Nature Archives

A Robert Frost Poem for Gardeners: Lodged

“In six little lines, Robert connects himself to the flowers in the flowerbed. Pelted by the wind and rain, the flowers manage to survive.” March 26, 1874 Today is the birthday of the American poet and Poet Laureate Robert Frost. Here’s a short, sweet poem (and a gardener favorite) by Robert Frost called ‘Lodged.’ In…

Remembering Laura Ingalls Wilder though her Nature and Garden Writing

“The voices of Nature do not speak so plainly to us as we grow older, but I think it is because, in our busy lives, we neglect her until we grow out of sympathy.” February 10, 1957 Today is the anniversary of the death of Laura Ingalls Wilder. One of the reasons so many of…

Grounded in the Natural World

by Eva Selhub and Alan Logan Almost 40 years ago, clinical psychologist and pet therapy expert Boris M. Levinson was asked to speculate on what the human-pet world might look like in the year 2000 and beyond. Levinson turned out to be quite the soothsayer, predicting an explosion in pet acquisition thanks to the computer-driven,…

Celebrating the English Activist, Conservationist, and Naturalist Octavia Hill; She Believed Nature is a Human Right

“I have a few poor little plants that I am fond of. Then I have eleven dear little snails. They are such darlings.” December 3, 1838 Today is the birthday of the English activist, conservationist, and naturalist Octavia Hill. From the time she was 13 years old, Octavia worked to make life better for…

Celebrating Carolyn Kizer and her Poem for Gardeners Called The Ungrateful Garden

“Carolyn wrote occasionally about the garden, and my favorite poem of hers is this charming piece about King Midas growing golden roses called The Ungrateful Garden.” December 10, 1925 On this day, the American poet of the Pacific Northwest, Carolyn Kizer, was born. Carolyn won the Pulitzer Prize in 1985. Carolyn wrote occasionally about…

Remembering Painter and Gardener Pierre-Auguste Renoir Who Found Freedom in Painting Nature

“There’s a little-known story about Renoir. For many years, he hung a sign on his garden gate which read, ‘No Renoirs sold here. Beware the dog.'” December 3, 1919 On this day, the impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir died. There’s a little-known story about Renoir. For many years, he hung a sign on his garden…

Botanist Edwin Hunt and the Hungarian Revolutionary Lajos Kossuth: Finding Comfort in Nature

“Happy those who love nature, Her they shall find, And shall not find but her in the days of adversity.” June 17, 1869 On this day, the botanist Edwin Hunt collected the last known specimen of Arethusa bulbosa in the old Oriskany swamp in New York. While researching Edwin Hunt, I found an article…