April 25, 2023 John Mulso, Thomas Jefferson, George Herbert Engleheart, David Fairchild, Harry Radlund, Leslie Young Carrethers, The Gardener’s Guide to Prairie Plants by Neil Diboll and Hilary Cox, and Maurice Baring
Subscribe
Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart
Support The Daily Gardener
Connect for FREE!
The Friday Newsletter | Daily Gardener Community
Botanical History On This Day
1766 John Mulso wrote to his friend, English naturalist Gilbert White, in Selborne. These gentle exchanges—filled with observations of weather, plants, and wildlife—would later form the backbone of White’s famous Natural History of Selborne, one of the most beloved works of nature writing in the English language.
1809 A retired Thomas Jefferson finally enjoyed the freedom to spend most of his time in his gardens at Monticello. Having longed for such days, Jefferson reveled in planting, experimenting, and walking the grounds—living proof that a gardener’s heart never truly retires.
1851 George Herbert Engleheart, English pastor and plant breeder, was born. He devoted his spare time to hybridizing daffodils, raising over 700 cultivars. Each spring, gardeners still see his legacy unfurl in golden trumpets across cottage gardens and countryside fields.
1905 On this day, David Fairchild, the intrepid plant explorer, married Marian Graham Bell, daughter of Alexander Graham Bell. Their union joined two worlds—science and exploration—and Marian often accompanied David on his journeys, where together they gathered plants that transformed American orchards and gardens.
1911 Harry Radlund, a gardener from Kilborne, Wisconsin, shared his planting successes with Henry Field, a noted seedsman. These everyday correspondences between gardener and merchant illustrate how knowledge, tips, and even failures traveled by post long before blogs or podcasts carried them to eager audiences.
1948 Leslie Young Correthers, American poet and artist, died. Correthers often wove natural imagery into her verse, echoing the timeless connection between gardens and the human spirit. Her words remain as blossoms pressed between the pages of literary history.
Grow That Garden Library™
Read The Daily Gardener review of The Gardener's Guide to Prairie Plants by Neil Diboll and Hilary Cox
Order the Book on Amazon: The Gardener's Guide to Prairie Plants by Neil Diboll and Hilary Cox
Today's Botanic Spark
1917 On this day, pilot Maurice Baring wrote in his diary, capturing a unique glimpse of World War I through the eyes of a nature lover. Amid the chaos of war, he noticed wildflowers blooming near the airfields—small but steadfast reminders that beauty persists, even in humanity’s darkest hours.
Thanks for listening to The Daily Gardener
And remember: For a happy, healthy life, garden every day.
Featured Book
