December Archives

Margaret Cavendish

The Brain a Garden December 15, 1673 Today is the anniversary of the death of the 17th-century philosopher, poet, scientist, fiction-writer, naturalist, and playwright Margaret Cavendish. Margaret’s perspective on the natural world helped shape our modern viewpoint. And it should be noted that Margaret was the first woman to make a living from her writing.…

Joyce Winifred Vickery

The Cypress Crime December 15, 1908 Today is the birthday of the Australian botanist and forensic botanist Joyce Winifred Vickery. 1960 was a pivotal year in Joyce’s career. In 1960, all of Australia was focused on the building of the now famous Sydney Opera House. And to pay for the construction, the government of Australia…

National Herb Garden

The Herb Society Dream December 15, 1978 On this day, construction began on the National Herb Garden at the U.S. National Arboretum. Since 1965 a National Herb Garden was a dream of the Herb Society based in Kirtland, Ohio. After the Herb Society came up with $200,000 for the garden, Congress matched the funds. And…

December 14, 1819: Alabama Picks the Camellia as the State Flower

The Beautiful Camellia December 14, 1819 On this day, Alabama became the 22nd state to join the Union. Forty years later, the Camellia (“kah-MEE-lee-ah”) became the official state flower of Alabama. Before that, Alabama’s state flower was the Goldenrod. Camellia is an evergreen plant in the tea family. The flower size of Camellias can range…

John Claudius Loudon

Waterloo Breeches December 14, 1843 Today is the anniversary of the death of the Scottish botanist, garden designer, and author John Claudius Loudon. A prolific garden writer and publisher, John coined the term arboretum. There are two stories I love to tell about John. One is his love story with his wife Jane, and the…

Richard Hale “Dick” Goodwin

A Botanist’s Window December 14, 1910 Today is the birthday of the American botanist and conservationist Richard Hale “Dick” Goodwin. Reflecting on how he decided to pursue botany in college, Richard wrote, “I loved the outdoors and wild places and had the thought that by entering that field I might be able to contribute toward…

December 14, 2020 New Apple Variety in Wiltshire, John Claudius Loudon, Richard Hale Goodwin, John Bannister Tabb, Alchemy of Herbs by Rosalee De La Foret and the State Flower of Alabama

Today we celebrate the English garden writer who fell in love with one of the world’s first science fiction writers – and she turned out to be a woman. We’ll also learn about the Connecticut botanist and conservations who created a new undergraduate degree program he called Human Ecology. We’ll hear a delightful interview with…

New York’s 99th Mayor: Fiorello LaGuardia aka Little Flower

The Little Flower who Fought for Big Justice December 11, 1882 Happy birthday to the American attorney and politician known as Little Flower, aka Fiorello LaGuardia, born on Sullivan Street in Greenwich Village. LaGuardia was called Little Flower during his lifetime because Fiorello means little flower in Italian. In addition, Fiorello is generally regarded as…

Jacob Schneck

The Schneck Oak December 11, 1843 Today is the birthday of the Indiana physician, naturalist, and botanist Jacob Schneck. Jacob loved plants. He had a special passion for trees, and he spent as much time as he could in the field botanizing. And for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, Jacob put together a collection of…

Henry David Thoreau

Lesser Redpolls December 11, 1855 On this day, Henry David Thoreau wrote about walking through a spruce swamp and stumbling on a flock of Lesser Redpolls (“Red-Poles”). These little birds are some of the smallest in the finch family. Lesser Redpolls are small and brown with red foreheads. If you’ve ever stumbled on a flock…

Victor Lemoine

Lilac Magic December 11, 1911 Today is the anniversary of the death of the French flower breeder Victor Lemoine (“Loom-one”), who died on this day in 1911. Victor enhanced the beauty of so many flowers in our gardens: Lilacs, Mock-Oranges, Phlox, Peonies, Gladiolus, Tuberous Begonias, Geraniums, and Deutzias. Around the year 1850, Victor borrowed money…

The Rubber Tree’s Johnny Appleseed: Henry Nicholas Ridley

Rubber Plant Seeds From Twenty-Two Plants Change Malaya Forever December 10, 1855 Today is the birthday of the English botanist, geologist, and naturalist Henry Nicholas Ridley. As the first Director of the Singapore Botanic Garden, Henry arrived in Singapore in 1888. Henry has been described as the Rubber Tree’s Johnny Appleseed because he single-handedly…

Cherry Trees

Trees from Japan December 10, 1909 On this day, 2,000 cherry trees arrived in Seattle from Japan. When First Lady Helen Taft indicated, she wanted to beautify Potomac Park, the mayor of Tokyo donated 2,000 cherry trees for the project. But once the trees arrived on this day in 1909, they were found to have…

Emily Dickinson

The Gardener Poet December 10, 1830 Today is the birthday of Emily Dickinson. The Dickinson author, Judith Farr, reminds us that during her lifetime, Emily Dickinson was, “known more widely as a gardener… than as a poet.” Emily grew up gardening. She would help her mother with their large edible and ornamental garden. The flower…