June Archives

Benjamin Lincoln Robinson

The Growth of the Herbarium It is on this day in 1892 that Benjamin Lincoln Robinson was appointed the curator of the Asa Gray Herbarium at Harvard. When Robinson took over, both the herbarium and the library were in dire straits. Robinson was instrumental in acquiring funds and extending the growth of the herbarium…

Theodore Payne

Be Loyal to Your State It was on this day in 1872 that the English horticulturist, landscape designer, and botanist Theodore Payne was born. He made his way from England to California. And, he was an early advocate for California native plants. He started his own seedling business In 1903 in downtown Los…

Pierre-Joseph Redouté

The Raphael of Flowers Twenty years after the death of Joseph Banks, the “Raphael of flowers,” Pierre-Joseph Redouté died. He was known for his watercolors of roses and lilies. He’s often referred to as the greatest botanical illustrator of all time. He was an official court draftsman to Queen Marie Antoinette. One evening…

Joseph Banks

Flora, Fauna, and Royal Gardens It was on this day in 1820, that the botanist Joseph Banks died in England. Banks is best known for his study of Australian flora and fauna in his role as botanist on board The Endeavor with Capt. James Cook. When Banks returned to England, he advised George…

Elbert Green Hubbard

Burpee Seed Company It’s the birthday of Elbert Green Hubbard born on this day in 1856. He was a writer, artist, and philosopher. Among Hubbard’s many publications, with the piece, he wrote about the founder of the Burpee Seed Company called, “The business of distributing flower seeds.” It was Elbert Hubbard who gave…

Karl Theodor Hartweg

From Paris to The Americas It was on this day, in 1812, the botanist Karl Theodor Hartweg was born. He’d started out in Paris, working for the botanical garden there, and then ended up going to the Chiswick garden in London. He was eager to travel and go on expeditions. He was sent to the…

Professor Holenarasipur Yoganarasimham Mohan Ram (H.Y. Mohan Ram).

The Resilient Researcher It’s the one-year anniversary of the death of the beloved botanist Professor Holenarasipur Yoganarasimham Mohan Ram (H.Y. Mohan Ram). Mohan Ram Left a tremendous legacy of the faculty and students of the botany department at Delhi University. He had Published over 240 research papers get guided 32 Ph.D. students and…

Edgar Shannon Anderson

Plants, Man, and Life It’s the anniversary of the 1969 death of Edgar Shannon Anderson. Anderson was an American botanist and his 1949 book Introgressive Hybridization was a major step forward in botanical genetics. While he was at Harvard, Anderson went on to work at the Bussey Institute; a biological arm of the University.…

Carol Klein

Great British Gardens This month, the English gardening expert, Carol Klein, is hosting a brand-new television program called Great British Gardens. Carol’s program has four parts and it explores four of the country’s most distinctive gardens. Today’s episode features Gravetye Manor at 9 PM. The gardens at Gravetye Manor were created by William Robinson;…

A Piece of Our Heart

by Joanne Shaw A piece of our heart is in all our gardens. Note: This is a quote from my friend and fellow podcaster, Joanne Shaw, who said this one year ago. As featured onThe Daily Gardener podcast: Words inspired by the garden are the sweetest, most beautiful words of all. Joanne…

Summer Has Two Beginnings

by Emily Dickinson Summer has two Beginnings — Beginning once in June — Beginning in October Affectingly again — Without, perhaps, the Riot But graphicker for Grace — As finer is a going Than a remaining Face — Departing then — forever — Forever — until May — Forever is deciduous Except to those…

Alexander Braun

The Botanist from Bavaria It was on this day in 1879 at the Botanical Gardens of Berlin, a monument of the late eminent botanist, Alexander Braun, was unveiled. The granite pedestal was done by Professor Adler. The bust of the Braun was said to be an excellent likeness. Braun was a botanist from Bavaria. He…

James Weldon Johnson

A Gift of Words On this day in 1871 James Weldon Johnson was born. He’s the lyricist of the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” He had a summer home known as Five Acres and he had a little writing cabin on a hill above a brook. Johnson was a founder and member of the…

Nellie McClung

A Female Activist It was on this day in 1916, a photograph of Nellie McClung was taken with fellow suffragist Emmeline Pankhurst. Nellie McClung earned Canadian women the right to vote. Today you can explore Nellie’s home and garden in Calgary. Although she is perhaps best known for her social activism, being…