September 25, 2019 Fall Reset, Valerius Cordus, Edward Kemp, the Sequoia National Park, Francis Kingdon-Ward, Felicia Hemans Birthday Garden Poem, Living Decor by Maria Colletti, Cutting Back the Garden, and the September Garden from 1915

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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 into plants and practices that apply 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. Topdressing 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.

Botanical History On This Day

1544 Valerius Cordus, German botanist and author of a wildly influential herbal, died at just 29, and we owe Konrad Gesner for gathering up his work before it vanished like so many delicate specimens.

1817 Edward Kemp, Victorian landscape gardener trained under Paxton at Birkenhead, was born. He briefly reduced to advertising his own brilliance, before going on to secure the “large and liberal patronage” he so confidently predicted.

1890 Sequoia National Park was established to protect the giant sequoias, those ancient outliers Asa Gray described as the remaining sentinels of a vanished global army.

1942 Francis Kingdon-Ward crossed mountains and jungle on a 500-mile mule route through Tibet to evade invading forces, and still had the audacity (and devotion) to collect flowers along the way.

Unearthed Words

1793 Born on this day, poet Felicia Hemans offered a tender autumn birthday poem for her son that was essentially a little garland of love that outlasts roses, cowslips, and summer itself.

Grow That Garden Library™

Read The Daily Gardener review of
Living Decor by Maria Colletti

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Living Decor by Maria Colletti

Today's Garden Chore

As the season turns, cut back selectively — clearing what must be cleared (especially near the house) while leaving the best seedheads and stems standing to feed birds, shelter insects, and lend winter its rightful drama.

Today's Botanic Spark

1915 A Burlington, Vermont newspaper praised September’s roadside royalty, goldenrod and aster, and in one glorious tumble of sentences crowned them the kings of the floral world as the snowdrop’s long-ago promise finally comes full circle.

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