The Daily Gardener

Right now is the perfect time to bring some nature indoors. Why buy something manufactured to look like nature, when some of the most impactful pieces can be found right in your own garden? I love to bring in some of the bird's nests from my garden. I place them on top of a stack of books, in a crystal bowl or on a bookshelf. They add wonderful, texture and interest to help ground your interior for winter. Adding leaves and berries to ledges and to your arrangements accomplishes the same thing. And, an interesting branch placed on a mantle, suspended from the ceiling or propped in the corner of a room,, adds an attractive seasonal form; a natural element, that costs nothing, but brings a part of the garden, of the woods or the forest, into your home. Brevities #OTD Today is the birthday of the Father of Plant Anatomy, Nehemiah Grew, who was born on this day in 1641. Grew was an English botanist and was the first person to illustrate the inner structures and functions of plants in all their wondrous intricacy. If you've ever seen a Nehemiah Grew drawing, you'll never forget it; you're probably able to spot them a mile away. But, if you've never seen a Nehemiah Grew drawing, imagine an etch-a-sketch drawing on steroids. The lines are impossibly thin. The level of detail is staggering. For instance, Grew's drawings of tree parts cut transversely look like elaborate Japanese fans. This is because Grew was one of the first naturalists to incorporate the microscope in the study of plant morphology. It was his use of the microscope that allowed Grew to give the first known microscopic description of pollen. Along those same lines, Grew was also the first person to analyze the ridges, furrows, grooves, and pores on human hands and feet. He published his incredibly accurate drawings of finger ridge patterns in 1684. Palm readers owe Grew a debt of gratitude. (Just kidding.... or am I?) #OTD Today is the birthday of John Chapman who was born on this day in 1774. You may never have heard of John Chapman, but you've probably heard of his nickname; Johnny Appleseed. Chapman was born in Massachusetts and the street where he was born is now called Johnny Appleseed Lane. As a young man, Chapman became an apprentice to an orchardist named Crawford. The image most of us have of Chapman, traipsing through the country planting one apple tree at a time is off base. Chapman actually traipsed through the country planting entire apple orchards, then he protected the orchard by building a fence around it, and then arranging a deal with a neighboring farmer to sell trees from the orchard in exchange for shares. It was a genius setup. During his life, Chapman had a special regard for and relationship with Native Americans who regarded him as a medicine man. At the same time, Chapman wanted early American settlers to succeed; he often acted as a one-man welcome wagon; showing up at door with a gift of herbs as a gesture of support. For his part, Chapman was an expert in more plants than just apple trees; he was one of our country's first naturalists and herbalists. Chapman used many herbs for healing like catnip, hoarhound, pennyroyal, rattlesnake weed, and dog-fennel. In fact, dog fennel (Eupatorium) was also called "Johnny weed" because Chapman planted it believing it was antimalarial. Whenever you hear Eupatorium, you can deduce that the plant is closely related to joe pye weed. Unfortunately, dog fennel was not a good thing to spread around; it's a noxious weed. The Johnny Appleseed Center on the campus of Urbana University in Urbana, Ohio holds the largest collection of memorabilia and information on Chapmen. In 1999, seedlings from the last-known surviving Johnny Appleseed tree were transplanted into the courtyard around the museum. #OTD Today is the birthday of the botanist Oakes Ames who was born on this day in 1874. What a great name for a botanist, huh? Ames was trained as an economic botanist, but his specialty was orchids. He had his own orchid collection as a kid, and you know what they say about orchid lovers; once you're hooked, you're hooked. The author, Norman MacDonald, wrote in his 1939 book The Orchid Hunters: "For when a man falls in love with orchids, he'll do anything to possess the one he wants. It's like chasing a green-eyed woman [being consumed by desire] or taking cocaine. A sort of madness..." Ames was a Harvard man; he spent his entire career there. His work on the Orchidaceae was foundational to the study of orchids. His effort culminated in a seven-volume work on the Orchid Family. For his dedication, in 1924, Ames won the gold medal of the American Orchid Society. Today, Ames is recognized for his biggest contribution to the world of orchids; the Ames Orchid Herbarium (now part of the Harvard Herbaria) featuring 3,000 flowers in glycerine, 4,000 specimens that are pickled, along with 131,000 standard specimens, in addition to a magnificent library. Unearthed Words 'I grow old, I grow old,' the garden says. It is nearly October. The bean leaves grow paler, now lime, now yellow, now leprous, dissolving before my eyes. The pods curl and do not grow, turn limp and blacken. The potato vines wither and the tubers huddle underground in their rough weather-proof jackets, waiting to be dug. The last tomatoes ripen and split on the vine; it takes days for them to turn fully now, and a few of the green ones are beginning to fall off." - Robert Finch, Nature Writer Today's book recommendation: The Pursuit of Paradise by Jane Brown Brown's book was released back in 2000. The subtitle is: A Social History of Gardens and Gardening. Brown covers the trends and beliefs about gardening through history from the water gardens of Persia to the future of gardens. The major influencers in gardening are referenced; like Capability Brown and Vita Sackville-West. The chapters are set up by the type of garden through history: from the secret garden and the military garden, to small gardens and formative gardens. If you are an explorer of garden history, this is a fantastic resource for your garden library. You can get used copies for less than $2 using the Amazon link in today's show notes. Today's Garden Chore Preserve some of your herbs in salt. Even though September is flying, the herb garden is still going strong. Preserving herbs in salt is fun and easy and a very old practice. Now, you can use salt to preserve tender herbs, like basil and cilantro, work great with a salt preservation. Jump on Amazon and order a couple boxes of kosher or sea salt - and you're all set. You have some options for using salt to preserve. The first is the layer method; just alternate layers of your herb with salt and refrigerate. The second method is to grind the herbs with the salt and then lay the mixture on a sheet pan to dry. Then pack the salt in a glass jar and refrigerate. Herbed salts make great holiday gifts and there's oodles of recipes online. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart Today is the anniversary of the death of the novelist and horticulturist known as the Pink Lady Cora Older who died on this day in 1968. Before Apple became associated with Cupertino, there was Cora Older and her husband, newspaper editor, Fremont. They were part of San Francisco's high society, entertaining guests like the poet Carl Sandburg and Lincoln Steffens the muckraking journalist. Cora grew hundreds of pink roses in her garden which is how she became known as "The Pink Lady." During World War II, in August of 1942, the journalist Elsie Robinson wrote about Cora Older and the challenge faced by women dealing with the harvest alone in her column called "Listen World". I thought you would enjoy learning a little bit about Cora through this tremendous story. "Keeping the home fires burning is a cinch compared with keeping the home crops plucked these days, as those of us who have ranches and farms can testify. Where, oh where, are the hordes of jobless lads who used to come ambling around when the peach was on the bough and the berry on the thorn? I can tell you exactly where they are - Uncle Sam has gobbled them up, to the last calloused palm and freckle. So what do we do for "hired hands?" Mrs. Fremont Older knows the answer. Cora Older, widow of America's great and beloved newspaper publisher, and plenty of a writer herself, is lean, lithe and possesses enough spunk to run a dozen unions. Take this summer for instance, maybe you've been getting your suntan at the nearest beach. Not so Cora. During sizzling July and August weeks she has been climbing the hundreds of apricot and prune trees which spread across her big ranch at Cupertino, picking the fruit herself with the occasional and temperamental aid of a 64-year-old handy man. And It you don't think picking 'cots on a July afternoon is some job, you've a lot to learn, stranger. To Cora, however, there was no alternative. There was the fruit, such a harvest as the west has not seen in many a year. Golden floods of apricots, purple piles of prunes, but nary a man to pick them i n or deliver them to the dryer. So what? So if a man could climb a tree, she could. And did. Let the typewriter rest for a while, let the roses go ungathered - Cora Older was going to tackle her Victory harvest. It's an epic, that battle with heat and weariness, human cussedness and old Mother Nature. I hope she puts it into a book. Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

If you're feeling a little glum about the end of the gardening season, here are a few activities that can help you rebalance: First, support your local farmers by shopping at a local farm stand. Often the growers will have insights on plants and practices that are applicable to your own garden. Get inspired by seeing some of the different varieties of apples, gourds, zucchinis, pumpkins, and other vegetables. Second, refresh your mulch supply. Top dressing before winter feels as good now as it does in the Spring. Your beds will benefit from the extra layer of protection and you will feel a boost from the beauty of cleaned beds. Brevities #OTD Today is the anniversary of the death of the German botanist Valerius Cordus who died on this day in 1544. Cordus was the author of one of the most influential herbals in history. In fact, centuries later, the botanist Thomas ArchibaldSprague re-published "The Herbal of Valerius Cordus" with his older sister who he considered to be the best botanist in the family. After the book was published, Sprague gifted her with a personal and gorgeous bound copy. He had the book dedicated to her in latin: "M. S. Sprague praeceptrici olim hodie collaboratrici d.d. T. A. Sprague" - basically saying that she had taught him and collaborated with him. Cordus died young, at the age of 29, likely from malaria. He had botanized in Italy over the summer of 1544 with two French naturalists. At some point, he had waded into marshes in search of new plants. When he became sick a short time later, his friends brought him to Rome and then, they continued on to Naples. When they returned for him, they found Cordus had died. We owe a debt of gratitude to the Swiss botanist Konrad Gesner who had the sense to collect Cordus' prolific writings and preserve and publish them. One expert once said, "There was Theophrastus; there was nothing for 1,800 years; then there was Cordus." The genus Cordia is named in honor of Valerius Cordus. #OTD Today is the birthday of the Landscape Gardener Edward Kemp who was born on this day in 1817. Edward Kemp was the landscape gardener and architect at Birkenhead under Joseph Paxton. He placed an ad in the Liverpool Mercury after the opening of Birkenhead, he was out of work and was offering his services, "[Edward Kemp] begs to offer his services to the Noblemen and Gentlemen in the vicinity of Birkenhead and Liverpool…The fluttering testimonials which he has received from numberless visitors to the Birkenhead park, induce him to believe that a simple reference to the past and present condition of the park …. will be sufficient to ensure for him a large and liberal patronage." Don't worry about Edward Kemp. He went on to be a leading Victorian Landscape Gardener and a successful one, at that. #OTD On this day in 1890, the Sequoia National Park was established to protect the giant Sequoia trees, among the oldest living things on earth. In 1847, Stephan Ladislaus Endlicher, a German botanist, came up with the genus name "Sequoia" after a Cherokee Chief named Sequoyah (1770-1843) who was the son of a British merchant and a Cherokee woman. Sequoyah developed an alphabet to enable his tribe's dialect to be written. In 1872, Asa Gray wrote about the sequoia and presented his work in Dubuque Iowa at the 21st annual session of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. During his presentation, Gray speculated on the origin of the trees. He offered three hypotheses:

1. Either they are just coming into existence, and are destined, if unmolested by man, to spread over the world;
2. They have long lived; on the Pacific Slope, and have never spread elsewhere, because no other climate is fit for them;
3. They are the survivors of a race that once crowded the hills and valleys of the world.

Gray felt the last hypothesis was the one with the most merit. He expanded on this point by saying, "Research has found the fossil sequoia gigantea throughout ... Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland, Alaska, and the Rocky Mountains. All of these fossil specimens are almost exactly the same as the " Big Trees" of today. The very slight difference can be readily explained by the modifying force of different conditions. This crucial test shows that, before man sprang from the dust of the Garden of Eden, according to Genesis, or was evolved from the ape of Northern Africa, according to Darwin, the sequoia gigantea belted Northern America, Asia, and Europe, and the islands of the Northern seas. The " Big Trees" of California are but the outlying sentinels of an army that has vanished." #OTD On this day in 1942, the newspaper in Spokane Washington had a headline that said: Noted Botanist Crosses Jungle (Takes Long Mule Route Through Tibet to Get a Few Flowers.) The article was about the botanist Francis Kingdon-Ward who had just arrived in New Delhi after a 500 hundred mile walk over mountains and through jungles to avoid the Japanese invaders of Burma. The article said this: "A thin, wiry little man in his 50s, Captain Kingdon-Ward...decided that the Japanese were getting too close for comfort so he loaded two 60-pound bags of rice on two mules... But instead of taking the short road through the Chaukan pass, [he] decided to travel the 500 mile mule trail through Tibet... He thought he might find some useful military information during his trip [and] 'besides, there is always a chance of finding some rare wild flowers on this route.' [Kingdon-Ward tramped] knee-deep in snow [and] crossed the Himalayas at the 14,500 foot pass.... [He said] "It was a pleasant walk and I collected some nice flowers....Your reward is in the finding of dazzling flowers never seen before. You know they may always blush unseen unless you manage , to take them back and make them grow where others can admire them. They are a little bit of the enchantment of Asia transplanted into England or America. It is satisfaction enough if you can feel in an industrial age like the present that you have brought home a little beauty for others to enjoy." Unearthed Words #OTD Today is the birthday of the English poet Felicia Hemans who was born on this day in 1793. She wrote this charming garden poem to honor one of her five sons on his autumnal birthday: Where sucks the bee now? Summer is flying, Leaves round the elm-tree faded are lying ; Violets are gone from their grassy dell, With the cowslip cups, where the fairies dwell ; The rose from the garden hath pass'd away Yet happy, fair boy, is thy natal day ! For love bids it welcome, the love which hath smiled Ever around thee, my gentle child ! Watching thy footsteps, and guarding thy bed, And pouring out joy on thy sunny head. Roses may vanish, but this will stay Happy and bright is thy natal day ! Today's book recommendation: Living Decor by Maria Colletti This book came out in March of 2019 - so earlier this year. The subtitle is Plants, Potting and DIY Projects - Botanical Styling with Fiddle-Leaf Figs, Monsteras, Air Plants, Succulents, Ferns, and More of Your Favorite Houseplants. Botanical styling is all the rage - even Pottery Barn is offering permanent pots and stems to help lead this trend. The blogger Kendal Morgan Hall, wrote in her review of this book: "[Living Decor] is filled with gorgeous pictures...The colour scheme in this book is vibrant. It shows how plants can warm up a minimalistic decorated living space." Kendall's review is spot on. I wanted to read a little excerpt to help you get to know the author a little better. Her name is Maria Colletti and she spent 13 years working at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) retail shop. Here's what she wrote in one of the first sections of her book called "Where I Found My Green Life": "In 2003 I continued my schooling it in YBG, chiseling my green skills as shop manager of the shop in the garden. I learned so much working as a garden retailer in a place that educates daily and what it means to love plants. We bought, sold, displayed, and cared for our plant inventory. We watched the garden evolve throughout the seasons, which was, on many days, just breathtaking: The white Korean dogwood trees at the entrance of the rose garden, or the perennial garden outside the Enid A. Haupt to Conservatory in summer. How lucky am I? I intended never to waste this privilege but instead utilize it to the best of my abilities. This is how I discovered my garden lifestyle and brought all the elements together." Today's Garden Chore It's time to think selectively about where and what to cut back in the garden. Long ago, I learned not to leave grasses up near the house; the base of grasses draw mice and in the Spring when you cut them down, you'll have little mice running all about. I like to get the garden in front of my porch completely clean. We pile snow there from sweeping the porch and clearing off the walks. Plus, this garden is wet in the spring - so I'd rather cut back perennials now and just let everyone do their thing in the spring, without me having to traipse through it. On the other hand, it's nice to strategically allow some perennials to remain; providing habitat for insects, food for birds, and winter interest. In addition to trees and shrubs, plants like Coneflower, sedum, Russian sage, Lovage, Aster, Sunflowers, Hydrangea, and Joe Pye weed remain intact in my garden until spring. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart On this day in 1915 the newspaper out of Burlington Vermont shared a little article about September flowers; focusing mainly on the golden rod and the aster and their numerous varieties. But then it ended with these marvelous run-on sentences. Check it out: Most conspicuous among the flowers of the roadside and pasture, these last days of September, are the goldenrod and aster. [...] One need not be a botanist to find and identify either plant, for we see them on every hand, making a successful struggle for life under most adverse conditions, and giving a splendor of beauty to the dull, gray days of the fall. Its closing days show a wealth of floral loveliness that may not soon be duplicated. And this is true of the goldenrod and aster's rich relatives of the garden. The cultivated asters are a blaze of glory in countless gardens, and cannas and hardy chrysanthemums and other things aplenty show no sign of old age. Thus, latest autumn Is connected with earliest spring, for the floral succession has been unbroken, from the time when the snowdrop blossomed amid ice and snow, through a long line of flowers of every hue and shape, to this 25th of September, when the black-eyed Susans are closing their long campaign, chicory is losing its last pale blue, and the aster and goldenrod are left not exactly blooming alone but the kings of the floral world. Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

One of my favorite shoulder season plants is my magnolia. The beautiful white blossoms in the spring and the glorious yellow leaves in the fall bookend a summer of hardy greenery. Then all winter long, the dormant flower buds will pop out adding interest and promise during those final snowstorms in late March and April. If you're looking for something that provides something new in every season, add magnolia to your list. Brevities #OTD Today is the birthday of the botanist William Herbst who was born on this day in 1833. As a child, William would accompany his father on horseback as he visited his patients across Bucks County in Pennsylvania. While his dad met with the sick in their homes, William stayed outside and passed the time collecting flora and fauna for study. When he grew older, he spent time formally studying botany, in addition to attending Medical School in Philadelphia. Although he became a doctor like his father Frederick, William Herbst was truly a botanist at heart. He developed a passion for fungi and he wrote a Fungal Flora of the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania in 1899. Once, after sending a specimen to his botanist friend, a Professor CH Peck, Herbst received a kind acknowledgement letter, which read in part: "That was a splendid fungus you sent me. It is an undescribed species of Sparassis. I propose to name it, with your consent, Sparassis Herbstii." In 1906, doctors were still making house-calls. Herbst died after visiting a sick patient. His obituary in The Morning Call in Allentown, PA said, "[Herbst] suffered from a fall. Leaving a sick-room to go to the bath room, he opened a stairway door by accident and plunged to the bottom in the darkness... [Then] he sank into a coma from which he did not awake. The doctor was one of the most lovable of men. He was firm and honest in his convictions ... [and] His beautiful nature was exemplified in the poem, "Welcome Spring Flowers," which "he wrote many years ago... Many a time he was asked why he did not settle in some city where his [botanical] talents would receive prompt recognition, but his answer invariably was that he could study nature better in his old home." When Herbst died, his widow donated his collection of 5,000 fungi to the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. #OTD On this day in 1886, the botanist Wilhelm Nikolaus Suksdorf began his journey by train to Cambridge, Massachusetts to go work for Harvard's top botanist, Asa Gray. Now I know what you're thinking. This must be another story about a budding young botanist who makes his way to Harvard and then writes his ticket to success and fame. But that is not the story of Wilhelm Suksdorf. Suksdorf was born in Germany, but his family soon immigrated to Iowa. The Suksdorf's had nine children, but after their two little girls died, the Suksdorfs were a family of seven boys; often referred to as the seven Suksdorfs. (Wilhelm was number six). Wilhelm was a sickly little boy; maybe that's why he ended up being such a homebody. When his older brothers went to Ames Iowa for college, botany was part of the curriculum. (Imagine that?!) It was through his older brothers that Wilhelm learned of Asa Gray's botany manual. After he heard about it, he wanted one for himself. So, when he was twenty years old, he bought himself a copy and he used it to learn about the plants around the family's Davenport Iowa farm. After his older brothers went West to find their fortunes, it wasn't long before the entire Suksdorf family followed suit. They ended up buying land along the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest and they settled in an area they named Bingen. Wilhelm attempted to study botany at Berkeley. But, after two years, decided to quit. Suksdorf was 26 when he left Berkeley and returned to the family farm to help his brothers with their dairy operation. Back in Iowa, the Suksdorfs had been part of a large German immigrant population. They were able continue to speak German at home on the farm and with a fair number of other German settlers in the county. But, when the Suksdorf family moved west, the dense concentration of German families did not exist. Wilhelm's lack of formal schooling and his isolation on the farm, made him uncomfortable communicating in English. As a result, much of his botanical work was written and documented in German. As fate would have it, Asa Gray's manual was not helpful with the flora in the Northwest. Botanically speaking, Suksdorf was in uncharted territory. The lack of information spurred Wilhelm to reach out to none other than Asa Gray. Gray wrote him back. Corresponding with Gray gave Suksdorf something to do outside of the farm, yet it allowed him to at stay home (where he preferred to be). Suksdorf would collect specimens and send the ones he wasn't sure of to Gray and then wait for a response as to the identification. In the beginning, Suksdorf may not have appreciated how this relationship was actually a true quid pro quo. See, Suksdorf's work was an answer to prayer for Gray who was working on a flora of North America. There was nothing Gray needed more desperately than specimens from the Northwest. In recognition for his work, Grey named a violet for Suksdorf. This was an immense honor, on Suksdorf did not expect, and it turned Suksdorf into a true Gray disciple. Things carried on this way for the next seven years until 1885 - which proved to be a dreadful year for Suksdorf. At this point, Suksdorf was a 35-year-old bachelor, living at home with his parents, working on the farm with his brothers, and botanizing when he had inclination, time, and energy. But in October of that year, both of his parents succumbed to sickness; it was something like the flu. But, they didn't bounce back. They grew sicker and sicker until on October 22, they both died. Suksdorf moved in with his younger brother, Theodore, and his wife. We don't know for sure how that went, but we do know that Suksdorf's sister-in-law attempted to get him out of his shell, out of his grief, and into the real world. By spring, she had written a letter to Dr. Asa Gray at Harvard. One can almost see her rifling through Wilhelm's correspondence to find Dr. Gray's address. She told Gray about Wilhelm's isolation, but also how kind and conscientious he was; and she wondered if there might be a museum or a botanical garden that could use some help. Asa Gray must have been moved by something; whether it was all of those specimens and letters that Suksdorf had sent over the years or the somewhat desperate plea sent by his sister-in-law, we don't know for sure. What we do know is that, in a little over two weeks, Gray had put together an offer for Suksdorf: Come to Harvard. Be my assistant. Earn $500 the first year, $600 the second year, and so on, all the way up to $1000 a year. And, Gray also offered a career path and mentorship. What was not to love? True to form, Suksdorf went and declined the offer; saying something about not wanting a life indoors doing office work You can imagine the reaction of his family. His brothers took him to task for rejecting the incredible offer. Their disappointment and frustration was made clear. In turn, Suksdorf handled it in the only way he knew how: escaping to nature... for three weeks. If nothing else, the hiatus gave Wilhelm time to think. Incredibly, when Suksdorf returned home Gray had written again, and asked him to reconsider. Whether it was Gray's persistence, his families badgering, or his self-reflection, by the end of July Suksdorf relented. And so, it was on this day, in 1886, that Suksdorf found himself boarding a train headed to Massachusetts to work with his mentor, Asa Gray. It truly was the opportunity of a lifetime. For a little over a year, Suksdorf enjoyed working directly with Gray. He had finally found a place of acceptance outside of his immediate family. But it was short-lived. Four days after Thanksgiving in 1887, Gray was at home and coming down the stairs for breakfast, when he suddenly lost control of his arm and hand. Three days later, he lost control over his speech. He languished in bed in complete silence for two months and died at the end of January on the 30th in 1888. Suksdorf had his lost his mentor and grief consumed him to the point that Gray's wife, Jane, had to send him to an institution in order to recover. When he was discharged, Suksdorf discovered that Gray's position had been filled by a man named Sereno Watson. Watson was a colder personality than Gray; he didn't see the point in coddling Suksdorf and Suksdorf could see the writing on the wall; he wasn't a fit with Watson. For a homebody like Suksdorf, the easy decision was made; he was going home. Towards the end of his botanical career, Suksdorf was a special fellow at the herbarium of Washington State University. He collected 150,000 specimens, including 70 new species, over the course of his lifetime. Many plants have been named in his honor. Today, there is a Suksdorfia chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society and it is made up ofa great group of native plant enthusiasts in the Gorge. They sponsor a number of great hikes and educational events throughout the year. Suksdorf died as the result of a tragic train accident. On Oct. 3, 1932, Suksdorf arrived at the depot in his hometown to take the train to Portland. He stepped onto the track to flag the train, but it did not stop, and Suksdorf was thrown against the wall of the depot. He was 82 years old. Unearthed Words "Youth is like spring, an over praised season more remarkable for biting winds than genial breezes. Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits." ~ Samuel Butler Today's book recommendation: Not Just Desserts by Susan Belsinger This sweet little cookbook came out in 2010. You can still get used copies on Amazon using the link in todays show notes. It looks like there are about thirteen used copies available for under $10. Otherwise the book is out of print and collectible copies start at close to $60. So, if you want a copy of this one, don't wait! Belsinger is a prolific food writer - she's written close to 20 cookbooks. She's also an amazing herb expert. Although this book offers mostly recipes for desserts, it also offers much more than that. Belsinger has created these sweet herbal recipes that are simple and homey - and all of them are made delicious because of the addition of herbs.

Today's Garden Chore Strategically tidy up the garden. As harvest time comes to an end, it's good to go ahead and cut down edibles and vegetable plants. I chop and drop many of my edibles to return the nutritious green matter back into the soil. And, leave the roots of healthy plants to improve the soil; plants like herbs, peppers, cucumber, beans, and so on; basically any plants that aren't diseased. Finally, consider adding a cover crop to your beds that could use a little boost; it's simple and it offers a beautiful protective, nutritious blanket over your garden.

Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart

On this day in 1967, the song 'Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie' by Jay & The Techniques reached number 8 on the Top 40 music charts.

The lyrics are a throwback to a childhood expression, "Apples, peaches pumpkin pie Who's not ready? Holler 'I'"

When the song was pitched to the group in May of 1966, the band's drummer hung up on the suggestion. He wasn't too excited about singing about fruit and pumpkin pie.

After they recorded the song, an Atlantic City radio station featured the song in a contest and the song took off. By the fall of 1967, the band was performing the song on the Ed Sullivan Show.

If you're looking for something catchy and sweet for your fall playlist in the garden, consider adding Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie. But, I'm going to warn you, if you haven't heard it before, it's a total ear worm.

Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

Today is the first day of Autumn also referred to as the Autumn Equinox. Equinox means 'equal night'. On this day, both day and night are nearly the same length. Thereafter, the dark part of the year begins. Brevities #OTD Today is the birthday of the grandson of Genghis Khan, Kubla Khan, who was born on this day in 1215. Kubla Khan's Summer Garden at Xanadu is the subject of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's 1797 poem Kubla Khan. In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree: Where Alph, the sacred river, ran Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless sea. So twice five miles of fertile ground With walls and towers were girdled round; And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills, Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree; And here were forests ancient as the hills, Enfolding sunny spots of greenery. Coleridge's Kubla Kahn is regarded as one of his most important works. Coleridge said that he composed the entire poem while in a dreamlike state, drowsy from opium he had as medication. When he woke up, he remembered the entire poem and immediately set about writing it down. But then, he was interrupted by a knock at his door and he received a visitor. Sadly, when the visitor left, his perfect recollection of the poem failed him and he was only able to finish the poem in fragments. The poem begins by describing Kahn's palace and the garden contrasted with the setting of the ancient Mongolian forest. Although Coleridge wrote this poem in 1797, he didn't share it with the world until urged to do so by his friend Lord Byron. Together, Coleridge's poem and the adventurer, Marco Polo, brought world-wide attention to Kubla Kahn and his achievements. #OTD Today in 1806, Lewis and Clark returned to St. Louis after spending over two years exploring the headwaters of the Missouri River in an effort to find a route to the Pacific. They returned with their journals and with plant specimens. Here's just a handful of the plants they discovered (I picked the ones you might be the most familiar with): Snow-on-the-mountain (Euphorbia marginata) Creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) False indigo (Amorpha fruticosa) Needle-and-thread grass also called porcupine grass (Hesperostipa comata) Purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia) Rough gayfeather also called large button snakeroot (Liatris aspera) Wild four-o'clock (Mirabilis nyctaginea) Wild rice (Zizania palustris) Wild rose (Rosa arkansana) #OTD Today is the anniversary of the death of Stuart Robertson who died on this day in 2009. Robertson was a professional gardener in Montreal, although he was born in England. In 1981, Robertson began work as a gardening columnist for the Montreal Gazette. In 1982, Robertson added the title of broadcaster to his repertoire, as a member of the show Radio Noon on CBC Radio One. Robertson also wrote two books on gardening. A passionate, leading organic gardener, his first book was Stuart Robertson's Tips on Organic Gardening, which was published in 2007. The following year, he wrote Stuart Robertson's Tips on Container Gardening. At the age of 50, Robertson learned he had non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a type of cancer of the lymph nodes. When it returned later in life, he received a bone-marrow transplant. Robertson's colleagues recall him as a gentleman; he had class, strength, and optimism. In an article announcing Robertson's passing in his hometown paper, The Gazette out of Montreal, poignantly reported: "His final column, which appeared Sept 19, read in part 'We're getting to the sad time of the year, when we have to start thinking about cooler weather and the end of the growing season.'" #OTD Today is the anniversary of the death of the botanist Ruth Patrick who died on this day in 2013 at the age of 105. Patrick was known for a little saying that went like this: you can't live a day without diatoms. Diatoms are a single-celled algae; this was Patrick's way of saying that all life is interconnected and that nature matters. Ruth Patrick understood this premise very well. She was a leading voice in the recognition that the smallest organisms, living in communities, were more reliable than an individual species as indicators of pollution. Ruth Patrick was born in Topeka, Kansas. Her father was an attorney and when he wasn't working he loved to take Ruth and her sister out into nature. The girls would collect samples from streams and ponds and then get a closer look with the brass microscope in their father's study. Later, Ruth would often say that her father had always encouraged her to leave the world a better place for having passed through it. In 1975, Patrick was the first woman elected president of the American Society of Naturalists. She worked for 80 years at The Academy of Natural Sciences. In 1996, she was awarded the country's National Medal of Science from President Bill Clinton. Unearthed Words "When the goldenrod is yellow, And leaves are turning brown - Reluctantly the summer goes In a cloud of thistledown. When squirrels are harvesting And birds in flight appear - By these autumn signs we know September days are here." - Beverly Ashour, September "The back door bangs shut! September gust." - Mike Garofalo, Cuttings:Haiku, Concrete and Short Poems Today's book recommendation: Plant Parenting by Leslie Halleck This is a new book that just came out in June of this year from Timber Press. The author, Leslie Halleck, founded Halleck Horticultural and she likes to say that when it comes to plants, people naturally feel a relationship with them. Once people fall in love with plants, they want more of them. This is where propagating becomes a useful skill to learn. Mastering propagation is a snap with Halleck's book which breaks down the different options and modern resources available to gardeners. This book offers up some pretty marvelous photos along with simple instructions. Halleck embraces the trends that are used nowadays by interior designers who incorporate plants as a way to add sculptural elements and warmth to the indoors. The images in Halleck's book are gorgeous and they feel very on trend. If you have gardeners in your life, be sure to share this lovely, friendly introduction to propagating houseplants, flowers, and vegetables. Today's Garden Chore Divide and move plants that have grown too big in your garden. After the plants in your garden have finished flowering, autumn is the best time of year to move them. Despite the cooler air temps, the ground is still warm enough to provide the right just the right environment for root growth. This year, the hostas and astilbes in my garden needed thinning. With my hostas, I just take a sharp knife or shovel and divide the hosta while it's still in the ground. Then, I just remove half the hosta and leave the other half in place; the mother plant bounces back pretty fast. For the astilbe, or any other plants with tough roots, I will dig up the whole plant and then use a serrated knife to divide the plant into sections and then replant those wherever I want them in the garden. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart #OTD On this day in 1937, the Evening Report out of Lebanon, Pennsylvania reported on a rose garden in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The 12,500 rose plants of the Hershey Rose Garden were in their September glory. The rose garden was to be dedicated the following June, when its 20,000 plants would be in bloom. The garden had attracted, 125,000 visitors from Pennsylvania and ... other neighboring states since its opening in May, 1937. An unusual feature of the garden was that, instead of twenty or twenty-five roses of one variety in a bed, the plants in the Hershey Rose Garden numbered as high as 175 in a single bed. And there was a lake within the garden. It was surround with the deep orange-red Gloria Mundi, the Mermaid (with its single, pale yellow bloom), the Jacotte (with its orange bloom), and the Eblouissant (a wonderful tiny rose with double, globular flowers that had long-lasting red color and was nested in bronze foliage on a very dwarf plant). Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

Folklore and legends are often intertwined with plants and gardens. Today, I stumbled on a Swedish Legend called "The Harvest That Never Came" and I thought you'd get a kick out of it. The story has been used in lesson plans, to teach kids problem solving. I'm going to abbreviate it a bit, but I'll share a link to a good English translation in today's show notes. A young man named Arild was the son of a Danish noble family. He had fallen in love with a girl from Sweden named Thale. But, in the midst of their romance, Denmark and Sweden declared war on each other. Arild, who served in the war as a Danish Knight, was captured by the Swedes and thrown in prison. While he was in prison, Arild received a note from Thala, his true love. "My dearest Arild, I promised to wait for you forever, but I fear I will not be allowed to. My father says you will never return, and he has chosen another man to be my husband... He has already set the marriage date. I will love you always. Your faithful Thale" Now, Arild was not about to die in prison, and he was certainly not going to lose Thale. So, he came up with an offer and he presented it to King Erik of Sweden in the form of a letter: "Your Royal Majesty, Grant me one favor. Let me go home to marry the woman I love. Then allow me to stay only long enough to plant a crop and harvest it. On my word of honor (as a knight), I will return to your prison as soon as the harvest is gathered." The King granted Arild's request and Arild married Thale. In the Spring, Arild decided on a crop and he planted the seeds placing them each of them six paces apart. In the Fall, after the Harvest season had passed, King Erik sent a messenger to summon Arild back to prison. Arild looked at the messenger with surprise, saying, "My crop is not harvested... Indeed it has not yet even sprouted!" The messenger looked perplexed and said, "Not sprouted? What did you plant?" Arild's reply revealed the cleverness of his plan: "Pine Trees." When King Erik heard Arild's story he wisely judged, "A man like that does not deserve to be in prison." "And so, Arild was allowed to remain home with his beloved Thale. And a magnificent forest stands today as a testament to his love." Brevities #OTD Today is the birthday of the botanist and physician Lorenz Scholz von Rosenau who was born on this day in 1552. The information history has preserved about Scholz gives us a rare glimpse into the botanical life of a dedicated plantsman in the 1500's. Like many early botanists, he was very well educated and he was a polyglot; reading, writing, and speaking many languages. One of the most important endeavors accomplished by Scholz was translating medical references which were written in Greek and Arabic. He took that information, along with references written by peers around Europe, and put together a reference book that combined all of the best medical information of his time. His work proved so valuable in helping to teach people about the plague, that he earned a coat of arms and nobility title, the Scholz von Rosenau" name in 1596. As for botanical activities, Scholz was way ahead of his time. He grew potatoes - a dubious activity during his day and age, and one few gardeners would have pursued - because people were afraid of night shade plants. And, Scholz had a massive garden even by today's standards - over 7 acres. I love the description of the layout for Scholz's garden: four quadrants, big central pathways, and smack in the middle of all of it was a building that historians say was used to entertain; Scholz had designed it to serve both as a dining hall and an art gallery. Clearly, Scholz was a people person and he loved entertaining his friends and family at his garden. During the growing season, Scholz would hold gatherings he called "flower festivals" in his garden to delight his friends and family. #OTD Today is the anniversary of the death of Margherita Caffi who died on this day in 1710. Caffi was an Italian painter who was able to have a long career painting still life flower & fruit compositions.The men in her family were painters, but Caffi was self-taught. A mother of four who was pursuing a craft outside of the norm for her times, Caffi had an incredible work ethic. But, her efforts paid off; Caffi achieved fame and even royal patronage during a time when female painters were not embraced. A quick Google search of Caffi will reveal that she loved tulips, roses, peonies and carnations; she loved to paint their delicate forms and felt that their tremendous colors - the soft pinks, the vibrant reds, the remarkable shades of yellow and orange - were best displayed against a dark background. Caffi's art is formal and elegant; she painted on silk, canvas and vellum. #OTD Today is the birthday of botanist and explorer Mary Sophie Young who was born on this day in 1872. In 2017, Nicole Elmer wrote a lovely profile of Young which was featured on the website for the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Texas at Austin. Here are some highlights from Elmer's profile: When Mary Sophie was born in Glendale, Ohio to an Episcopalian minister and his wife, she was undoubtedly the answer to her parents prayers; they had already had seven boys by they time Mary Sophie was born. Growing up with brothers was formative for Young; she often said she felt that playing with them outside had made her tough and that the experience had helped her withstand the challenging conditions often faced by botanists during plant collecting expeditions. Young ended up getting her PhD from the University of Chicago. By the fall of 1910, she was on the faculty at the University of Texas; she had landed a job in the botany department. In two short years, Young was put in charge of the herbarium which already housed 2500 specimens; but had never had a curator. Young immediately set about adding to the herbarium through her collecting. Early on, as a collector in Austin, Young began publishing her work and she would often correspond with others using the simply sign-off "M.S. Young" which masked the fact that she was female. Young wrote in the manner that she spoke; very directly. To Young's delight, while exchanging letters, many people who read her prose and her initials and would incorrectly assume that she was a man. It gave her an immense feeling of satisfaction. In Elmer's post about Young, she wrote: "Young's favorite area to collect was West Texas, and she traveled there during [her] vacation[s].... [in the] the summers of 1914, 1915, 1916, and 1918... Young would hire a younger man to accompany her, usually a university student, to assist with hunting and setting up camp. Young also paid part of her expenses on these collecting trips and donated her time. While in West Texas, she collected from ferns, grasses, cacti, large trees, and sedges." Young recorded her 1914 trip in a journal. Elmer wrote that, "Young [expressed] awe at the landscape... of being in the vastness of West Texas at the turn of the century: "It's about five o'clock now. The 'lonely' time is beginning. The air is very transparent and very still and everything glistens. There is something of that uncanny fee ling of the consciousness of inanimate things." In February 1919 Young was diagnosed with advanced cancer. She died a month later at the age of 46 . She had served as curator for seven years and in that time she had added almost 14,000 specimens to the University of Texas herbarium. Today, the herbarium occupies eight floors of the Tower; an iconic part of the University of Texas Landscape. #OTD Today is the birthday of the garden writer Anna Pavord. In her 2010 book,The Curious Gardener, Pavord, culled articles from her newspaper column. Here's an excerpt: "It was at our first house and on the first patch of ground that we actually owned that I really discovered the point of gardening. It wasn't a Pauline conversion. There was no sudden, blinding vision of beauty. I didn't see myself (still don't) trolling through bowers of roses, straw hat just so, gathering blooms into a basket. Nor had I any idea at first of the immense joy of growing food. But I had at least begun to understand that gardening, if it is to be satisfying, requires some sense of permanency. Roots matter. The longer you stay put, the richer the rewards. "I also realized how completely I had missed the point as a child. Gardening was not necessarily about an end result. The doing was what mattered. At this time too, I learned about gardening as therapy." Unearthed Words "Under the harvest moon, When the soft silver Drips shimmering Over the garden nights, Death, the gray mocker, Comes and whispers to you As a beautiful friend Who remembers." - Carl Sandburg, Under the Harvest Moon Today's book recommendation: Big Dreams, Small Garden by Marianne Willburn Big Dreams, Small Garden is Willburn's Guide to Creating Something Extraordinary in Your Ordinary Space. As a columnist and Master Gardener for over 20 years, Willburn is used to talking to people who long to create the garden space of their dreams, but find that something in their circumstances is getting in the way of that dream. If that situation describes you, Willburn's guide will be your inInspiration to getting unstuck and getting the garden you are hoping for; whether that's a restful outdoor space for entertaining or a garden to supply edibles for cooking. Stop waiting for "the perfect place" and start the process of visualizing, achieving, maintaining, and enjoying your unfolding garden. Willburn gives you tips for making a sanctuary in less-than-ideal situations and profiles real-life gardeners who have done just that—including the author herself. Today's Garden Chore Pot up some herbs to bring indoors. This is an excellent weekend to pot up some of your herbs to grow through the fall and winter on the kitchen windowsill. I like to bring in mint and parsley, as well as rosemary, basil, and cilantro. And don't forget that your windowsill is a great place to sprout scallions which will happily grow in a vase of water - right next to the herbs on your windowsill. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart On this day in 1910, The Rutland Daily Herald out of Vermont shared this utterly charming story about a little-known flower called the Rhodum sidus: An amusing story told by Hood describes how a country nurseryman made a large sum out of sales of a simple little flower that he sold under the name of Rhodum sidus. This charming name proved quite an attraction to the ladies and the flower became the sage of the season. It was one of those freaks of fashion for which there is no accounting. At length a botanist who found that the plant was [a common] weed requested to know where the nursery man got the name from. He elicited the following reply: "I found this flower in the road beside us, so christened it the Rhodum sidus." Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

There's are some lines from a TS Eliot poem that go like this : Oh, Do not ask, "What is it?" Let us go and make our visit." If you've never visited your local botanic garden this time of year, you really should go. I have a friend who recently did this, and she posted amazing pictures from her visit to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. She said this: "This is my PSA : Get yourself to the Arb ....now . Don't wait to go just to see the change in color of the trees (like everyone else ) Go now ! The colors of the flowers are crazy ! This is just a couple quick snaps with my phone ( which doesn't do justice) no filters, editing or enhancing. The colors are just THAT bright and bold . I've never gone this time of year . I go in the spring, a few times mid summer then I wait like everyone else for the leaves to change and go again. I've even gone in the winter but never late late summer /early fall . For some reason I thought there wouldn't be anything to look at. I thought the flowers would be half dead ( like my potted plants at home ) I won't make that mistake again." Brevities #OTD Today is the birthday of the botanist professor Mildred Mathias who was born on this day in 1906 in Sappington, Missouri. Mathias was a professor at UCLA for twelve years, until 1974. She also served as president of the American Society for Plant Taxonomists and the Botanical Society of America. Matthias is remembered as a pioneer in the area of ecotourism. She enjoyed bringing botanists and amateurs alike all over the world to study and discover plants. From her early days with Dr. Lincoln Constance at Berkeley, back in 1937, Matthias began to focus on Umbelliferae. The Umbelliferae ("Um-bull-iffer-EYE") is a family of aromatic flowering plants and it's commonly referred to as the carrot, or celery, or parsley family. It also includes other important herbs like Angelica and Annis Carraway, and chervil, dill, fennel, lovage, and parsnip, just to name a few. The growing habit in plants throughout the family varies. The taproots of carrot and parsnip are big enough to be harvested as food. Plants like cilantro, coriander, dill and parsley or harvested for their leaves which contain essential oils that are very aromatic. In addition, the seeds of these plants, like fennel and cumin and coriander are also harvested for cuisine. Umbelliferae prefer soil that is cool; and, they grow best in the shoulder seasons. Umbelliferae are favorites among ladybugs and parasitic wasps. The family Umbelliferae is named because of the tiny flowers that are clustered together to form in amble – a little flower overhang reminiscent of an umbrella. It's fitting then, that the Mathiasella bupleuroides is named in her honor. Mathiasella bupleuroides 'Green Dream' is native to Mexico; it was discovered in 1954. The umbelliferous flowerhead of Green Dream has these jade-green, bracts that appear from April to June. In the Fall, the flower heads turn a charming pink. Here's a fun fact; Green Dream was a bit of a sensation at Chelsea 2006. Over the course of Matthias's career she published over 100 articles and books about the Umbelliferae. Volume 26 of Madrono was dedicated to Mildred Mathias, and the tribute recognized Mathias' pioneering spirit and energy. In 1993, Mathias was honored a s the Distinguished Economic Botanist of the year. #OTD Today in 1907, Orville Redenbacher, was born. Redenbacher was a U.S. agricultural scientist and the co-creator of a new hybrid of popcorn called "snowflake." It was lighter and fluffier than traditional popped kernels and Redenbacher 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. #OTD Today is the birthday of the third son of Charles Darwin, Francis Darwin - known to his family as Frank. Francis published the results of his work with his dad in a book called The Movement of Plants. The book details their experiments which showed that young grass seedlings grow toward the light. In 1887, Frank shared a portrait of his father in a book called life and letters of Charles Darwin. The letters revealed Darwins fluid prose and clarity. Frank said that correcting his fathers proof sheets made him a better writer. There's no doubt, Frank had been taught by a master teacher and, in turn, he became a teacher as well. At Cambridge, he taught students of pure science and medicine. Frank Darwin received many honors during his lifetime including the President of the British Association in the 1908-1909 year. In 1913, he was knighted by the Queen. It was Frank Darwin who said, "The personal effect of teacher on pupil cannot be bought at a price, nor can it be paid for in any coin but gratitude. It is the possibility of earning this payment that makes the best part of a teacher's life." #OTD On this day in 1991, The New York Times printed printed an announcement about an upcoming symposium at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) featuring Dr. James Duke. Duke was sharing his research; the topic was plants for health and healing and their role in modern medicine. The article shared Duke's incredible personal experience using plants to promote his own good health. It said this: "Dr. James Duke is one of those rare botanists who actually eat what they preach. He loves to watch the evening primrose open within 60 seconds. But he also munches its seeds, which are high in tryptophan, an essential amino acid that can relieve pain and depression. Purple coneflowers thrive in his rather rumpled wild garden in Fulton, Md. He eats their roots to boost his immune system. To cure a cold, he mashes up the stems and leaves of forsythia. To help strengthen weak capillaries, he makes "rutinade" from violet and buckwheat flowers, lemon grass, rhubarb stalks, and herbs high in rutin (anise, camomile, mint, rosehips)." Unearthed Words "Spring flowers are long since gone. Summer's bloom hangs limp on every terrace. The gardener's feet drag a bit on the dusty path and the hinge in his back is full of creaks." - Louise Seymour Jones Today's Book Recommendation: The Backyard Homestead by Carleen Madigan In The Backyard Homestead, Carleen shows you how to produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre. Best of all, the book is loaded with ideas, illustrations, and enthusiasm. It is eye-opening to see just what can be accomplished on a standard-sized home lot. Carleen has been in garden publishing for many years, but she also lives on an organic farm outside of Boston; so she knows of what she writes. Whether your backyard ambitions are modest or you're scaling up for complete food self-sufficiency, this wonderful guide helps you learn a range of essential skills, from starting seedlings and beekeeping basics to producing and preserving your own food; all of which brings an inordinate amount of sufficiency and satisfaction. Today's Garden Chore Start moving houseplants back indoors. This way, they can adjust gradually to decreasing sun exposure and humidity. If your allergies can handle it, make the move while your windows are still open, to ease the transition. Don't forget to move your tropical houseplants indoors by the end of the month. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart I recently had the opportunity to rewatch a video featuring Dr. Oliver Sacks who practiced medicine in NYC across from the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). In the video, Sacks reflected on the garden and what it meant to him. I've cobbled together a few of his inspiring thoughts. Here's what he said: "I think of this garden as treasure. First, it's a haven. In a noisy, crowded New York, we need a haven; we wander around and time doesn't matter too much. When I worked at the hospital opposite the garden, I used to come in every day. Specifically, I would come in after seeing my patients but before writing up my notes. And, I would walk around the garden and put everything out of consciousness except the plants and the air. But, by the time I got back, the patient's story would have crystallized in my mind [and then] I could then write it straight away. But I needed this sort of incubation in the garden, and to go for a walk in the garden; that sort of thing is an essential thing for me in writing. I think nature has a healing effect; the garden the closest one can come to nature. The garden has affected me and does affect me in various ways; it's not just the pleasure of walking around but [also] the very special virtues of the library and the museum and the fact that, in some ways, this is a university as well as a garden. I just feel very comfortable in the garden and whenever people come to New York from out of town or out of the country I say let's go to the garden. I would like quote a couple of lines from a TS Eliot poem: 'Do not ask what is it, Let us go and make our visit.' And so, I think you can't really describe the garden you have to have to visit it." Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

Last night I shared the trailer for The Secret Garden remake which just dropped. It is a visual feast for lovers of gardens everywhere. The new adaptation of the children's classic stars Colin Firth and Julie Walters and is set for release in April (2020). It looks fantastic. The Secret Garden is a children's novel written by American author and gardener Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was first released in the early 1900's as a serial in The American Magazine. The story is about a young girl, Mary Lennox, who was living in India with her wealthy British family. She is a spoiled, neglected little 10 year old girl. When cholera kills her parents, she is sent to England to live with a widowed uncle, Archibald Craven, at his huge Yorkshire estate. Mary learns that her dead aunt had a walled garden which has been locked away 10 years, ever since her death. Determined to find it, Mary finds the key to open the garden and she discovers a lost paradise. Spending time in the garden is transformational for her; she becomes softer and kinder and more optimistic. That's why the trailer ends with this quote, "This garden; it's capable of extraordinary things. Now will you believe in the magic?" Brevities #OTD Today is the birthday of the Irish-born botanical steward of the plants collected by Lewis and Clark; the Philadelphia nurseryman, Bernard McMahon, who was born on this day in 1816. McMahon's lasting legacy was his American Gardener's Calendar. Packed with monthly directions and information about all things gardening, McMahon's Calendar was the most popular and most comprehensive gardening publication of the first half of the nineteenth century. Through his work, McMahon was helping to shape the gardening identity of America; which was becoming more distinct and defined as it transitioned away from English traditions. The Calendar was like a gardening bible to Thomas Jefferson and it was that connection that led McMahon to become his gardening mentor. It also meant that when it came time for Jefferson to pick a curator for the Lewis and Clark expedition, McMahan was his pick. Lewis and Clark are forever remembered for their famous expedition which led to many botanical discoveries. The live plants and the seeds they had collected were expertly curated by McMahon who didn't dither; especially with the seeds. Once the specimens were in his hands, he immediately set about cultivating them. There were constraints placed on McMahon. As the sole nurseryman fortunate enough to steward the collection, he could not propagate the plants for profit (they were the property of the United States Government) and he could not tell anyone about the collection (at least not until Lewis and Clark had a chance to write about it). In honor of his work, the botanist Thomas Nuttal named the genus Mahonia for McMahon. Mahonia is an evergreen shrub, also known as Oregon holly. The low-growing shrub can be kept tidy with pruning and looks like a holly, although it belongs to the barberry family. The Mahonia produces yellow flowers followed by clusters of bluish-green berries that turn red in the fall. The red berries attract birds and gardeners love that it is a favorite of cardinals. Mahonia has a glossy, dark green foliage that turns a gorgeous bronze in autumn. #OTD Today is the anniversary of the death of the botanist and chemist John M. Darby who died on this day in 1877. In 1841, Darby wrote one of the earliest floras and he focused on the south eastern United States. His flora was practical and regional, so it's no surprise that his work became a textbook for botany in the South East. After John Torrey and Asa Gray had released their North American Flora, Darby's work was one of many regional floras that started popping up all over the United States. Sadly, Darby's work was basically dissed by Asa Gray who felt that Darby's work was amateurish. This dismissal was too hasty and ignored the rigorous botanizing performed by Darby throughout the South East and his obvious grasp of the distribution of plants throughout the South. Darby taught at Auburn University; at the time it was known as the East Alabama Male College. Darby was the "Julia Ann Hamiter" Professor of Natural Science. Darby taught there until 1861, when the college closed due to the Civil War. It reopened again in 1866 and Darby resumed teaching botany. #OTD Today is the birthday of the Panama Orchid Hunter and son of Lincoln, Nebraska, Abel Aken Hunter, who was born on this day in 1877. In a biography of his older brother, it was mentioned that all the kids in the Hunter family were, "born naturalists, for they knew all the birds and many of the plants and insects around Lincoln, [Nebraska]." When Hunter was just 15 years old, he was appointed to the United States Postal Service. It was a career choice that would supplement his collecting efforts all through his life. Hunter was like many Plant Collectors; he worked his regular job with the post office for almost 30 years while pursuing his passion for botany on the side. Hunter attended the University of Nebraska to study botany. Hunter was appointed botanical collector for the University of Nebraska in 1899. In 1905, when Hunter was promoted to mail clerk, he was making $58 a month. Eighteen months later, Hunter transferred to the post office in Gorgona in the Canal Zone in Panama. The move was an excellent one for Hunter; his pay jumped to $1,250 a month and he was smack dab in the middle of a botanical paradise. 1910 brought a fateful friend to Hunter. The amateur horticulturist Charles Powell was a nurse and he had been transferred to Gorgona. Although he was two decades older than Hunter, the two got on famously. They shared a mutual passion for fishing. Early on in their friendship, while they were fishing, they spied an incredible sight. Hunter is recorded as saying, "Look, Powell–orchids! Oodles of orchids! Treefuls of orchids! Let's get some of 'em." Needless to say, that day they literally brought home a "boat-load of orchids" and the orchids made their way to collectors across the globe. A year or two later, the Canal work in Gorgona wrapped up and both Hunter and Powell transferred to Balboa. From that point on, the two men would coordinate their vacation requests so that they could go on botanizing trips together in Panama. Powell created a special relationship with the Missouri Botanical Garden after he gave them 7,000 plants. In return, Mobot established a Tropical Station in Balboa, Panama. Powell was its first director. Hunter was his successor. The Station became a jewel in the crown of remote locations owned by Mobot. By the mid 1920's, Hunter was collecting with MOBOT experts like George Harry Pring. They once traveled to a remote part of southwest Panama to hunt for orchids where Pring recalled the perilousness of their quest and the natural instincts of Hunter. He said, "To obtain varied genera and new species it is necessary to climb the 'barrancas' [steep, rocky slopes], ford streams, cut one's way through the jungle, and hunt for the coveted orchid, and it is truly a hunt. Hunter's sharp eyes detected almost everything within range." A week before Thanksgiving in 1934, the Director of Mobot sent a party of three researchers including Paul Allen down to work with Hunter; their primary mission was to find where the Sobralia powellii orchid originated. Hunter's gut told him it would be near the head waters of the river they were exploring. For three days, they made their way through rapids and a tropical rain storm. Nothing was going their way; they were ready to give up. They were standing at the edge of a natural pool of water near the crater of an ancient volcano when Allen decided to jump in for a swim. As he climbed out, Allen's journal records this fantastical moment: "Climbing out [of the pool] on the opposite side my astonished gaze was met by a plant with great milky white buds nearly ready to open. The long-sought prize, Sobralia powellii, had been found. Its native home was no longer a mystery." Allen called this area "a garden of orchids" and would not disclose the exact location. Allen and Hunter found hundreds of small orchids in this spot; incredibly many were new to even Hunter. It was a veritable orchid treasure trove. This trip was everything to Hunter. He had been diagnosed with intestinal cancer. It was his last run. When it was clear he could not go on, Allen brought him to a hospital in Panama City where he died on April 6, 1935. Allen finished the expedition alone. After his death, Hunter's wife, Mary, operated the station at Balboa for 18 months until, fittingly, Paul Allen was appointed Director. Allen went to Balboa with his new bride, Dorothy. They had been married for 10 days. As for Abel Aken Hunter, many orchids have been named in his honor, including the Coryanthes Hunteranum, or the Golden Bucket orchid. Unearthed Words "Caught in the doldrums of August we may have regretted the departing summer, having sighed over the vanished strawberries and all that they signified. Now, however, we look forward almost eagerly to winter's approach. We forget the fogs, the slush, the sore throats and the price of coal, we think only of long evenings by lamplight, of the books which we are really going to read this time, of the bright shop windows and the keen edge of the early frosts." ― Denis Mackail, Greenery Street Today's book recommendation: Straw Bale Gardens Complete by Joel Karsten In May of 1994, Joel Karsten experimented with 50 straw bales on his childhood farm in Southwest Minnesota. He was trying to come up with a new way to grow vegetables at his new home in the Twin Cities which was on terrible clay soil. By June, he realized the plants in the bales were twice as tall as the plants growing in the soil. He kept refining his methods until his Straw Bale Gardens were discovered by a local reporter in 2007. Now, twenty-five years later, Joel Karsten is the recognized pioneer of Straw Bale Gardening, with his first book an acclaimed NY Times Best Seller and fans around the world. You can hear Joel's incredible story on the Still Growing gardening podcast. I interviewed Joel in a three-part episodes 515 - 517 and you can hear his incredible personal story and his method of growing in straw bales. And, you can hear about the amazing impact his technique has had around the globe in Episode 556. Today's featured book, Straw Bale Gardens Complete contains all of the original information from Joels first books, but it also goes much deeper, with nearly 50 pages of all-new advice and photos on subjects such as growing in a tight urban setting and making your straw bale garden completely organic. There is even information on using straw bale techniques to grow veggies in other organic media for anyone who has a hard time finding straw. If you've attempted a straw bale garden without using Joel's expertise, you really should get his book, or at least listen to those very thorough interviews we did, and give it another go. It's an incredible way to garden in the most challenging situations and in Cold Climates, you can gain extra growing time - somewhere around 6-8 weeks - in the shoulder seasons of Spring and Fall - that alone makes it worth doing. Today's Garden Chore Winterize your strawberry beds. Prune out runners that you don't want for next year. You can begin the thinning process by potting up your strawberry runners so that you can have even more strawberry plants next year to share at a plant swap, to share with friends or to add to your own garden. I just sink my pots into the ground and then I can deal with them in the spring by snipping them off the mother plant - I let them remain tethered to her throughout the winter. While you're at it, now is the perfect time to clean up the bed. It's also THE time to add a final boost of fertilizer. This time of year, I like to add a fresh layer of protective mulch around my plants to help them survive the winter. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart On this day in 2005, The Boston Globe shared a little Q&A Segment written by Matt McDonald. A reader had asked, Why is there a large statue of a woman on the south bank of the Charles River in South Natick? Matt's Answer was as follows: "The 9-foot-tall statue represents Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, a Roman Catholic name for Mary, the mother of Jesus. It can be seen from a dirt pullover area on the shoulder of Route 16. But, from a distance, it's not obvious that the statue is of Mary. And its placement, on a rock outcropping overlooking the river with no structures nearby, is unusual. So, the statue has led to imaginative theories about why it's there. "I can't tell you how many call up and ask who it was that drowned," said Janice Prescott, president of the Natick Historical Society." Turns out the statue was put in place by Daniel Sargent, a grandson of the wealthy horticulturist Horatio Hollis Hunnewell. Sargent converted to Catholicism as a graduate student at Harvard. He placed the statue in the back of his beautiful property overlooking a bend in the river. "A 1938 newspaper clipping shared the Latin inscription at the [base of the statue which translates] as "May flowers bloom on this earth." Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

There's are some lines from a TS Eliot poem that go like this :

Oh, Do not ask, "What is it?"

Let us go and make our visit."

If you've never visited your local botanic garden this time of year, you really should go. I have a friend who recently did this, and she posted amazing pictures from her visit to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. She said this:

"This is my PSA : Get yourself to the Arb ....now . Don't wait to go just to see the change in color of the trees (like everyone else ) Go now ! The colors of the flowers are crazy ! This is just a couple quick snaps with my phone ( which doesn't do justice) no filters, editing or enhancing. The colors are just THAT bright and bold . I've never gone this time of year . I go in the spring, a few times mid summer then I wait like everyone else for the leaves to change and go again. I've even gone in the winter but never late late summer /early fall . For some reason I thought there wouldn't be anything to look at. I thought the flowers would be half dead ( like my potted plants at home 😜) I won't make that mistake again."

Brevities

#OTD Today is the birthday of the botanist professor Mildred Mathias who was born on this day in 1906 in Sappington, Missouri.

Mathias was a professor at UCLA from 1962 until 1974.

Mathias also served as president of the American Society for Plant Taxonomists and the Botanical Society of America.

Matthias was a pioneer in the area of ecotourism. She enjoyed bringing brightness and amateurs alike all over the world to study and discover plants. From her early days with Dr. Lincoln Constance at Berkeley and 1937, Matthias began to focus on the umbrella for I family or the carrot family The envelope for Reiff is a family of aromatic flowering plants and it's commonly referred to as the carrot or sell celery or parsley family. But it also includes other important herbs like Angelica and Annis Carraway and chervil, dill, fennel, luggage, and parsnip, just to name a few. The taproots of carrot and parsnip are big enough to be harvested as food. Plants like coriander and cilantro and dill and parsley or harvested for their leaves which contain essential boils that are very aromatic. In addition the seeds of these plants, like fennel and cumin and coriander are also harvested for cuisine. On both prefer soil that is cool; they grow breast in the shoulder seasons. The umbrella for I family is named because of the tiny flowers that are clustered together to form in amble – a little flower overhang reminiscent of an umbrella The above are favorites among ladybugs and parasitic wasps. Over the course of Matthias's career she published over 100 articles and books about the ambler fry.

Mathias became an authority on #Apiaceae #taxonomy. Here's her namesake Mathiasella bupleuroides. She served as the president of the Botanical Soc. of America @Botanical_ & American Soc. of Plant Taxonomists @AmSocPlantTaxon

When volume 26 of Madrono was dedicated to you, the final sentence of the citation read: "Mildred, your pioneering spirit, unbelievable energy, wit, humor, warmth, and effectiveness as a leader have made the world a brighter, greener, and more compassionate place for all of us." With these same words we also salute you, as you honor The Society for Economic Botany by accepting our award as Distinguished Economic Botanist for 1993.

#OTD Today in 1907, Orville Redenbacher, was born.

Redenbacher was a U.S. agricultural scientist and the co-creator of a new hybrid of popcorn called "snowflake." It was lighter and fluffier than traditional popped kernels and Redenbacher 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.

#OTD Today is the birthday of the third son of Charles Darwin, Francis Darwin - known to his family as Frank.

Francis published the results of his work with his dad in a book called The Movement of Plants. The book details their experiments which showed that young grass seedlings grow toward the light.

In 1887, Frank shared a portrait of his father in a book called life and letters of Charles Darwin. The letters revealed Darwins fluid pros and Clarity Frank said that correcting his fathers proof sheets made him a better writer. Frank had been taught by a master teacher and intern he became a teacher as well. At Cambridge he taught students of pure science and medicine. Frank Darwin received many honors during his lifetime including The president of the British Association in the 1908 1909 year And in 1913 he was knighted. It was Frank Darwin who said "the personal affective teacher on people cannot be bought at a price, nor can it be paid for in any coin but gratitude. It is the possibility of earning this payment that makes the best part of a teachers life."

#OTD On this day in 1991 The NY Times printed printed an announcement about an upcoming symposium at the NYBG featuring Dr. James Duke.

Duke was sharing his research and the topic was plants for health and healing their role in modern medicine. The article share Duke's incredible personal experience using plants for health: "DR. JAMES DUKE is one of those rare botanists who actually eat what they preach. He loves to watch the evening primrose open within 60 seconds. But he also munches its seeds, which are high in tryptophan, an essential amino acid that can relieve pain and depression. Purple coneflowers thrive in his rather rumpled wild garden in Fulton, Md. He eats their roots to boost his immune system. To cure a cold, he mashes up the stems and leaves of forsythia. To help strengthen weak capillaries, he makes "rutinade" from violet and buckwheat flowers, lemon grass and rhubarb stalks, and herbs high in rutin (anise, camomile, mint, rosehips)."

Unearthed Words

"Spring flowers are long since gone. Summer's bloom hangs limp on every terrace. The gardener's feet drag a bit on the dusty path and the hinge in his back is full of creaks." - Louise Seymour Jones

Today's book recommendation: The Backyard Homestead by Carleen Madigan

Today's Garden Chore

Start moving houseplants back indoors, so they get used to limited sun exposure and humidity. Do this while the windows are still open, to ease the transition.

Move your tropical houseplants indoors by the end of the month.

Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart

I recently had the opportunity to rewatch a video featuring Dr. Oliver Sacks who practiced medicine in NYC across from the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). In the video, Sacks reflected on the garden and what it meant to him. I've cobbled together a few of his inspiring thoughts. Here's what he said: "I think of this garden as treasure. First, it's a haven. In a noisy, crowded New York, we need a haven; we wander around and time doesn't matter too much. When I worked at the hospital opposite the garden, I used to come in every day. Specifically, I would come in after seeing my patients but before writing up my notes. And, I would walk around the garden and put everything out of consciousness except the plants and the air. But, by the time I got back the patient's story would have crystallized in my mind [and then] I could then write it straight away. But I needed this sort of incubation in the garden and to go for a walk in the garden; that sort of thing is an essential thing for me in writing. I think nature has a healing effect; the garden the closest one can come to nature. The garden has affected me and does affect me in various ways; it's not just the pleasure of walking around but [also] the very special virtues of the library and the museum and the fact that, in some ways, this is a university as well as a garden. I just feel very comfortable in the garden and whenever people come to New York from out of town or out of the country I say let's go to the garden. I would like quote a couple of lines from a TS Eliot poem: "Do not ask what is it, Let us go and make our visit." and so I think you can't really describe the garden you have to have to visit it.

Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

#NationalIndoorPlantWeek is this week! Be sure to follow my friend, Lisa Steinkopf - the @HouseplantGuru- on twitter for a chance to win copies of her books and some houseplants. And remember, it's all week long - so Happy Indoor Plant Week. Go get yourself something new for the Indoor season which is just around the corner if you live in a colder climate. Brevities #OTD Today is the anniversary of the death of Charles V of France who died on this day in 1380. He commissioned his cook, Guillaume Tirel, to create the first cookbook. The full title of the book is an exceptionally long one. In English, it translates to: "Hereafter follows the [recipe collection] describing the preparation of all manner of foods, as cooked by Taillevent, the cook of our noble king, and also the dressing and preparation of boiled meat, roasts, sea and freshwater fish, sauces, spices, and other suitable and necessary things as described hereafter." As the Culinary World was getting underway, it is interesting to note that during Charles V's reign, the first forks were found to be included in an inventory. And gardeners with some knowledge of mushrooms will find the death of Charles V intriguing; some historians believe that Charles V died as a result of eating the highly poisonous amanita mushrooms. #OTD Today is the birthday of the Scottish plantsman Robert Fortune who was born on this day in 1812. Robert Fortune's name is inextricably bound to China and to tea and the tea plant, Camellia sinensis. For centuries, China had a monopoly on tea. They, alone, grew the plants. They made black tea and green tea, and the rest of the world had no idea how they did it. By the 1700's, the British had started enjoying exports from China: porcelain, silk, and yes, tea. But, China was not interested in goods from Britain. The lop-sided relationship was a problem. This is where Robert Fortune enters the scene. By the early 1800's, he was a trained botanist learning at the hem of some of England's finest gardens and he gets hired to go to China by the Royal Geographic Society the RGS. At the time, China was off-limits to foreigners. So, in order to collect plants, Fortune figured out a way to blend in: he shaves his head and wears clothing like the locals, he picks up some of the Mandarin language and he learns about China more than any other westerner at the time. China is vast and Fortune stayed for three years before returning home to England. When he returned, Fortune wrote about his time in China and he drew the attention of The British East India Company. They were serious about obtaining tea plants from China. And, they were desperate to learn how to make tea. So, they wisely select Fortune, with his unique combination of botanical and Chinese expertise, and they send him back to China. This time Fortune was on a much more specific mission and he knew what he needed to do to. He went to China incognito; dressed as a Mandarin. He had shaved the front of his head he basically had extensions sewn in to the hair on the back of his head so he looked like he has this amazingly long ponytail. He looked 100% the part. Then, he hired guides to do the talking for him and since there was no national language, it all flew under the radar. Once in China, Fortune immediately began visiting tea plantations. He learned the methods and ways of harvesting tea plants to make tea. He learned that green tea and black tea come from the same plant; it's just the processing method that makes them different. Thanks to the Wardian case, Fortune was able to get live plants to India. All told, Fortune managed to smuggle out 20,000 tea plants and ships them to India. He even managed to get some of the Chinese tea farmers with their tools to leave China and help set up tea production in India. Sara Rose, one of the authors who has written a biography on Fortune, said that what Fortune accomplished was no less than the greatest single act of corporate espionage in the history of the world. Today, China is still the top tea producer with over 2.4 million tons of production. Followed by India at a little less than half and then Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam make up the next spots. So, tea being grown outside of China is a direct result of Robert Fortune and India, as the number 2 tea producer in the world (behind China) was a feat that was accomplished in a less than two centuries. And, again, it wouldn't have happened without Robert Fortune. #OTD 1835 Charles Darwin arrived at the Galapagos islands on board a ship called the HMS Beagle. Once he's on the islands, Darwin begins to check out all of the varied and unique plants and it gets him thinking. The experience basically shapes his theory of natural selection. Unearthed Words "But now in September the garden has cooled, and with it my possessiveness. The sun warms my back instead of beating on my head ... The harvest has dwindled, and I have grown apart from the intense midsummer relationship that brought it on." - Robert Finch, Nature Writer Today's book recommendation: The Chinese Kitchen Garden by Wendy Kiang-Spray Back in 2018, I had the opportunity to interview Wendy and it remains one of my favorite conversations about growing and using edibles from the garden. The Chinese Kitchen Garden is half how to grow, half how to cook, and half an amazing glimpse into the wonderful Kiang-Spray Family - so that's 150% worth of yummy, beautiful, love in one book. As gardeners, sometimes we can get a little restless - searching for a new variety - something new to try - and when nothing strikes our fancy, we can feel unsatisfied. Well, Wendy's introduction to Asian Vegetables is a spark and it opens the door to growing a whole new cast of edibles. What I learned from Wendy is that often the Asian vegetables she learned to grow and eat are often upgrades from the standard varieties. Now THAT's exciting. If you are looking for something new to grow, if you're a foodie or if you want to start a kitchen garden, The Chinese Kitchen Garden is perfect for you. And, if you want to check out my interview with Wendy over at the Still Growing podcast, just search for Episode 601 and hit play. During that episode, Wendy read excerpts from many of my favorite parts in the book and she'll also shares many of the Chinese vegetables — like lotus root, bitter melons, stem lettuce, day lilies, and Chinese cucumbers — and traditional recipes that will make you drool. Finally, Wendy's book is organized by season, so handy - you'll learn what to grow in spring and what to cook in winter. Today's Garden Chore Make one last push to plant the trees, shrubs, and perennials that are on your list or that you find discounted at the store. Do it now, so they can get established. And remember to water them well. Depending on where you are at, you have 3-4 weeks before the sprinkler system needs to get shut off. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart On this day in 1978, the New Castle News out of New Castle, PA, shared an article written by Mike Finsilber with a headline that read: Exhibit depicts female scientists. "When curator Deborah Warner suggested to her superiors at the Smithsonian Institutition that she put together an exhibit documenting the accomplishments of American women in science in the 19th century, her superiors were skeptical. Women scientists in the 19th century? Would there be enough of them to fill an exhibit? They doubted it. Ms. Warner didn't. Yesterday her display opened in the Museum of History and Technology, telling of, among others: —Kate Furbish, the botanist who discovered the now-famous Furbish Lousewort. It is now famous because it is endangered and for a time threatened to block construction of the Lincoln-Dickey Dam in Maine." Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

What's the secret to beautiful begonias? I asked this to a friend recently who has the most gorgeous begonias every single year. Her answer: fish emulsion. This means you should feed your begonias with fertilizer. Since we love that begonias flower and they do flower their hearts out, that makes begonias are heavy feeders. Since fish emulsion (5-1-1) is a low-intensity total fertilizer it's perfect for promoting large, healthy, beautiful begonias. Just feed every 3-4 weeks and follow the label directions. And remember, most begonias do best with plenty of filtered light but little or no direct hot sun. So don't fry them. At the same time, water and begonias don't play nice together in the sense that begonias can rot pretty quickly. They need a soil that's going to drain quick. They need to be in pots - like terra cotta- that breathe. Add perlite or leaf mold to your soil mix to make a very coarse, quick-draining potting mix to add more air pockets to the soil. Then, don't forget that those air pockets mean you need to water more frequently - especially during warm weather. One thing you can also do is mist begonias. They like humidity - but too much of that can invite fungus or powdery mildew, so keep an eye on them. Brevities #OTD Today is the birthday of Caspar Wistar the Younger who was born on this day in 1761. His grandfather was also Caspar Wistar, so the Younger distinction helps people tell them apart. Wistar was a Professor of Anatomy at the University of Pennsylvania. The botanist Thomas Nuttall named the genus Wisteria in his honor (some people say Wistaria to reflect the proper spelling of Wistar's last name. Either is fine because guess what - the misspelling is preserved for all time under the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature). It's like one of my kid's birth certificate - it can be amended but the original is wrong and will be until the end of time. Wistar had some pretty impressive friends: his best friend was probably Thomas Jefferson and his most famous botany friend was probably Alexander von Humboldt. Wistar died of a heart ailment unexpectedly on January 18, 1818. His final utterance was: "I wish well to all mankind." During his life, every Sunday Night, Wistar would hold a salon - an open house - at his home on the corner of Fourth and Locust Street. His friends would stop by - along with any members of academia, or the elite or high society, along with other accomplished people who happened to be in Philadelphia that evening. They all knew that Wistar's house was the place to go to meet up with the best minds of the day. When Wistar died, his friends continued holding Wistar parties for a core group of 50 members. They would each take turns hosting and the kept the tradition going for another forty years. #OTD Today is the birthday of the British author, Roald Dahl who was born on this day in 1916. Today, his birthday, is celebrated all over the world as Roald Dahl Day. Dahl was an avid gardener. In fact, his garden shed doubled as his writing nook where he wrote many books, including Charlie and the Chocolate factory. As romantic a notion as this sounds to a gardener's ears, it was also a pragmatic decision on the part of Dahl's wife. Dahl chain-smoked as he wrote and the garden shed kept the smoke out of the house. For Dahl's part, he loved the idea of using the garden shed as a place to write, especially after seeing the little writing hut used by the author Dylan Thomas. Gardeners with a passion for roses will no doubt praise the Roald Dahl Rose which honored Dahl's love of gardening. It's an absolutely stunning English shrub rose bred by David Austin. It's got a very blousy habit and scrumptious peach blooms that just go non-stop. They have a lovely fragrance as well - and not many thorns, so that's a bonus. Dahl's diaries have marvelous entries about his garden, and he was often inspired by his garden which you can ascertain when you read in his work. H ere are some examples: From Matilda: "I liked The Secret Garden best of all. It was full of mystery." From My Year: "There is just one small bright spark shining through the gloom in my January garden. The first snowdrops are in flower." From James and the Giant Peach: "And now suddenly, the whole place, the whole garden seemed to be alive with magic..." From The BFG: "But Mr Tibbs didn't hesitate for long. 'Tell the head gardener,' he whispered, 'that I require immediately a brand new unused garden fork and also a spade. And for a knife we shall use the great sword hanging on the wall in the morning-room. But clean the sword well first. It was last used to cut off the head of King Charles the First and there may still be a little dried blood on the blade." From Roald Dahl: "Mary, Mary, quite contrary How does yr garden grow? 'I live with my brat in a high-rise flat, So how in the world would I know.' Unearthed Words All week long The Daily Gardener has been sharing quotes from the author Beverley Nichols, who was born on Monday of this week in 1898. A prolific writer, Nichols is best remembered for his gardening books. Today I'm featuring excerpts from his book called Forty Favourite Flowers. It is exactly as described, Nichols sharing his top selections; the flowers he loved most in his garden; which he described this way: "A great deal of weeping goes on in my garden, but it is a happy sort of weeping, for all this bending of branches and bowing of heads is simply due to the fact that so much beauty is displayed on so small a stage." Nichols arranged this book simply; using alphabetical order. Then he just shares some of his favorites. Here are some excerpts for you: Algerian Iris: One of my grandfathers died of a clump of Iris stylosa; it enticed him from a sick bed on an angry evening in January, luring him through the snow-drifts with its blue and silver flames; he died of double pneumonia a few days later. It was probably worth it. Magnolia: "I must confess that, for me, the flower of the magnolia is most beautiful when life has almost ebbed from it. These are the twilit hours when the petals flag and falter, when their immaculate ivory texture dims, when they glow with a ghostly radiance that seems to come from another world" Regal Lily: "The regal lilies do indeed praise the Lord. Some of my own, last summer were so exultant that they praised Him through no less than thirty snow-white trumpets on a single stem, and even the most accomplished angel could not do much better than that." Iris Siberica: How can one ignore... that singular infinitely sinister blossom Iris siberica? This latter flower can certainly claim to be exclusively dressed; for the petals of no other blossom has Nature designed so curious of fabric, vein with slate and violet and purple. Fritillairies: Each Stage of our lives has its "signature" flower and those of us who keep diaries would have a little difficulty in assigning to each year those flowers which are especially evocative... Fritillairies are linked with my years as an undergraduate... Year after year, for generation after generation, these flowers have danced in the background through the lives of England's youth. Mesembryanthemum: The flower is a startling proof of the fact that when nature decides to be vulgar - really vulgar - she can achieve affects of almost blinding beauty. For nothing could be more opulent, more blatant, more shamelessly exhibitionist than a bed of the Mesembryanthemum in full bloom. Magenta jostling scarlet, screaming at cinnamon, fighting with shocking pink, yelling against a dozen shades of orange and vermilion. Caryopteris: Paradoxically, blue is the color that makes many people see red; by which I mean that fears arguments are constantly developing as to which flower is the bluest... The Caryopteris is a radiant in any weather... The blue of its petals seems to have the quality of caring for great distances, as though it were some sort of floral evangelist with a message of good tidings for all the world. Summer Hyacinth: On an August night, when the moon is full, there is an almost ectoplasmic radiance around its petals. Golden-bell clematis: If I had to confine my choice of creepers to a single family – what a hideous thought! – I should probably choose the family of clematis. And if I were limited to a single member of the family, I should probably choose Clematis tangutica. I said "probably" because these hypothetical decisions are so very painful. Finally, in FFF, Nichols offered some sweeping thoughts that will undoubtedly strike a chord: "One of the many reasons why gardens are increasingly precious to us in this day and age is that they help us to escape from the tyranny of speed. Our skies are streaked with jets, our roads have turned to race-tracks, and in the cities the crowds rush to and fro as though the devil were at their heels. But as soon as we open the garden gate, Time seems almost to stand still, slowing down to the gentle ticking of the Clock of the Universe." Today's book recommendation: English Cottage Gardening by Margaret Hensel This book is a wonder for anyone who loves the intimacy of the English cottage garden and who endeavors to capture the feel of that for their own space. Hensel has come up with core elements from ten cottage gardens―eight in England and two in the United States. Once you master those elements, you are well on your way to having a cottage garden of your own. Hensel explains each element and how to achieve it, and she shares the stories of beginners that are sure to inspire new gardeners. The last part of this book is especially helpful; It reviews 76 selected cottage-style plants and how to use them to create the cottage garden. Hensel wants her readers, "[to] feel moved, even inspired, to imagine what magical things might happen in their own front and backyards". The books is chockfull of information and photos. Hensel is an exceptional photographer in her own right which makes her photographs of the gardens and plants extra meaningful. So overall, there's tons of information and Inspiration for gardeners looking to create their own cozy cottage garden. Today's Garden Chore Just because it's September, doesn't mean you can't divide bearded irises because you can - and I just recently did this myself. If you have older clumps of irises or irises out of place, it's a great time to divide them and move them. Be sure to remove any bad parts of the rhizomes and then plant them high. I like to nestle mine on top of the soil and then stake them in instead of digging them or half-burying them. To each his own - but no matter what - do not bury them deep. Something Sweet Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart On this day in 1843, the New England Farmer out of Boston, Massachusetts published this little article about toads. "Never destroy the toad. In the season of bugs and flies, a toad will do more towards the preservation of a garden, than a man, and all that ho requires at your hands for this valuable assistance, is the freedom of your garden walks and beds, and the paltry shelter of a chip or turf. He meddles with no one's business but his own constantly avoiding company, and intent only on extirpating those voracious insects by whose jaws the beauty of the garden is so frequently laid low." Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."