18th century gardening Archives

The Presidential Plantsman: George Washington’s Secret Garden Life

Gilbert Stuart Williamstown Portrait of George Washington.

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. April 30, 1789 On this day, our esteemed first Commander-in-Chief, George Washington, was sworn into office with all the pomp and circumstance befitting America’s inaugural president. What the adoring crowds and history books…

The Naturalist’s Pen: Gilbert White’s April Observations

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. April 19, 1792 On this day, dear readers, we are granted a most delightful peek into the journal of Gilbert White, the venerable naturalist of Selborne, England. His keen observations of the natural…

Gardens Painted in Poetry: The Wit and Legacy of William Kent

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. April 12, 1748 Dearest reader, On this day, we mark the passing of William Kent, the visionary who helped free gardens from the tyranny of rigid formality. Often called a pioneer of the…