Posts Tagged ‘horticulture history’
Southern Peat Bogs, Old Men and A New Farm Ethic
Sitting in a rocking chair, a tiny plate of deviled eggs in his football player lap, I guessed he was about 75. He was almost a stranger yet immediately familiar. He had my father’s brogue, my uncle’s nose, and this family’s skills of storytelling, “Did you know Daddy used to run a peat company down…
Read MoreThe Crinum of Downton Abbey
Victorian Britain was the epicenter of fashion, trends, politics, and horticulture. Natural history and plants were serious studies, serious hobbies for the rich. Sailors, explorers, and traders brought plants from all over the world to tempt rich collectors. An abundant supply of coal meant hot-houses and conservatories allowed for tropical plant gardening. Those collectors who…
Read MoreWinter Garden & The VERY First Plant Books
In five inches of snow, with hand warming chemical packs in my pocket, I saw 90 different varieties of witch hazel sparkle. The Missouri Botanical Garden staff horticulturist Sara Murphy cares for this huge planting. They were in full flower, in the snow, in February in St. Louis. Sara knows how to make them look…
Read More