July 29, 2019 A Peter Rabbit Garden, Thomas Nuttal, Edith Coleman, Ryan Gainey, The First Plant Patent, Sara Coleridge, The Education of a Gardener by Russell Page, Dividing Iris, Charles Clemon Deam, and Honeysuckle
Do you have children or grandchildren?
A Peter Rabbit Garden is a lovely idea for you to consider.
Of course, Peter Rabbit is the creation of Beatrix Potter, who was a noted botanist and mycologist. (A mycologist studies fungi). Potter's garden was located at Hill Top Farm.
In making your Peter Rabbit garden, you could add a little wooden fence or a little stone wall around the perimeter.
Inside, use the herbs and perennials featured in the books:
Herbs include: Mint, Chamomile, Lavender, Parsley, Sage, Thyme, Rosemary, Lemon Balm, and Tansy.
Edibles include Lettuce, Beets, Radish, Rhubarb, Onions, and Strawberry
Then add Pansies, Roses, and Pinks.
Brevities
#OTD On this day in 1810, Thomas Nuttal, just 24 years old, jumped in a birch bark canoe with Aaron Greely, the deputy surveyor of the territory of Michigan, and they paddled to Mackinac Island arriving two weeks later on August 12.
Nuttal spent several days on Mackinac - He was the first true botanist to explore the flora of Michigan, and certainly of Mackinac Island. Nuttal immediately set about collecting and writing detailed accounts of the flora he discovered. He documented about sixty species - about twenty were previously unknown. One the new Mackinac discoveries was the dwarf lake iris (Iris lucustris), which became the state wildflower of Michigan.
Until recently little was known about Coleman. The author, Danielle Claude wrote a book about Coleman called The Wasp and the Orchid which explored how Coleman went from being a housewife until the age of 48 and then transformed into one of Australia’s leading naturalists.
Coleman had a special appreciation for orchids. Beginning in January 1927 one of her daughters told her that she had seen a wasp entering the flower of the small tongue orchid backwards. The odd behavior was something both Coleman and her daughter would see repeatedly over the next few seasons. The behavior was is perplexing; especially after Coleman dissected the plants and discovered that they were male. Coleman continued to study their behavior and she finally discovered that the wasp was fertilizing the orchid. The orchid uses this stealth pollination strategy Called pseudo-copulation to trick the mail wasps into thinking they are meeting with a female wasp. By getting the males to enter the plant, the plant is able to be pollinated.
Coleman became the first woman to be awarded the Australian natural history medallion. Coleman will forever be remembered for her groundbreaking discovery about orchid pollination
"Where lies the genius of man? It is the ability to control nature... but for one purpose only; and that is to create beauty."
#OTD It was on this day in 1931 that newspapers were reporting that Louis Schubert and August Rosenberg had the distinction of being the first recipients of a patent for a plant.
Unearthed Words
"Hot July brings cooling showers,
Apricots and gillyflowers."
- Sara Coleridge, Pretty Lessons in Verse
"A swarm of bees in May is worth a load of hay.
A swarm of bees in June is worth a silver spoon.
A swarm of bees in July is not worth a fly."
Russell Page is one of the legendary gardeners and landscapers of the twentieth century. First published in 1962, this book shares his charming anecdotes and timeless gardening advice.
Today's Garden Chore
Now is a great time to deal with your Iris.
When your irises finish blooming, cut off the dead flower stalks; but not leaves. Iris use their swords, the green leaves, to nourish rhizomes for the following year.
Since they are semi dormant, you can divide them now if necessary. Replant them as soon as possible and remember to cut off about two-thirds of the foliage to compensate for root loss. Simply cut the leaves in a fan shape and enjoy more iris next year.
Something Sweet
Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart
On this day, in 1951, the botanist Charles Clemon Deam replied to an inquiry about the honeysuckle.
"That [plant's] name is to me the same as a red flag to a bull. I cannot tell you in words how I regard this vine. Your question is does it propagate from seed. I do not believe it does. ... I have never heard a good word for it. . . . All that I can say affirmatively is that it is no good for anything."
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and remember:
"For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."
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