The Pill in the Petunia Patch: When Birth Control Met Botany

Hormones in the Garden

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. September 10, 1981 On this day, the most deliciously scandalous horticultural revelation graced the pages of The Lancaster New Era. My dearest readers, prepare yourselves for a tale that will have tongues wagging…

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The Botanist’s Lament: Arthur Galston and the Birth of Agent Orange

Arthur Galston

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. April 1, 1943 On this day in 1943, an innocent botanical discovery twisted into something far more sinister, as botanist Arthur Galston observed that excessive application of a plant growth hormone caused catastrophic…

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