Posts Tagged ‘February’
Welcome February with Cicely Mary Barker: the Fair Maids of February and the Snowdrop Fairy
“Cicely would draw the flowers and the fairies and then write poetry about them.” The English illustrator Cicely Mary Barker is remembered for depicting fairies and flowers. In Cicely’s fabulous fantasy world, every flower was granted its particular fairy to protect it from harm. For winter, Cicely created fairies and poems for these plants: Snowdrop,…
Read MoreCandlemas
The Quickening of the Year February 2, 2021 Today is Candlemas – a celebration of the quickening of the year. While today we might say we’re half-way between Christmas and spring, this Celtic tradition honored the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox and was a forerunner to Groundhog Day. Like Groundhog Day,…
Read MoreCharlie Chaplin
The Tramp February 2, 1914 On this day, the English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer Charlie Chaplin made his film debut in Making a Living. With regard to his enormous catalog of work, Charlie’s onscreen persona, The Tramp, is considered iconic, and it brought him wealth and fame. In 1931, Charlie created the silent film that…
Read MoreWelcome February with The Language of the Trees by Scottish Poet Charles MacKay
“This little obscure poem from the Scottish poet Charles MacKay seems an excellent way to usher in February.” We’re in the grips of winter now, and the trees dominate the landscape. I thought I’d close today’s show with a little poem about trees that I stumbled upon while doing tree research. We’re learning more and…
Read MoreBen Hur Lampman
The Skunkweed February 1, 1916 On this day, the American newspaper editor, essayist, short story writer, and poet, Ben Hur Lampman, moved to Portland and began working for The Oregonian. On March 2, 1942, Ben wrote an article defending a harbinger of spring, the Skunkweed or Eastern Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), that appeared in the Medford, Oregon…
Read MoreLangston Hughes
A Wonder-Filled World February 1, 1902 Today is the birthday of the American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist Langston Hughes. Langston was one of the leading voices of the 1920s. He was also part of the Harlem Renaissance Cultural Movement, and for the last twenty years of his life, Langston lived on the…
Read MoreGratitude for Light
by Marjorie Harris In my climate, the hours of daylight are few, the number of sunny hours even fewer. We trudge through the gloom day after day, all through January and February. But when the sun does shine, it carries a magnificence, unlike any other time. Perhaps our gratitude for light makes it so, but…
Read MoreCelebrating English Gardener and Writer Frances Perry and Her Life With Plants
“There is nothing static about a garden. All gardeners know this and are constantly devising different features. Yet it’s easy to let sentiment or inertia spare plants that have long since past their prime. Too often, also, a design suited to younger gardeners sticks, even though age has made it more and more difficult to…
Read MoreCharles de l’Écluse
Carolus Clusius Today is the birthday of the Flemish botanist and founder of the Botanical Garden at Leiden, Charles de l’Écluse (“day-lay-clues”). Charles was an important 16th-century horticulturalist who, like many scientists of his time, translated his name into Latin, and was also known as Carolus Clusius. Clusius is remembered as the botanist who introduced…
Read MoreDaniel Solander
Star Pupil of Linnaeus Today is the birthday of the Swedish-English botanist and star pupil of Carl Linnaeus, Daniel Solander. More than his protégé, Linnaeus had hopes that Solander might become a future son-in-law. From there, Linnaeus hoped he had found his successor as Professor of Botany at Uppsala. Linnaeus had a daughter named Lisa…
Read MoreWilliam Francis Ganong
First Professor of Botany Today is the birthday of the first professor of botany at Smith College, William Francis Ganong (“GAH-nong”). Ganong’s family were famous chocolate-makers. In fact, today, Ganong Chocolate is Canada’s oldest independently family-operated chocolate company. Of course, William was supposed to follow in their footsteps, but he instead lost his heart to…
Read MoreThe Lady’s Slipper Orchid
Minnesota’s State Flower 1902 Today the Showy Lady’s Slipper became the State Flower of Minnesota. The Lady’s Slipper Orchid was discovered in 1789 by the botanist William Aiton. The common name Lady’ s-Slipper is from the unusual form of the third petal that makes that part of the bloom look like a little shoe. During…
Read MoreFebruary’s Birthflowers: Violet and Primrose
“After he was exiled to Elba, Napoleon vowed to return before the Violet season. Napoleon’s followers used the Violet to weed out his detractors. They would ask strangers if they liked Violets; a positive response was the sign of a loyal Napoleon supporter.” February 18, 2020 Even though roses are often associated with February (thanks…
Read MoreValerius Cordus
The Herbal of Valerius Cordus Today is the birthday of Valerius Cordus. Cordus was the author of one of the most influential herbals in history. In fact, centuries later, the botanist Thomas Archibald Sprague re-published “The Herbal of Valerius Cordus” with his older sister, who he considered to be the best botanist in his botanist…
Read More