May Archives

John Hope

The Edinburgh Botanist May 10, 1725 Today is the birthday of the botanist, famous professor, and founder of one of the leading botanical gardens in Europe — John Hope. Alive during the Scottish enlightenment, John left his mark on the royal botanic gardens, plant classification, and plant physiology. He was appointed as the King’s botanist…

Gerard van Swieten

Swietenia: The Genus of Mahogany May 7, 1700 Today is the birthday of the Dutch botanist Gerard van Swieten. As Swieten turned 40 years old, Empress Maria Theresa inherited the Habsburg Empire. She had much to do to get her kingdom in shape. When it came to medicine, Austria was about 200 years behind its…

Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë

Currer, Ellia, and Acton Bell May 7, 1846 The first printed copies of “Poems” by Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë were published under the pseudonym of Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell. Just two copies were sold. To avoid prejudice as female writers, the sisters kept the first letter of their first names: Charlotte was Currer…

Jean Senebier

Finding the Purpose of Leaves May 6, 1742 Today is the birthday of Jean Senebier, a Swiss pastor and botanist. Where would we be without Senebier? Still breathing… but lacking the knowledge that carbon dioxide is consumed by plants and, in turn, that plants produce oxygen as part of the process of photosynthesis. In a nutshell,…

Alexander Von Humboldt

The Polymath and Pragmatist May 6, 1859 Today is the anniversary of the death of the naturalist and botanist Alexander Von Humboldt. He was 89 years old. When it came to his expeditions, Alexander didn’t travel alone. In 1799, Alexander was accompanied by the French botanist Aimé Bonplant. In 1806, Friedrich Georg Weitsch painted his…

Thomas Hayton Mawson

Thomas H. Mawson & Sons May 5, 1861 Today is the birthday of British garden designer, prolific Edwardian Landscape Architect, and town planner Thomas Hayton Mawson who was born in Lancashire. When Thomas was a teenager, his dad started a nursery and fruit farm in Yorkshire. Thomas loved the orchard, but his happiness came to…

Cecil Ross Pinsent

The Tuscany Garden Designer May 5, 1884 Today is the birthday of the British garden designer and architect known for his innovative gardens in Tuscany, Cecil Ross Pinsent. Cecil worked with the American art historian Bernard Berenson on his iconic estate known as the Villa I Tatti. This relationship opened doors for Cecil, and soon he…

Mary Sutherland

The First Female Forester May 4, 1893 Today is the birthday of New Zealand forester and botanist Mary Sutherland. In 1916, Mary graduated from Bangor University in Wales with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry. She was the first female to become a degreed forestry professional in the world. Mary also became known in New…

Audrey Hepburn

Breakfast at Tiffany’s May 4, 1929 Today is the birthday of Academy Award-winning actress and gardener Audrey Hepburn. The Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) star appeared with Penelope Hobhouse and Graham Stuart Thomas on the 1991 PBS special “Gardens of the World.” The series featured sixty gardens over eight episodes. They included Monet’s garden at Giverny, the Villa…

May Sarton

The New Hampshire Poet May 3, 1912 Today is the birthday of the prolific writer and poet May Sarton. She came out in 1965 after her parents died. The decision impacted her career. May’s writing centers on our humanity, our relationships with ourselves and others, our values, and mindfulness. In a 1983 profile in The…

Charles Joseph Sauriol

The Don River Valley Naturalist May 3, 1904 Today is the birthday of the naturalist and conservationist Charles Joseph Sauriol. An esteemed son of Toronto, Charles worked to preserve natural areas in Canada. He was primarily devoted to the forests and waterways of Ontario, including his beloved Don River Valley – where his family had…

April 20, 2021 Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, Charles Plumier, William Bartram, George MacDonald on April, Ken Druse’s New York City Gardener by Ken Druse and Peter Barr

Today we celebrate the botanist who named the fuchsia plant. We’ll also learn about the first American to become a full-time naturalist. We’ll hear some charming thoughts on April and May from a Scottish author who mentored Lewis Carroll. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a 25-year-old garden classic written to help gardeners in the…

A Song of May

by Phebe Ann Holder The fragrant lily of the vale, The violet’s breath on passing gale. Anemones mid last year’s leaves, Arbutus sweet in trailing wreaths, From waving lights of a forest glade The light ferns hide beneath the shade. — Phebe Ann Holder, New England poet, A Song of May November 27,…

Autumn Valentine

by Dorothy Parker In May, my heart was breaking- Oh, wide the wound, and deep! And bitter it beat at waking, And sore it split in sleep. And when it came November, I sought my heart and sighed, “Poor thing, do you remember?” “What heart was that?” it cried. As featured onThe Daily Gardener podcast:…