When Williamsburg Bloomed: John Custis’s Garden Vision

John Custis IV, by Charles Bridges, 1725

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. November 14, 1749 On this day, John Custis IV, an American planter, politician, government official, and military officer, died. His garden legacy has recently captured headlines as archaeologists uncover what was once colonial…

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From Statesman to Seedsman: Thomas Jefferson’s Garden Bliss

Thomas Jefferson

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. April 25, 1809 On this day, dear garden enthusiasts, we find ourselves transported to the verdant slopes of Monticello, where a most remarkable transformation was taking place. Thomas Jefferson, the venerable statesman and…

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