Jackie Bennett's guest appearances

Jackie Bennett

The Daily Gardener

Robert Brown

David Allen

Michelle Obama

Peter Rabbit

Candace Bushnell

Alana Chernila

Emily Dickinson

James Logan

Margaret Roach

William Morris

Alfred Hitchcock

John Muir

David Burke

Amy Stewart

Henry David Thoreau

OwlTail

Mary Pickford

Katie Melua

Hugo von Mohl

William Watson

John Claudius Loudon

Have you given much thought to the layout or shape of your garden beds?  Do they follow the natural lines and slopes of the landscape?  Are they geometric? Long beds with corners? Maybe you’ve tried a circle garden.  If you’re just beginning - border beds - beds anchored by a backdrop (like a house or a fence) are the easiest to plan and execute.  Often overlooked, one thing to consider in border beds is to add some stepping stones or even a small path along the back to provide access points that make tending your garden easier.  Brevities #OTD In 1783: It’s the birthday of Scottish author, garden designer, and botanist John Claudius Loudon.(Books By This Author)A massively popular and breathtakingly prolific writer on horticulture, John focused on serving the needs of the expanding middle class who wanted to have smaller gardens.  1838, Loudon wrote in his book call The Suburban Gardener and Villa Companion, “A suburban residence with a small portion of land attached will contain all that is essential to happiness." Loudon created and published a magazine called The Gardener’s Magazine. It started out as quarterly. The first issue sold 4,000 copies. It soon became bi-monthly. Loudon used the platform to introduce a new landscape perspective which he called “gardenesque”.     Prior to Loudon, the prevailing landscape style of the was the “picturesque” view.  In contrast with the big picture or natural perspective of the picturesque garden style, Loudon wanted to draw attention to individual specimens - isolating them by removing surrounding plants or by using geometrical beds.  During Loudon’s time, exotic plants were the rage and a controlled garden was the best way to feature specimen plants.   Loudon's "Gardenesque style” or The Plant Collector’s Garden with formal features and botanical variety was very popular with Victorian gardens.  Loudon favored circular beds, of the type  which can still be seen in the flower garden at Greenwich Park,  because they show plants so well and because they are instantly  'recognizable' as the work of man.   John Loudon said,  “Any creation to be recognized as a work of art, must be such as can never be mistaken for a work of nature.”   Loudon invented the term “arboretum” - a garden of trees designed for scientific and educational purposes.  He also  had some thoughts about the value of public green spaces or “breathing zones” in cities.     Loudon married writer Jane Webb.  Jane was indispensable to him.  After an attack of rheumatic fever in 1806, Loudon suffered from reduced mobility in his limbs. In 1825, his right arm had to be amputated at the shoulder without anesthesia.  Around midnight on December 14, 1843, Loudon was dictating a book to his wife when he collapsed into her arms and died. The book was called, Self-instruction to Young Gardeners.   Born #OTD April 8, 1892, America's sweetheart, Hollywood legend, and lover of trees, Mary Pickford born Gladys Marie Smith.   Jump on twitter, search for “Mary Pickford Tree” and you’ll see images of Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford planting a tree at their PickFair estate. #ArborDay   Mary Pickford (Books By This Author)was the first to plant a tree, a Japanese cedar, in the Forest of Fame at the California Botanic Garden.   Trivia/Folklore says that Mary Pickford used to eat Flowers - specifically roses. Thought that they'd make her beautiful and they did,   Katie Melua sang a song called Mary Pickford which starts out,  "Mary Pickford Used to eat roses Thinking they'd make her Beautiful,  and they did-  One supposes." Apparently Pickford did indeed use to eat roses to make herself look more beautiful.     Mary Pickford reveals in her autobiography, Sunshine and Shadow, that as a young girl living in Toronto she would buy a single rose and eat the petals, believing the beauty, color and perfume would somehow get inside her.   Pickford also gifted leading man John Gilberta bench for his garden.   It was Mary Pickford who said, "I do not cry easily when seeing a picture, but after seeing [Charles Chaplin's] A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate (1923) I was all choked up - I wanted to go out in the garden and have it out by myself. Our cook felt the same way." #OTD in 1805, Hugo von Mohl was born.The greatest "botanist of his day”, it said in one newspaper.   A German botanist, he was the first to propose that new cells are formed by cell division.  Mitosis was discovered by Hugo von Mohl.  And, he discovered chloroplasts - describing them as discrete bodies within the green plant cell in 1837.  In 1846 he described the sap in plant cells  as, “the living substance of the cell” and created the word “protoplasm”. Unearthed Words An April poem that puts all others in shadow;  is the lyrical "April" by William Watson. (Books By This Author)  England's onetime poet laureate, he began the poem with the unforgettably beautiful expression which, reminds us that April is the girlish daughter of springtime: "April, April, laugh your girlish laughter, then, the moment after, weep your girlish tears.”    April April, April, Laugh thy girlish laughter; Then,  the moment after, Weep thy girlish tears!   April,  that mine ears Like a lover greetest, If I tell thee, sweetest, All my hopes and fears,   April, April, Laugh thy golden laughter, But, the moment after, Weep thy golden tears!   Today's Book Recommendation   The Writer's Garden: How Gardens Inspired our Best-loved Authors by Jackie Bennett The book features 18 gardens and 20 writers; the author reveals how the gardens were tended and enjoyed. The book highlights the gardens of: Jane Austen at Godmersham and Chawton Rupert Brooke at Grantchester John Ruskin at Brantwood Agatha Christie at Greenway Beatrix Potter at Hill Top Roald Dahl at Gipsy House Charles Dickens at Gad's Hill Place Virginia Woolf at Monk's House Winston Churchill at Chartwell Laurence Sterne at Shandy Hall George Bernard Shaw at Shaw's Corner Ted Hughes at Lumb Bank Henry James followed by E.F. Benson at Lamb House John Clare at Helpston Thomas Hardy at Hardy's Cottage and Max Gate Robert Burns at Ellisland William Wordsworth at Cockermouth and Grasmere Walter Scott at Abbotsford Rudyard Kipling at Bateman's   Today's Garden Chore Make plans to add more berries to your garden this season.   Blueberries should be the top of your list - they’re beautiful in the shoulder seasons - Spring and Fall - plus - Blueberries! Something Sweet  Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart Today, we learn about the true story of the "Waterloo Breeches."   John Claudius Loudon had written his friend, the Duke of Wellington, to inquire as to whether he might inspect the Waterloo Beeches. As a memorial of the battle of Waterloo, beech trees had been planted immediately after the battle of Waterloo.   Now, Loudon's note was kind of hard to read and the Duke misinterpreted a few things.    First, he THOUGHT that the note was from C.J. London(the Bishop of London) - not J.C.Loudon(the eminent landscape designer).   Second,  he misread "beeches" as "BREECHES".   Thus, he thought that the Bishop of London wanted to inspect his pants.   The Duke  wrote the Bishop back, saying: "My dear Bishop of London, It will always give me great pleasure to see you at Strathfieldsaye. Pray come there whenever it suits your convenience, whether I am at home or not. My servant will receive orders to show you so many pairs of breeches of mine as you wish ; but why you should wish to inspect those that I wore at the battle of Waterloo is quite beyond the comprehension of yours, most truly, Wellington." Now when this surprising not reached the Bishop of London, he showed it to the Archbishop of Canterbury and to other discreet persons. They thought the great Duke of Wellington had lost his mind. Eventually, the whole matter got straightened out. But from that day forward, the incident became known as the story of the "Waterloo Breeches".  And, we wouldn't have it - without John Claudius Loudon. Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

Have you given much thought to the layout or shape of your garden beds? Do they follow the natural lines and slopes of the landscape? Are they geometric? Long beds with corners? Maybe you’ve tried a circle garden. If you’re just beginning - border beds - beds anchored by a backdrop (like a house or a fence) are the easiest to plan and execute. Often overlooked, one thing to consider in border beds is to add some stepping stones or even a small path along the back to provide access points that make tending your garden easier.  Brevities #OTD In 1783: It’s the birthday of Scottish author, garden designer, and botanist John Claudius Loudon.<a href="https://amzn.to/2I8EBm8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Books By This Author)</a>A massively popular and breathtakingly prolific writer on horticulture, John focused on serving the needs of the expanding middle class who wanted to have smaller gardens.  1838, Loudon wrote in his book call The Suburban Gardener and Villa Companion, “A suburban residence with a small portion of land attached will contain all that is essential to happiness." Loudon created and published a magazine called The Gardener’s Magazine. It started out as quarterly. The first issue sold 4,000 copies. It soon became bi-monthly. Loudon used the platform to introduce a new landscape perspective which he called “gardenesque”.     Prior to Loudon, the prevailing landscape style of the was the “picturesque” view.  In contrast with the big picture or natural perspective of the picturesque garden style, Loudon wanted to draw attention to individual specimens - isolating them by removing surrounding plants or by using geometrical beds.  During Loudon’s time, exotic plants were the rage and a controlled garden was the best way to feature specimen plants.   Loudon's "Gardenesque style” or The Plant Collector’s Garden with formal features and botanical variety was very popular with Victorian gardens.  Loudon favored circular beds, of the type  which can still be seen in the flower garden at Greenwich Park,  because they show plants so well and because they are instantly  'recognizable' as the work of man.   John Loudon said,  “Any creation to be recognized as a work of art, must be such as can never be mistaken for a work of nature.”   Loudon invented the term “arboretum” - a garden of trees designed for scientific and educational purposes.  He also  had some thoughts about the value of public green spaces or “breathing zones” in cities.     Loudon married writer Jane Webb.  Jane was indispensable to him.  After an attack of rheumatic fever in 1806, Loudon suffered from reduced mobility in his limbs. In 1825, his right arm had to be amputated at the shoulder without anesthesia.  Around midnight on December 14, 1843, Loudon was dictating a book to his wife when he collapsed into her arms and died. The book was called, Self-instruction to Young Gardeners.   Born #OTD April 8, 1892, America's sweetheart, Hollywood legend, and lover of trees, Mary Pickford born Gladys Marie Smith.   Jump on twitter, search for “Mary Pickford Tree” and you’ll see images of Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford planting a tree at their PickFair estate. #ArborDay   Mary Pickford <a href="https://amzn.to/2TRRK59" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Books By This Author)</a>was the first to plant a tree, a Japanese cedar, in the Forest of Fame at the California Botanic Garden.   Trivia/Folklore says that Mary Pickford used to eat Flowers - specifically roses. Thought that they'd make her beautiful and they did,   Katie Melua sang a song called Mary Pickford which starts out,  "Mary Pickford Used to eat roses Thinking they'd make her Beautiful,  and they did-  One supposes." Apparently Pickford did indeed use to eat roses to make herself look more beautiful.     Mary Pickford reveals in her autobiography, <a href="https://amzn.to/2TQPL0T" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sunshine and Shadow</a>, that as a young girl living in Toronto she would buy a single rose and eat the petals, believing the beauty, color and perfume would somehow get inside her.   Pickford also gifted leading man <a href="https://amzn.to/2VgJLjo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">John Gilbert</a>a bench for his garden.   It was Mary Pickford who said, "I do not cry easily when seeing a picture, but after seeing [Charles Chaplin's] A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate (1923) I was all choked up - I wanted to go out in the garden and have it out by myself. Our cook felt the same way." #OTD in 1805, Hugo von Mohl was born.The greatest "botanist of his day”, it said in one newspaper.   A German botanist, he was the first to propose that new cells are formed by cell division.  Mitosis was discovered by Hugo von Mohl.  And, he discovered chloroplasts - describing them as discrete bodies within the green plant cell in 1837.  In 1846 he described the sap in plant cells  as, “the living substance of the cell” and created the word “protoplasm”. Unearthed Words An April poem that puts all others in shadow;  is the lyrical "April" by William Watson. <a href="https://amzn.to/2VmwzcM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Books By This Author) </a> England's onetime poet laureate, he began the poem with the unforgettably beautiful expression which, reminds us that April is the girlish daughter of springtime: "April, April, laugh your girlish laughter, then, the moment after, weep your girlish tears.”    April April, April, Laugh thy girlish laughter; Then,  the moment after, Weep thy girlish tears!   April,  that mine ears Like a lover greetest, If I tell thee, sweetest, All my hopes and fears,   April, April, Laugh thy golden laughter, But, the moment after, Weep thy golden tears!   Today's Book Recommendation  <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Writers-Garden-Gardens-Inspired-Best-loved/dp/0711238405/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=gardenradione-20&amp;linkId=a9c1ab5fd1bfcd5ceff704d4ccd1f176&amp;language=en_US" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The Writer's Garden: How Gardens Inspired our Best-loved Authors by Jackie Bennett</a> The book features 18 gardens and 20 writers; the author reveals how the gardens were tended and enjoyed. The book highlights the gardens of: Jane Austen at Godmersham and Chawton Rupert Brooke at Grantchester John Ruskin at Brantwood Agatha Christie at Greenway Beatrix Potter at Hill Top Roald Dahl at Gipsy House Charles Dickens at Gad's Hill Place Virginia Woolf at Monk's House Winston Churchill at Chartwell Laurence Sterne at Shandy Hall George Bernard Shaw at Shaw's Corner Ted Hughes at Lumb Bank Henry James followed by E.F. Benson at Lamb House John Clare at Helpston Thomas Hardy at Hardy's Cottage and Max Gate Robert Burns at Ellisland William Wordsworth at Cockermouth and Grasmere Walter Scott at Abbotsford Rudyard Kipling at Bateman's   Today's Garden Chore Make plans to add more berries to your garden this season.   Blueberries should be the top of your list - they’re beautiful in the shoulder seasons - Spring and Fall - plus - Blueberries! Something Sweet  Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart Today, we learn about the true story of the "Waterloo Breeches."   John Claudius Loudon had written his friend, the Duke of Wellington, to inquire as to whether he might inspect the Waterloo Beeches. As a memorial of the battle of Waterloo, beech trees had been planted immediately after the battle of Waterloo.   Now, Loudon's note was kind of hard to read and the Duke misinterpreted a few things.    First, he THOUGHT that the note was from C.J. London(the Bishop of London) - not J.C.Loudon(the eminent landscape designer).   Second,  he misread "beeches" as "BREECHES".   Thus, he thought that the Bishop of London wanted to inspect his pants.   The Duke  wrote the Bishop back, saying: "My dear Bishop of London, It will always give me great pleasure to see you at Strathfieldsaye. Pray come there whenever it suits your convenience, whether I am at home or not. My servant will receive orders to show you so many pairs of breeches of mine as you wish ; but why you should wish to inspect those that I wore at the battle of Waterloo is quite beyond the comprehension of yours, most truly, Wellington." Now when this surprising not reached the Bishop of London, he showed it to the Archbishop of Canterbury and to other discreet persons. They thought the great Duke of Wellington had lost his mind. Eventually, the whole matter got straightened out. But from that day forward, the incident became known as the story of the "Waterloo Breeches".  And, we wouldn't have it - without John Claudius Loudon. Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

April 8, 2019 John Claudius Loudon, Mary Pickford, Katie Melua, Hugo von Mohl, William Watson, Jackie Bennett, and the Duke of Wellington