From Muckraker to Garden Maker: Ida Tarbell at Twin Oaks

Ida Tarbell portrait with flowers colorized and enhanced

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. November 5, 1857  On this day, Ida Tarbell was born – a woman who would become known for exposing Standard Oil’s monopolistic practices but who found her greatest peace tending to her beloved…

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Blossoms, Berries, and Bygone Days: Calvin Fletcher’s Garden Diary

Calvin Fletcher

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. June 2, 1859 On this day, dear fellow gardeners, let us take a delightful journey back to the mid-19th century, where we shall bask in the horticultural observations of one Calvin Fletcher. This…

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Seeds of Sacrifice: The Heroes of the Vavilov Institute

Behind the equestrian statue of Nikolai I near St Isaac's Cathedral is No. 4 Building of the Institute of Plant Industry

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. October 25, 2024 On this day, we turn our gaze to a dark chapter in horticultural history, one that intertwines the cruelty of war with the indomitable spirit of those who safeguard nature’s…

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