April 13, 2021 The Arts and Crafts Movement, Eudora Welty, Mary Strong Clemens, The Rush of Spring, Imperial Nature by Jim Endersby, and International Plant Appreciation Day
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An introduction to the gardens of the Arts and Crafts Movement | House & Garden | Judith B. Tankard
Botanical History On This Day
1909 Birthday of Eudora Welty, the Pulitzer Prize-winning American author known for weaving rich botanical imagery into her stories. An avid gardener, her mother, Chestina, designed their garden in Jackson, Mississippi, where they cultivated blooms for decades that inspired Eudora’s writing. Gardening for Welty was deeply tied to her creative process and survival, earning her the insight,
“Gardening is akin to writing stories. No experience could have taught me more about grief or flowers, about achieving survival by going, your fingers in the ground…”
Today, the Welty garden remains a living tribute open to visitors, maintained with love and care by “The Cereus Weeders,” celebrating the night-blooming cereus Eudora cherished.
1968 Anniversary of the death of the prolific plant collector Mary Strong Clemens, whose passion for botany took her—and her assistant husband—across Asia and New Guinea collecting specimens. After decades of adventurous fieldwork, her handwritten notes reveal a personal and poignant connection to her lifelong companion and botanical journey partner.
Unearthed Words
Spring moves fast in Xiao Hong's vivid description of gardens coming to life—buds, leaves, and greenery blossoming in rapid succession until the familiar trees are transformed. The vibrant season whispers its presence before rushing on, a swift, unmissable blessing to all who watch.
Grow That Garden Library™
Read my review of Imperial Nature by Jim Endersby, a comprehensive biography of Victorian botanist Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, a close friend of Charles Darwin. The book explores Hooker’s role as director of Kew Gardens and scientific influencer, weaving Victorian science with the empire and botanical discovery.
Buy the book on Amazon: Imperial Nature
Today's Botanic Spark
April 13 is International Plant Appreciation Day, a celebration of the healing and creative powers of gardens. Doutor Oliver Sacks famously credited gardens and music as vital therapies for patients with chronic neurological conditions, highlighting the restorative power of nature to inspire, heal, and help create.
Experience the spirit of the day by connecting with plants, much as Sacks did at the New York Botanical Garden.
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And remember: For a happy, healthy life, garden every day.
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