Asa Gray: The Birth of American Botany’s Greatest Voice

Asa Gray by Sir David McNee, 1838

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. November 18, 1810 On this day, Asa Gray (1810-1888) was born. He was a figure who would become America’s preeminent botanist and one of the most influential scientists of the 19th century. Born…

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Blooms Across the Pacific: Ernest H. Wilson’s Azalea Diplomacy

Ernest Henry Wilson

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. April 24, 1919 On this day, dear garden enthusiasts, a horticultural treasure trove arrived at the hallowed grounds of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. Ernest H. Wilson, that intrepid plant explorer and…

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Unmoved by Mountains: The Enigmatic Life of Charles Sprague Sargent

Charles Sprague Sargent profile

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. April 24, 1841 On this day, the horticultural world was graced with the birth of Charles Sprague Sargent, a man destined to become one of America’s most distinguished botanists. Charles, a figure as…

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Hesperochiron and Beyond: Sereno Watson’s Botanical Legacy

Sereno Watson

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. December 1, 1826 On this day in botanical history, the world welcomed Sereno Watson, a luminary whose passion for plants would forever change the landscape of American botany. Born into a world yet…

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From Harvard to Herbarium: The Blooming Legacy of Asa Gray

Asa Gray, circa 1870s

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. November 18, 1810 On this day, the botanical world welcomed a true titan of the field – Asa Gray, whose birth heralded a new era in the study of plant life and the…

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