August 6, 2019 Harvesting Tomatoes, Frank Cabot, Andy Warhol, David Fairchild, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Flora’s Dictionary by Kathleen Gips, Fall Sowing, and John Stewart Blackie

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Monologue

Well, the time we've waited for all year is here; it’s time to harvest tomatoes.

I want to give you a quick word of caution about harvesting your tomatoes. As gardeners, sometimes we wait too long to collect them. Sometimes that's unintentional, and other times we think letting them stay on the vine is best.

However, if you wait too long, the tomatoes split.

This is especially true with heirloom tomatoes.

If you’re growing heirlooms, it’s best to let them ripen in a cool, dark place. Don’t be tempted to put them on a sunny window or countertop. They won't appreciate the view or attention.

Remember, heirloom tomatoes are very fragile.

The price for their fantastic flavor?

Lots of TLC.

Botanical History On This Day

1925 Frank Cabot, horticulturist and founder of The Garden Conservancy, was born. He later created his masterpiece garden, Les Quatre Vents, a place of borrowed beauty and deeply personal vision.

1928 Andy Warhol, artist and quiet observer of repetition, was born; his iconic Flowers series transformed ordinary blooms into enduring symbols of color, culture, and contemplation.

1954 David Fairchild, legendary plant explorer, died after introducing more than 200,000 plants to the United States. He forever changed American gardens, farms, and tables.

Unearthed Words

1809 Poet Alfred Lord Tennyson was born, leaving behind verses steeped in orchards, gardens, and the slow turning of the seasons.
Poetry from the Garden of Tennyson

Grow That Garden Library™

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Flora’s Dictionary: The Victorian Language of Herbs and Flowers by Kathleen Gips

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Flora’s Dictionary by Kathleen Gips

Today's Botanic Spark

1864 A Meeting with Tennyson: Professor John Stuart Blackie recalled an intimate visit with the poet, preserving pressed flowers from Tennyson’s garden as living mementos of friendship and admiration.

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