The Divine Miss M: Bette Midler’s Blooming Legacy in Garden and Spotlight

On This Day
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:

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December 1, 1945

On this day, dear friends of the garden and lovers of entertainment alike, a star was born in Honolulu that would come to bloom as brightly as any flower in our carefully tended beds.

Bette Midler, the Divine Miss M, drew her first breath, destined to become an American icon of song, stage, and screen.

Oh, what a journey our Bette has had!

From humble beginnings in Hawaii to the dazzling lights of Broadway and Hollywood, she has cultivated a career as varied and vibrant as the most eclectic of cottage gardens. Her unique blend of comedy, song, and acting has taken root in the hearts of audiences worldwide, flourishing despite the occasional harsh weather of show business.

While the golden statue of Oscar may have eluded her grasp for her tour de force performance in "The Rose," let us not forget that true talent, like the most resilient of perennials, needs no gilded validation to prove its worth. Bette's impact on the entertainment industry is as undeniable as the scent of jasmine on a warm summer's eve.

But it is in the realm of horticulture, dear readers, that we find a most fitting tribute to our beloved Divine Miss M. Picture, if you will, the hallowed grounds of the New York Botanical Garden, where on June 19, 2019, a rose as unique and captivating as Bette herself was unveiled.

"The Divine Miss M" rose, a white-yellow beauty fragrant with notes of mint and lime, now graces the garden, a living testament to Bette's enduring legacy.

At the unveiling, our dear Bette, ever the wit, couldn't resist a playful jab at past accolades lost:

"I didn't win the Oscar for The Rose.

Of course, I never think about it.

But I do want to say right now, and there's no Norma Rae rose."

Ah, how delightful! With a nod to Sally Field, who claimed the Oscar in 1979 for "Norma Rae," Bette reminds us that while awards may fade, a rose named in one's honor blooms eternal.

But let us not forget, dear friends, that Bette's connection to the natural world extends far beyond this horticultural honor.

In 1995, she planted the seeds of the New York Restoration Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing the city's neglected parks and green spaces. Like a master gardener tending to a forgotten plot, Bette has worked tirelessly to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the rejuvenating power of nature.

Can you not picture the scene at the botanical garden?

The air filled with joyous melody as Bette led the assembled crowd in a sing-along, her voice as clear and uplifting as a spring morning. The strains of "Rose Garden," "The Rose," and "Everything's Coming Up Roses" wafted through the air, a harmonious blend of music and nature that perfectly encapsulates the essence of Bette Midler.

As we tend to our own gardens, dear readers, let us take a moment to appreciate the Bette Midlers of this world. Those rare individuals who, like the most spectacular of blooms, bring beauty, joy, and a touch of the divine to our everyday lives.

May we all strive to cultivate a little of that Bette Midler magic in our own patches of earth, nurturing not just plants, but also the spirit of creativity, compassion, and celebration that she so embodies.

And perhaps, as we prune our roses or plant our bulbs, we might hum a few bars of "The Rose," and send a little thought of gratitude to the Divine Miss M, whose legacy now blooms both on stage and in the garden.

Bette Midler stands behind the rose named in her honor at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG)
Bette Midler stands behind the rose named in her honor at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG)
The Divine Miss M Rose
The Divine Miss M Rose

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