April 4, 2019 Garden Geography, Alphonse Pyramus de Candolle, Alois Ludwig, the Nova Scotia Mayflower, John Greenleaf Whittier, Diana Donald, Spring Bulbs, Joseph Sauriol

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Monologue

Have you started to think about your garden in geographical terms?
Aside from the zone you are gardening in, what are the microclimates in your garden?
Areas sheltered by trees, buildings, or other structures may be warmer and ideal locations for less hardy plants.
Low-lying areas may create boggy or marsh-like conditions - perfect for plants that like to have "wet feet."
What is the composition of your soil? Is it heavy and clayish? Loamy or sandy?
Is your soil acidic?
Get to know your garden's topography and microclimates, then situate (or relocate) plants accordingly.
The more you know, the better your plants will grow.

Botanical History On This Day

1893 Alphonse Pyramus de Candolle, Swiss botanist and father of geographical botany, died. Author of Origin of Cultivated Plants, he shaped modern plant geography, climate zones, and botanical nomenclature still used by gardeners today.

1969 Alois Ludwig, architect of Vienna’s Majolikahaus, died on this day. His exuberant Art Nouveau façade of flowering tiles remains a pilgrimage site for gardeners and design lovers alike.

1901 The Floral Emblem Act of Nova Scotia was passed, officially naming the Mayflower, or trailing arbutus, as the province’s flower and reminding gardeners that some woodland plants ask only to be left alone.

Unearthed Words

A spring hymn to faith and wildflowers blooms in “The Mayflower” by John Greenleaf Whittier, honoring the fragile blossoms that endure cold woods and colder history.

Grow That Garden Library™

Read The Daily Gardener’s review of Endless Forms by Diana Donald

Buy the book on Amazon: Endless Forms by Diana Donald

Today's Botanic Spark

1938 First Signs of Spring captures Canadian naturalist Charles Joseph Sauriol’s diary moment, noting bloodroot tips, downy hepatica buds, and the quiet thrill of a wildflower garden waking from winter.

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And remember: For a happy, healthy life, garden every day.