November Archives

Richard William Fagan

The Rose City November 20, 1969 Today is the anniversary of the death of the Oregon Journal columnist and gardener Richard William Fagan, who died on this day in 1969. As gardeners, we celebrate Richard for installing the world’s smallest rose park – Mill Ends Park – in Portland on February 23, 1954. The installation…

Looking for Fall Nature Music? Check Out Autumn Leaves by Roger Williams

Autumn Leaves November 19, 1955 On this day, Autumn Leaves by Roger Williams reached the top spot on the music charts. Autumn Leaves was Roger’s most successful song and the first instrumental song to reach number 1 on the Billboard charts during the rock era. As a performer, Roger Williams was less flamboyant than Liberace. He was,…

Julia Wilmotte Henshaw

British Columbia’s Leading Botanist November 19, 1937 Today is the anniversary of the death of the Canadian botanist and writer Julia Wilmotte Henshaw. Remembered as one of British Columbia‘s leading botanists, Julia studied for a bit with the botanist Charles Schaefer and his wife, Mary Schaefer Warren. This was a happy working relationship by…

Calvert Vaux

Creator of Central Park November 19, 1895 Today is the anniversary of the death of the Landscape Architect Calvert Vaux (“Vox”), who died on this day in 1895. Calvert was born in England, but he came to the United States at the age of 24 to work on landscape projects with Andrew Jackson Downing.…

Elizabeth Lawrence

Leaves Falling November 19, 1934 On this day, the garden writer Elizabeth Lawrence wrote to her sister: “…The first of the week I picked the last of your red and yellow zinnias, just before the frost finished up everything. But Ithink gardens are just as pretty in winter. The winter grass is so fresh when…

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Forever Garden November 19, 1850 Today is the anniversary of the death of the English poet Alfred Lord Tennyson. Alfred was the fourth of twelve children in his family, and he became one of the most well-loved Victorian poets. Today, Alfred’s walled garden on the Isle of Wight is still available for walk-throughs. Both Alfred’s…

Like a Chain Letter

by Amy Stewart Like a chain letter, I will take a plant from this garden to the next and from the next garden to the one after that, and so on, until someday I am an old woman nurturing along with a patchwork quilt of a garden, with cuttings and scraps from every garden I…

Asa Gray and Goldenrod or Solidago

A Letter from a Friend November 18, 1881 On this day, Asa Gray received a letter from his botanical friend and colleague George Engelmann. Asa wrote him back in December: “My dear old Friend, It is shabby of me to wait so long in response to your kindly greetings, which were dated on my birthday,…

Charles Leo Lesquereux

Living with Nature November 18, 1806 Today is the birthday of a son of Switzerland, Charles Leo Lesquereux, (“le crew”), who was born on this day in 1806. Leo was born with a naturalist’s heart. A self-described dreamer, Leo loved to go out into the forest, and he collected all kinds of flowers and…

Asa Gray

For Team Darwin November 18, 1810 Today is the birthday of one of the leading American botanists of his time and a member of Team Darwin, Asa Gray, who was born on this day in 1810. In 1857, Asa Gray received a confidential letter from Charles Darwin. In the letter, Darwin confided: “I will enclose…

William Shenstone

Ornamented Farms November 18, 1714 Today is the birthday of the poet and Landscape gardener William Shenstone, who was born on this day in 1714. In the early 1740s, William inherited his family’s dairy farm, which he transformed into the Leasowes (“LEZ-zoes”). The transfer of ownership lit a fire under William, and he immediately started…

Cranberries

The Pleasant Fruit November 18, 1843 Back in 1843, cranberries were causing a sensation in towns and cities around the country. The New England Farmer shared a charming update on the demand for the seasonal fruit, saying: “Cranberries. This pleasant fruit is now received in large quantities from the West. The crops in the East…

Most People, Early in November

by Beverley Nichols Most people, early in November, take last looks at their gardens and are then prepared to ignore them until the spring. I am quite sure that a garden doesn’t like to be ignored like this. It doesn’t like to be covered in dust sheets, as though it were an old…

Queen Charlotte: the Garden Patron

A Royal of Many Loves November 17, 1818 Today is the anniversary of the death of the woman who was a patroness of the arts, an amateur botanist, a champion of Kew Gardens, and the wife of George III, Queen Charlotte. In addition to the astounding fact that Charlotte gave birth to 15 children, she…