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Curated News

Circulating Specimens: History | herbariumworld.wordpress.com | Maura Flannery

Botanical History On This Day

1776 On this day, Hessian troops allied with the British opened fire on American revolutionaries at Laurel Hill, Philadelphia—a property named after Joseph Sims, who was known as "Laurel." The mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, bears the name of botanist Pehr Kalm, who predicted the American rebellion during his mid-1700s expedition to North America.

1835 The Hartford Courant published Gardener's Work For November, featuring Mr. McMahon's method of preserving root crops like turnips, carrots, and beets by layering them in sand and covering with straw to protect from frost.

1843 Birth of Odoardo Beccari, Italian botanist famed for discovering the Titan arum, the largest flower in the world, also known as the corpse flower for its rotting flesh smell, attracting pollinators during its brief 24-36 hour bloom.

1920 The Buffalo Times shared Louise Driscoll's poem November Garden, celebrating the brave, solitary bloom of a larkspur amid falling leaves and departing birds, a testament to nature’s quiet resilience at season’s end.

Unearthed Words

Marsha Mehran's novel,Pomegranate Soup, is a charming tale of three Iranian sisters who start a Persian cafe in the tiny town of Ballinacroagh, Ireland. Marsha describes the exotic menu in mouthwatering detail: The pomegranate, with its leathery crimson shell and juicy garnet seeds, symbolizes the cyclical changing of seasons, linked to Persephone’s myth of spring and winter, enriching traditional dishes like Fesenjoon.

Grow That Garden Library™

Discover Plant by Phaidon Editors, a stunning 2016 volume exploring botanical art through 300 works across centuries and media. This book beautifully blends expert insights and visual splendor, deepening appreciation of plants’ diversity and cultural significance.

Buy the book on Amazon: Plant: Exploring the Botanical World

Today's Botanic Spark

1999 Columnist Elizabeth Coblentz, an Old Order Amish woman, shared charming reflections on autumn gardening, the bountiful harvest, and family gatherings in Indiana—reminding us of the enduring joy found in homegrown produce and simple pleasures.

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And remember: For a happy, healthy life, garden every day.