February 10, 2021 New Owners at Barton Springs Nursery, Benjamin Smith Barton, Winifred Mary Letts, A Sense of the Soil, Cottage Gardens by Claire Masset, and Remembering Laura Ingalls Wilder the Naturalist
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Botanical History On This Day
1766 Birth of Benjamin Smith Barton, American botanist, naturalist, and physician who taught Meriwether Lewis natural history to prepare him for the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition. Barton authored the first American botany textbook and left behind a fascinating legacy that included discovering a tiny yellow butterfly pressed in his manuscript Flora Virginica, a specimen carefully preserved and now known as the Barton Butterfly.
1882 Birth of Winifred Mary Letts, English writer beloved for her poignant gardening poetry. Winifred contrasted the timeless joys of spring with the harsh realities of war, offering verses that honor renewal and remembrance. Her poem "To a May Baby" celebrates life and nature’s gifts with delicate, hopeful imagery, perfect for any spring celebration.
Unearthed Words
In today’s excerpt, Carol Williams vividly describes how gardeners come to understand soil’s personality and life. Initially just dirt, soil reveals its stories through texture, warmth, moisture, and the creatures it hosts. It’s ever-changing, living, and profoundly connected to the plants it sustains, reminding gardeners of the deep relationship between earth and life.
Grow That Garden Library™
Read my review of Cottage Gardens by Claire Masset. This inspiring 2020 book dives deeply into Britain’s most beautiful cottage gardens, from Thomas Hardy’s Dorset home to Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top. With stunning photos and expert advice, Claire helps gardeners create enchanting, natural cottage garden spaces filled with hollyhocks, roses, honeysuckle, and a variety of wildflowers.
Buy the book on Amazon: Cottage Gardens by Claire Masset
Today's Botanic Spark
1957 Remembering Laura Ingalls Wilder, the naturalist and beloved author of the Little House books. Laura’s vivid descriptions of frontier gardens, landscapes, and reverence for life continue to inspire gardeners and nature lovers. Through her writings, she sowed seeds of appreciation for the wilderness just beyond our doors and remains a timeless guide for budding naturalists.
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