Frank Kingdon Ward Archives

Frank Kingdon Ward

Indiana Jones in Real Life November 6, 1885 Today is the birthday of the British plant collector and explorer Frank Kingdon Ward. During the beginning of the twentieth century, Frank Kingdon Ward went on twenty-four Indiana-Jones-like expeditions throughout Tibet, China, and Southeast Asia to search for rare and elusive species of plants. Among his…

November 6, 2020 Bernard de Jussieu, Alice Lounsberry, Alfred Austin, American Gardens by Monty Don and Derry Moore, and Frank Kingdon Ward

Today we celebrate a son of France who developed the first natural classification of flowering plants. We’ll also learn about the young female garden writer who teamed up with an Australian botanical illustrator and turned out some fabulous garden classics. We salute the English Poet Laureate who wrote inspiringly about gardens. We Grow That Garden…

July 1, 2020 Dwight Brown’s Urban Oasis, July in the Garden, Vale of York Naturalists Club, Illinois State Flower, July Poetry, The Earth Knows My Name by Patricia Klindienst, and Plant Explorer Finds Adventure in 1932

Today we welcome the new month – July – and we remember the first meeting of the Vale of York Field Naturalists Club. We’ll also learn about the Illinois State Flower which was adopted on this day We’ll usher in the new month with some July poetry. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book…

July 1, 2019 Martagon Lilies, Vale of York Field Naturalists Club, Illinois State Flower, the Violet, Joseph Hooker, Ann Taylor, Tree in the House by Annabelle Hickson, Dividing Flag Iris, and Frank Kingdon-Ward

Martagon Lilies are in peak right now in most gardens. They bring the most beautiful architectural aspect and form to the garden; they are so exquisite. Offering a Turk’s cap-style bloom, Like many plants, Martagon colonies get better and better with age. Martagons like rich soil, and they will be grateful for a dusting of…

The Land of the Blue Poppies by Frank Kingdon Ward

As Heard on The Daily Gardener Podcast: Today’s book recommendation: The Land of the Blue Poppies by Frank Kingdon Ward During the first years of the twentieth century, the British plant collector and explorer Frank Kingdon Ward went on 24 impossibly daring expeditions throughout Tibet, China, and Southeast Asia, in search of rare and elusive species…

May 21, 2019 Bolting Rhubarb, Alexander Pope, Henri Rosseau, Pope’s Grotto at Twickenham, The Land of the Blue Poppies, Frank Kingdon Ward, Installing Garden Paths, and Richard Walter Pohl

Is your rhubarb bolting already? When your rhubarb seems to be bolting too early, ask yourself these questions… Is your rhubarb an heirloom or a new variety? Older varieties tend to bolt sooner. Try planting a newer variety. Is your rhubarb very established? The older your rhubarb, the quicker it bolts. If you divide your…