Posts Tagged ‘San Francisco’
A Flower for the Fog: San Francisco’s Love Story with Dahlias
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. October 4, 1926 On this day, dear readers, San Francisco embraced a most enchanting bloom as its official flower. The Dahlia, with its myriad forms and kaleidoscopic hues, was bestowed the honor of…
Read MoreRemembering San Francisco’s First Naming as the “Good Herb” City
“San Francisco was originally known as Yerba Buena – Spanish for good herb, a small mint-like plant early explorers found.” Over the years, people have left their hearts in San Francisco. The author Rudyard Kipling said, San Francisco has only one drawback – ’tis hard to leave. Paul Kanter of Jefferson Airplane said,…
Read MoreSan Francisco
Yerba Buena Today the city of Yerba Buena (“YAIR-Bah Byoo-Nah”) is renamed San Francisco. San Francisco was originally known as Yerba Buena – Spanish for “good herb” – a small mint-like plant early explorers found. Over the years, people have left their hearts in San Francisco. The author Rudyard Kipling said, “San Francisco has only…
Read MoreA 1967 Pop Hit for Your Garden Playlist
“If you’re going to San Francisco be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.” August 9, 1967 Today, in 1967, the song San Francisco, performed by Scott McKenzie, started a four-week run at number one on the UK singles chart. San Francisco became the unofficial anthem of the counter-culture movement of the 60s. San…
Read MoreCelebrating San Francisco – a City Initially Called the Good Herb
“San Francisco was originally known as Yerba Buena – Spanish for good herb, a small mint-like plant early explorers found.” Over the years, people have left their hearts in San Francisco. The author Rudyard Kipling said, San Francisco has only one drawback – ’tis hard to leave. Paul Kanter of Jefferson Airplane said,…
Read MoreThe First-Ever Richard Evans Schultes Award Went to Ethnobotanist Calvin R. Sperling
“As Schultes once said, ‘Ethnobotany simply means someone who is investigating plants used by primitive societies in various parts of the world.'” July 3, 1993 On this day, The Press Democrat out of Santa Rosa, California, reported on the first Richard Evans Schultes Award recipient. The honor went to a preeminent botanist and plant explorer…
Read MoreRemembering Scottish Gardener John McLaren who tended San Francisco’s Eden: Golden Gate Park
“For over thirty years, he had served as the park superintendent. John and wife lived in a little lodge nestled in the park.” June 26, 1922 On this day, The Nevada State Journal published an article from San Francisco. The headline was: “Laws are changed to help gardener…” The gardener in question was the…
Read MoreRemembering California Botany’s Power Couple Townsend & Kate Brandegee on their Wedding Anniversary
“Their honeymoon was a 500-mile nature walk from San Diego to San Francisco. During their walk, they collected plant specimens.” May 29, 1889 On this day, the botany power couple Townsend Brandegee and Kate Curran were married. The two met during Townsend’s first trip to California. Townsend was introduced to Kate Curran, curator at…
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