants and their uses - not just for food - but in medicine and cooking as well. William was at heart a pragmatist. When William heard from visitors that they needed a resource to help with growing the plants they were acquiring, William came up with the idea for his magazine. On February 1, 1787, the very first Curtis Botanical magazine was published, "for the youth of ... ladies, gentlemen, and gardeners ... who wish to become scientifically acquainted with the plants they cultivate." The magazine owes much of its success to William's promise to provide his readers with helpful illustrations. Artists, like James Sowerby, helped ensure the magazine's success. In addition to his legacy left by his flora and his magazine, the genus Curtisia honors William Curtis. 1832 On this day in 1832, the author and poet Sir Walter Scott arrived back at his incredible home called Abbottsford on the banks of the River Tweed in the beautiful Scottish borders. Scott's health was failing him, and he asked that a bed be set up in the dining room so that he could look out and see the river, the trees, and his magnificent gardens. Lying in that room, Scott was surrounded by portraits of his ancestors. And when he was finally near death in September of that same year - just two short months later - ever the author, Sir Walter Scott, is said to have requested a quill and some paper. And, indeed, he died with a pen in his hand. Abbotsford is impressive, and it seemed destined to become a public place. In 1853 his granddaughter Charlotte inherited the estate. Charlotte cleverly decided to add a path in the Morris Garden, which would bring visitors around to the side, keeping part of the estate and gardens private for the family. During Scott's time at Abbotsford, he added oak and pine trees. He expanded the walled gardens. And today, niches in the south and west walls still hold Scott's collection of Roman panels and other artifacts. Scott's gardener William Bogie added, "narrow beds of hollyhocks, and roses along the arcade, and a leafy, honeysuckle-covered pergola." With paths and hedging that divide the garden into four quarters, Scott's walled garden is still a sight to see. Unearthed Words Today I'm sharing a poem by A.A. Milne, the English author and poet. He became famous for his story about Winnie the Pooh, but he also wrote this wonderful poem called "The Dormouse and the Doctor." It's a favorite among gardeners because it prominently features three favorite flowers: delphiniums, geraniums, and chrysanthemums. There once was a Dormouse who lived in a bed Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red), And all the day long he'd a wonderful view Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue). A Doctor came hurrying round, and he said: "Tut-tut, I am sorry to find you in bed. Just say 'Ninety-nine', while I look at your chest… Don't you find that chrysanthemums answer the best?" The Dormouse looked round at the view and replied (When he'd said "Ninety-nine") that he'd tried and he'd tried, And much the most answering things that he knew Were geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue). The Doctor stood frowning and shaking his head, And he took up his shiny silk hat as he said: "What the patient requires is a change," and he went To see some chrysanthemum people in Kent. The Dormouse lay there, and he gazed at the view Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue), And he knew there was nothing he wanted instead Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red). The Doctor came back and, to show what he meant, He had brought some chrysanthemum cuttings from Kent. "Now these," he remarked, "give a much better view Than geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue)." They took out their spades and they dug up the bed Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red), And they planted chrysanthemums (yellow and white). "And now," said the Doctor, "we'll soon have you right." The Dormouse looked out, and he said with a sigh: "I suppose all these people know better than I. It was silly, perhaps, but I did like the view Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue)." The Doctor came round and examined his chest, And ordered him Nourishment, Tonics, and Rest. "How very effective," he said, as he shook The thermometer, "all these chrysanthemums look!" The Dormouse turned over to shut out the sight Of the endless chrysanthemums (yellow and white). "How lovely," he thought, "to be back in a bed Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red)." The Doctor said, "Tut! It's another attack!" And ordered him Milk and Massage-of-the-back, And Freedom-from-worry and Drives-in-a-car, And murmured, "How sweet your chrysanthemums are!" The Dormouse lay there with his paws to his eyes, And imagined himself such a pleasant surprise: "I'll pretend the chrysanthemums turn to a bed Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red)!" The Doctor next morning was rubbing his hands, And saying, "There's nobody quite understands These cases as I do! The cure has begun! How fresh the chrysanthemums look in the sun!" The Dormouse lay happy, his eyes were so tight He could see no chrysanthemums, yellow or white. And all that he felt at the back of his head Were delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red). And that is the reason (Aunt Emily said) If a Dormouse gets in a chrysanthemum bed, You will find (so Aunt Emily says) that he lies Fast asleep on his front with his paws to his eyes. — A.A. Milne, English author and poet, The Dormouse and the Doctor Grow That Garden Library The Himalayan Garden by Jim Jermyn This book came out almost twenty years ago in 2001, and the fantastic subtitle is: Growing Plants from the Roof of the World. Love that subtitle. Hortus raved about this book and said, "If you are among those whose pulse-rate has been kick-started by the 'Subalpine Zone' chapter, then take care as you proceed to the one on the alpine zone: you may need oxygen to take in the contents of this high altitude chapter. . . . Packed with useful and practical advice on how to establish and maintain these plants. . . . A most useful reference, it will certainly earn its space on many a keen grower's shelves." And boy, were they right. The Himalayan Garden by Jim Jermyn is 320 pages of know-how regarding cultivating species that are native to the Himalayas. Only Jim could share these nuggets of Himalayan plant wisdom. What are some Himalayan natives? Think Euphorbia, Gentiana, Meconopsis, Primula, Rhododendron, and more. You can get a copy of The Himalayan Garden by Jim Jermyn and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $20. Today's Botanic Spark 1930 Today is the anniversary of the death of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The Spring before he died, Doyle was bedridden. However, one morning, unattended, he got up and managed to go out to his garden. Doyle much enjoyed being in his garden. He did most of his writing in the garden. He once remarked, "What a lovely thing a rose is!" But that spring morning in 1930, his family found him lying on the ground with one hand clutching his heart and the other... holding a single white snowdrop. He languished until July 7, 1930, when he passed away with his family at his bedside. His last words were to his wife. He whispered, "You are wonderful." After his death, newspaper accounts shared that, on a beautiful summer day, he was buried in the garden. The garden had been Doyle's special retreat, and the place he was buried is right next to his garden hut. After it was built, the hut was the place Doyle went to write his stories about one of the world's best-loved detectives: Sherlock Holmes. Now, history tells us that over 200 people attended Doyle's funeral. And, on that day, so many wreaths were sent from all over the world that they were spread over the large paddock west of the home and that they covered over an acre of land with blooms. Accounts of the funeral say that when Conan Doyle's coffin was placed in the grave, "Lady Doyle kissed a rose and threw it in." Lady Jean Conan Doyle continued to live at Windlesham for another decade until her death on June 27, 1940. She was buried next to her husband in the garden.