Francis Masson

Francis Masson

South Africa’s Cape Floral Kingdom December 23, 1805  Today is the anniversary of the death of the Scottish gardener, botanical illustrator, and the very first plant hunter for Kew, Francis Masson. After proving himself capable at Kew, Joseph Banks sent Francis on an expedition to southern Africa, where he met up with the Swedish botanist…

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December 23, 2020 Six Great Perennials for Design, John Jay, Francis Masson, Ann Batten Cristall, The Grow Your Own Food Handbook by Monte Burch, and Mystical Mistletoe Is Historical Sprig

20200101 The Daily Gardener Album Cover

Today we celebrate a gardener who was also a Founding Father and a Governor of New York. We’ll also learn about a botanist who brought back the Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae “strel-IT-zee-ah REJ-in-ee”) as well as a plant that is now the oldest living potted plant at Kew. We hear a charming poem that…

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