Bill Vaughan: The Folksy Wit of The Kansas City Star
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:
October 8, 1915
Dearest garden reader,
On this day, William E. Vaughan, known by his pen name Burton Hillis, was an American columnist and author was born.
He is best remembered for his three-decade syndicated column with The Kansas City Star, starting in 1946, which delighted readers with his blend of humor, warmth, and sharp observations on everyday life.
His folksy aphorisms continue to be quoted widely, such as,
“Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them.”
“Experience teaches that love of flowers and vegetables is not enough to make a man a good gardener. He must also hate weeds.”
Vaughan was also an artist with a fondness for drawing simple, humorous sketches in his columns.
One notable example was a day he filled nearly an entire column with a drawing of a garden hose with little detail at either end, much to his editor's amusement and eventual disapproval.
Educated at Washington University in St. Louis, Bill Vaughan's talent for storytelling, humor, and charm made him a beloved figure in American journalism until his passing in February 1977 at the age of 61 from lung cancer. His witty and friendly voice remains alive in his books and the memories of his readers.
May his wit and garden wisdom invite you to smile at the playful contradictions of gardening, life, and community.
Discover more about Bill Vaughan and his enduring legacy here: (available books by this author).
