April 13, 2022 John Mitchell, Thomas Jefferson, Helen Maria Winslow, Eudora Alice Welty, The Garden of Lost and Found by Harriet Evans, and HLV Fletcher

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Botanical History On This Day

1711 Birth of John Mitchell, American physician, botanist, and polymath. Educated at Edinburgh, Mitchell settled in Virginia, where he botanized extensively and corresponded with colonial and European botanists, including Linnaeus, who named the trailing Partridgeberry Mitchella repens in his honor. After returning to England, he created the monumental Mitchell Map — the largest and most detailed 18th-century map of eastern North America, pivotal in shaping the Treaty of Paris boundaries and aiding Lewis and Clark’s expedition.

1743 Birth of Thomas Jefferson, American statesman and avid gardener who served as the third U.S. president. He famously wrote, “The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add a useful plant to its culture.” Jefferson also cherished simple pleasures, describing spiced pickles from Aunt Sally’s cellar as a comforting delight on hot Virginia days.

1851 Birth of Helen Maria Winslow, American writer and poet (pen name Aunt Philury), whose charming nature poems like “Spring Song” beautifully capture the arrival of warmer days and the cheerful song of robins and bluebirds.

1909 Birth of Eudora Alice Welty, American author and photographer known for her deep Southern ties. Her Pulitzer-winning novel, The Optimist's Daughter, and her moon garden’s Night Blooming Cereus club reflect a life steeped in nature and storytelling. Gardening was her therapy and inspiration through grief and joy alike.

Grow That Garden Library™ Book Recommendation

Read The Daily Gardener review of The Garden of Lost and Found by Harriet Evans, a gripping multi-generational tale blending family secrets with the enduring power of gardens.

Buy the book on Amazon: The Garden of Lost and Found

Botanic Spark

Garden gossip from H.L.V. Fletcher’s Purest Pleasure includes a riddle from his fellow gardener Micah: “What did Adam first plant in the Garden of Eden?” The answer? “His foot, of course.” Fletcher reflects fondly on nettles as a green vegetable, a humble herb that has been cherished since Roman times.

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