February 8, 2021 The Gardening Doctor, John Ruskin, Henry Walter Bates, Winter Gardening Attire, Concrete Garden Projects by Camilla Arvidsson and Malin Nilsson and Jane Austen’s 1807 Letter to Her Sister Cassandra
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Botanical History On This Day
1819 Birth of John Ruskin, the Victorian English art critic, thinker, and philanthropist. His writings on nature and gardening include timeless reflections such as
“The highest reward for man’s toil is not what he gets for it, but what he becomes by it.”
His home, Brantwood, perched steeply above a lake, remains a symbol of his environmental championing and love of natural beauty.
1825 Birth of self-taught naturalist Henry Walter Bates, famed for his eleven-year expedition in the Amazon Rainforest. Henry’s observations of butterflies led to the discovery of Batesian mimicry, enhancing the understanding of evolution and survival. Despite hardship and isolation, Henry’s work remains one of the most celebrated in the field of natural history travel literature.
Unearthed Words
In today's excerpt from Montrose: Life in a Garden, Nancy Goodwin offers a vivid image of dedicated gardening in the cold months: bundled in worn clothes and a wide-brimmed straw hat, pulling a cart of tools, working patiently on hands and knees to care for plants and nurture growth, embodying the quiet, persistent spirit of the gardener.
Grow That Garden Library™
Read my review of Concrete Garden Projects by Camilla Arvidsson and Malin Nilsson. This 2011 guide makes concrete accessible for gardeners, with step-by-step instructions for containers, seating, water features, and more. Concrete’s durability, weathering beauty, and ease of use allow creative, stylish projects that enhance outdoor spaces affordably and elegantly.
Buy the book on Amazon: Concrete Garden Projects by Camilla Arvidsson and Malin Nilsson
Today's Botanic Spark
1807 Jane Austen’s letter to her sister Cassandra reveals her passion for gardens, mentioning plans for syringas and laburnums inspired by poet Cowper’s “syringa ivory-pure.”
Her gardens, like those at Barnsley House’s iconic Laburnum Walk, blend natural beauty with poetic romance. Jane’s words remind us how deeply gardening enriches life and binds us to nature and family.
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