Posts Tagged ‘August’
Gladiolus and Dahlias: Fun Facts and Garden History for these August Garden Superstars
“I’ll never forget what my friend Joel Karsten, the author of Straw Bale Gardening, told me about how easy it is to plant Gladiolus in conditioned straw bales. Once the flowers are done blooming in the fall, you kick the straw bale over, and all the corms fall out for easy gathering.” March 4, 1956…
Read MoreCelebrating American Gardener and Poet Edgar Albert Guest and his 1932 Poem in Praise of Gardening
“If it’s drama that you sigh for, plant a garden and you’ll get it You will know the thrill of battle fighting foes that will beset it.” August 20, 1881 On this day, we celebrate the birthday of the beloved American poet Edgar Albert Guest. Edgar was known as the People’s Poet during the first…
Read MoreSaint Bernard of Clairvaux
Patron Saint of Beekeepers Today is Saint Bernard of Clairvaux‘s day; he was the patron saint of beekeepers. He’s also the patron saint of bees and candlemakers. St. Bernard was a doctor of the church and a French Abbot. He was apparently a fabulous preacher, with excellent speaking skills. He became known as the “honey-sweet”…
Read MoreThomas Jefferson
Letter to the Monticello Naturalist On this day Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to the painter and naturalist Charles Willson Peale about his farming and gardening at Monticello (“MontiCHELLo”). Here’s an excerpt: “I have heard that you have retired from the city to a farm, and that you give your whole time to that. Does…
Read MoreCarlos Thays
Brought the French to Argentina Today is the birthday of the French-Argentine landscape architect Carlos Thays (“Tays”). Carlos Thays took a business trip to Argentina when he turned forty in 1889. His job was to design a park in Cordoba. The project was life-changing for Thays when Argentina unexpectedly captured his heart. He decided to…
Read MoreRobert Plant
A Gardener’s Dream Last Name Today is the birthday of the man with the last name all gardeners covet – the lead singer of Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant. This post was featured onThe Daily Gardener podcast: helping gardeners find their roots, one story at a time Robert Plant
Read MoreLovely Mosquito
by Doug MacLeod Lovely mosquito, attacking my arm As quiet and still as a statue, Stay right where you are! I’ll do you no harm- I simply desire to pat you. Just puncture my veins and swallow your fill For, nobody’s going to swot you. Now, lovely mosquito, stay perfectly still – A SWIPE! And…
Read MoreMosquito
by David Sollis Announcing your arrival In a high-pitch buzzing-tone. As a tactic for survival, You’re seldom on your own. Red lumps display where you have been Often felt, but rarely seen. But if I catch a glimpse of you, my little vampire chum, I’ll make sure you get what you’re due And crush you…
Read MoreCelebrating Ogden Nash and His Very Witty Poem About Victory Gardens
“Ogden wrote several poems about gardening and flowers. His poem called My Victory Garden is a standout favorite with gardeners.” August 19, 1902 On this day, Ogden Nash was born. Ogden was the American poet who said, “Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker.” He also said, “Parsley is Gharsley.” Ogden wrote several…
Read MoreEllen Ann Willmott
The Warley Place Horticulturalist Today is the birthday of Ellen Ann Willmott, who was an English horticulturalist who lived in Brentwood. Ellen was the oldest in her family of three daughters. In 1875, her parents moved to Warley Place, which was set on 33 acres of land in Essex. Ellen lived there for the rest…
Read MoreElizabeth Lawrence
Love of Gardening On this day, Elizabeth Lawrence wrote a letter to her sister Ann. In the letter, she mentions their mom, Bessie, who shared both her daughters’ love of the garden. “I am so happy to get back to my rickety Corona; Ellen’s elegant new typewriter made anything I had to say unworthy of…
Read MoreJane Webb
A Science Fiction Pioneer Today is the birthday of Jane Webb, who married the prolific writer of all things gardening: John Claudius Loudon. Together they became magnificent partners in the world of botanical writing and publishing. Jane was an extraordinary person. She was a fantastic writer in her own right, but she also possessed an…
Read MoreThe Potato
by Joseph Stroud Three days into the journey I lost the Inca Trail and scrambled around the Andes in a growing panic when on a hillside below the snowline I met a farmer who pointed the way— Machu Picchu allá, he said. He knew where I wanted to go. From my pack, I pulled out…
Read MorePotato
by Jane Kenyon In haste one evening while making dinner I threw away a potato that was spoiled on one end. The rest would have been redeemable. In the yellow garbage pail, it became the consort of coffee grounds, banana skins, carrot peelings. I pitched it onto the compost where steaming scraps and leaves return,…
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