January 20, 2021 January Garden Chores, Henry Danvers, Carl Linnaeus the Younger, Elizabeth Lawrence on Dogwoods and Spider Lilies, All Along You Were Blooming by Morgan Harper Nichols, and the first female botanist in America: Jane Colden
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Botanical History On This Day
1643 Death of Henry Danvers, 1st Earl of Danby and founder of the Oxford Botanic Garden. After a tumultuous early life as an outlaw, Danvers secured his legacy by donating land and funding the establishment of what became England’s first botanic garden. His generous vision elevated Oxford’s standing in botanical science and left an enduring gateway etched with his name.
1741 Birth of Carl Linnaeus the Younger, the son of Sweden’s iconic botanist Carl Linnaeus. Known as Linnaeus filius or L.f., he succeeded his father as chair of Practical Medicine at Uppsala—a rapid promotion that drew envy. Despite early success, his promising botanical career was cut short at age 42 after a fatal stroke during a European expedition.
Unearthed Words
1945 Elizabeth Lawrence wrote to her sister, offering advice on dogwood planting to best frame a mountain view, sharing tips for safely transplanting spider lilies, and providing practical guidance on planting white pines as a living screen. Her letters blend botanical insight with family warmth, routine chores, and the joys of simple meals together.
Grow That Garden Library™
Read my review of All Along You Were Blooming by Morgan Harper Nichols, a 2020 collection of illustrated poetry and prose celebrating hope, resilience, and botanical beauty. Nichols’ writing and art uplift readers, making this 192-page volume a comforting, inspiring gift for any garden lover or seeker of encouragement.
Buy the book on Amazon: All Along You Were Blooming by Morgan Harper Nichols.
Today's Botanic Spark
1756 Peter Collinson highlighted Jane Colden as America’s first female botanist, praising her meticulously documented plant dissections using Linnaeus’s method. Guided by her botanist father, Cadwallader Colden, Jane overcame barriers of language and gender to collect, describe, and illustrate native flora—laying early groundwork for botanical science among American women.
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