Dawn with the Iris King: Remembering William Rickatson Dykes

William Rickatson Dykes

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. November 4, 1877 Today we celebrate the birth of William Rickatson Dykes [RICK-et-sun DYKES], born in Bayswater, London. Though he began his career as a classics teacher at Charterhouse School, it was his…

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Mountains of Wonder: Patrick Synge’s Botanical Adventures

Patrick Synge's tombstone

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. September 17, 1910 Dearest garden enthusiasts, today we celebrate the birth of Patrick Millington Synge, a British botanist whose adventures in African plant hunting and subsequent leadership at the Royal Horticultural Society would…

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Forsythia’s Namesake: A Birthday Tribute to William Forsyth

William Forsyth

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. July 25, 1804 On this day, dear garden enthusiasts, we celebrate the birth of a most remarkable Scottish botanist, one William Forsyth. A man of extraordinary vision and, dare I say, peculiar tastes…

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May 20, 1913: When Chelsea Became the Capital of Flower Power

A 1913 Chelsea Flower Show winners trophy

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. May 20, 1913 On this day, dear garden enthusiasts, we find ourselves transported to a moment of horticultural history that would blossom into one of the most prestigious flower shows in the world.…

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A Radishing Affair: The Great Radish Trial of 1901

Radish harvest

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. May 7, 1901 On this day, the hallowed halls of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Drill Hall in Chiswick bore witness to a most intriguing spectacle: the Fruit and Vegetable Committee’s thorough examination of…

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