December 6, 2019 Dianthus Syrup, African Flora Threatened, The Potato Exhibit, Johann Zinn, a Smithsonian letter, J Bernard Brinton, Joyce Kilmer, Plants Are Terrible People by Luke Ruggenberg, Fiskars Snip, and the Cincinnati Herbarium
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Dianthus Syrup!
In the past, Clove-pink was esteemed as much as the rose in mixtures. Regarded as "exceedingly cordial" and "wonderfully above measure comforts the heart."
Clove-pink petals w/ verbena infused in alcohol was a refreshing bath liqueur.
A third of Africa's tropical flora threatened with extinction: study | @physorg_com
The "Red List" is the go-to for birds and mammals, but only covers ~10% of plants. A new study's preliminary estimate found a third of Africa's tropical flora (~7000 species) are likely/potentially threatened with extinction.
The Potato Shines in New Missouri Botanical Garden Exhibit | @MobotMuseum
You say Potato; I say Potato Exhibit!
Just in time for the Holidays, the exhibit @MobotMuseum is called “Potato (Solanum tuberosum): Apple of the Earth" & will be on display through March 17.
The potato is the most important non-cereal food crop in the world.
Galleries feature contemporary artists Seamus O. Hames, Dornith Doherty, and Corina Kennedy. Each artist has interpreted the unique story of the potato, especially the historical impact of the late potato blight that devastated the potato crop in Ireland in the mid-19th century.
Botanical History On This Day
1727 Johann Gottfried Zinn, the young anatomist-turned-botanic garden director who gave his name to the once-weedy Mexican flower that became our beloved zinnia, was born.
1852 Asa Gray Writes to the Smithsonian, reassuring Joseph Henry that the new Institution was firmly establishing itself as the nation’s scientific advisor even as public criticism swirled.
1894 Jeremiah Bernard Brinton, Quaker doctor, Civil War surgeon, founder of the Philadelphia Botanical Club, and devoted botanist whose heart finally gave out in his beloved “Den,” died.
Unearthed Words
Today’s Unearthed Words come from Alfred Joyce Kilmer, the New Jersey poet-soldier whose simple, reverent lines in “Trees” have lived on in gardeners’ hearts for more than a century. “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer
Grow That Garden Library™
Read The Daily Gardener review of Plants Are Terrible People by Luke Ruggenberg
Buy the book on Amazon: Plants Are Terrible People by Luke Ruggenberg
Great Gifts for Gardeners
Fiskars Non-stick Softgrip Micro-Tip Pruning Snip (2-Pack)
Today's Botanic Spark
Digitizing the Cincinnati Herbarium, where more than 100,000 plant specimens—like an 1884 sheet of endangered Running Buffalo Clover—are being scanned and shared so fragile treasures no longer have to risk the mail to reach researchers.
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And remember: For a happy, healthy life, garden every day.
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