The poetry of hops and flowers: Christopher Smart’s garden verses

Christopher Smart, oil painting by an unknown artist, c. 1745; in the National Portrait Gallery, London (colorized and enhanced).

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. April 11, 1722 Dearest reader, On this day, the English poet Christopher Smart first greeted the world, though perhaps the world was not yet ready for a man of such curious brilliance. Known…

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Catch the Transient Hour

Samuel Johnson, a prominent figure in 18th-century British literature.

by Samuel Johnson Catch, then, oh catch the transient hour; Improve each moment as it flies! Life’s a short summer, man a flower; He dies – alas! how soon he dies!    Today’s Garden words were featured on the podcast: Words inspired by the garden are the sweetest, most beautiful words of all. Samuel Johnson,…

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