The Father of Japanese Botany: Tomitaro Makino’s Extraordinary Legacy

Tomitaro Makino

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. April 24, 1862 On this day, Japan celebrates Botany Day—a delightful occasion honoring the birth of Tomitaro Makino, aptly known as the Father of Japanese Botany. While the rest of society busied themselves…

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April 24, 2019 Chives, Botany Day, Tomitaro Makino, Lucien Plantefol, Vancouver’s Botanist Restaurant, Paul George Russell, Henry Van Dyke, Charles Sprague Sargent , Stephanne Barry Sutton, Window Cleaning, and a Story from John Muir

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I recently had a gardener ask me about the first herb I’d ever grown. That would be chives. Chives, like many herbs, are so easy to grow. Plus, you get the cute little puffball blossom. I had a chef friend show me how she liked to cut off the flower. Then, she snipped a little…

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