June 28, 2019 Giant Flowers for Paul Bunyan Day, Harry V. Harlan, Importing Seeds, Henry Nehrling, Cicely Mary Barker, Plant Families by Ross Bayton, Pruning Spring-Flowering Shrubs, and the Effects of Culture

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Monologue

Today is National Paul Bunyan Day.

In Minnesota, most folks fondly remember the tales of Paul and Babe - his big blue ox.

Speaking of big, Many gardeners have a fondness for giant plants. They are perfect if you have lots of space or prefer the look of tall or giant plants.

You can celebrate Paul Bunyan Day today by planting giant plants like these: hibiscus, Joe Pye weed, Baptisia, Hollyhock, Queen of the Prairie, Plume Poppy, Gunnera, Cup Plant, Castor Bean, and this list is to get you started.

Botanical History On This Day

1924 Harry V. Harlan addressed the Science Club at Kansas State University, recounting his 59-day mule-caravan plant expedition through North Africa. When he returned home, he brought a collection of more than 600 plant varieties and stories worthy of a well-worn fedora.

1939 Plant Exploration and Imported Seeds were celebrated in an Iowa newspaper, which reflected on a century of American plant exploration and the immeasurable agricultural riches gathered by botanists who tramped across the globe.

1974 Henry Nehrling, Florida’s most revered horticulturist, was remembered for a lifetime devoted to plants, birds, and beautiful gardens.  Henry also wrote prose so lush it continues to inspire gardeners long after his own garden rose again from the jungle.

Unearthed Words

1895 Illustrator and poet Cicely Mary Barker was born. She was the creator of the beloved Flower Fairies, who paired exacting botanical observation with gentle verse, even while insisting she had never seen a fairy herself.

Grow That Garden Library™

Read The Daily Gardener review of Plant Families: A Guide for Gardeners and Botanists by Ross Bayton

Buy the book on Amazon: Plant Families by Ross Bayton

Today's Botanic Spark

1843 A Boston newspaper quietly reminded readers that nearly every beloved garden plant owes its charm to patient cultivation in this
gentle meditation on how culture transforms the bitter into the beautiful.

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