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Author : Harvesting History

Home » Articles posted by Harvesting History (Page 16)

  • Forget Me Not

    Mar 02, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Forget Me Not 
- A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Forget Me Not, also known as Scorpion Grass and a member of the Borage family, is a temperate climate perennial plant, which was originally native to Europe, Asia and North America. The common name, Forget Me Not, comes from a German legend about a knight who died trying to get the flowers for his lover and called out with his last breath, "Forget me not!". The Greek name, Myosotis, means mouse's ear because the oval, furry leaves resemble a mouse's ear. More than any other flower it is a symbol of love and remembrance. The plant was a favorite in French and German gardens for centuries, but only gained popularity in British gardens in the 1800's.

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  • Evening Primrose

    Mar 02, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Evening Primrose 
A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Evening Primrose, also known as Sundrops, are hardy perennials which were discovered in North America and brought to Europe in the early 17th century where they quickly became a cottage garden favorite because of their showy yellow flowers which burst into bloom just as the sun was preparing to set. The original favorites were Oenanthera macrocarpa, a 3-4 foot plant which produced brilliant yellow 3 inch flowers. The French liked to eat the first year roots, preparing them as if they were salsify. The macrocarpa eventually fell out of favor because of their size and the room they needed in the cottage garden and were replaced by Oenanthera fruticosa, the 18 inch high, yellow flowering variety that

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  • Echinacea (Purple Coneflower)

    Mar 02, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Echinacea (Purple Coneflower) - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Echinacea, also known as Purple Coneflower or the Sampson root, is a true American native and one of the hardiest perennials available. The plant was used medicinally by the Native Americans of the Great Plains more than any other herb. It was the Native Americans that discovered that the roots contained valuable medicinal attributes. These cultures used the plant to treat snakebite and the bites of poisonous insects. The juice was used to bathe burns and was added to the waters sprinkled over coals during the traditional purification ceremonies known as "sweats". The plant was first identified and described during the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1904-1806. It grew in great profusion in the prairie lands of

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  • Dianthus Single

    Mar 02, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Dianthus Single - Pinks 
A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Dianthus Single or Pinks, a member of the Dianthus family, specifically Dianthus Plumarius, was introduced into England from Normandy around the year 1100. It was the Athenians that named the flower Dianthos, from the Greek words dios (devine) and anthos (flower). The flowers are smaller than those of the carnation and the petals are more toothed and are borne on shorter stems. Sometimes they are known as Lacey Pinks because of the "toothing" on their petals. Joseph Breck in his 1851 book, The Flower Garden, wrote, "...is an old inhabitant of the flower-garden and was much esteemed in Gerrarde's (Renown garden writer and gardener of his time - 1545-1612; his book remains the outstanding horticultural treatise

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  • Dahlias

    Mar 02, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Dahlias - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Dahlias are some of the showiest of all flowers. Dahlias originated in the central plateau and highlands of Mexico where even today, in August and September, the wild progenitors of this huge flower genus can be found blooming along highways, near cliffs, among boulders and on the slopes of the ancient volcanic mountains. The Aztecs cultivated the plant and had gardens filled with dahlias. In 1791, the plant was brought to Spain where Antonio Jose Cavanilles, a senior member of the staff of the Royal Botanic Garden in Madrid gave it the name, Dahlia, in honor of the Swedish botanist, Andreas Dahl, a pupil of Linnaeus. In the 1800's, the plant's popularity exploded throughout Europe and Great Britain

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  • Cosmos

    Mar 02, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Cosmos 
- A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Cosmos is a true American native being indigenous to the southwestern United States and Mexico. The name, Cosmos, comes from the Greek word meaning harmony or ordered universe. This is probably a reference to the ordered arrangement of the plant's petals. The plant was grown by Spanish priests in their mission gardens and was carried to Europe where it became known as "peasant's flowers" because of its ability to grow in the poor soils surrounding peasant cottages. In the United States, as early as 1838, the much respected New York seedsman, Grant Thorburn was offering a 6 foot tall, "late Cosmos" in his seed catalogs. In 1799, the plant was introduced into Britain with little success. Cosmos is

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  • Coreopsis (Calliopsis)

    Mar 02, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Coreopsis (Calliopsis) - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Coreopsis which was once known as Calliopsis and is sometimes known as Tickseed is a member of the Aster family. The plants are true native Americans being indigenous to the prairies and woodlands of North and Central America and Mexico. This is one of the many plants, named and described, by the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806. Plants identified by Lewis and Clark were sent back to the Bernard McMahon Nurseries in Philadelphia. The nurseries were charged with making the seed or plants available to the American public which they did. By 1851, when Joseph Breck wrote his book, The Flower Garden, the plant was well known. Breck writes, "Calliopsis tinctoria - var. atropurpurea. - Dyeing Calliopsis,

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  • Cleome

    Mar 02, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Cleome 
- A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Cleomes are part of a large family of robust annuals and shrubs which are indigenous to tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. Only a few of the annuals are commonly cultivated. It is believed that the plant from which Cleome Rose Queen was developed came originally from the West Indies and was introduced into the United States in 1817. The Latin name of this plant was Capparidaceae Hassleriana. The plant gained almost immediate popularity because of the extraordinary blossoms it produced on top of the nearly 4-5 foot stems. They were a curiosity and they definitely looked curious. In his 1851 book, The Flower Garden, Joseph Breck wrote, "This is an elegant tribe of plants and very curious in their

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  • Chinese Lantern

    Mar 02, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Chinese Lantern - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions The Chinese Lantern plant is a perennial which belongs to a family of more than 80 different species including the edible Ground Cherry and Tomatillo. This plant has been a favorite of Easterners and Westerners for centuries and is indigenous from southeastern Europe to Japan. Many gardeners now consider this plant to be an aggressive, invasive weed, but for others the vibrant orange husk which  develops in early autumn to protect the inedible, cherry-like fruit, when dried, produces one of the most unusual dried ornamentals available. Cut the stems in September and tie them into small bunches. Let dry in a cool area away from direct sunlight. This plant is purely ornamental. It is not edible like its

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  • Chrysanthemum Painted Daisy and Court Jester

    Mar 02, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Chrysanthemum Painted Daisy and Court Jester - 
A Little History and Some Growing Instructions The Court Jester is a variety of Painted Daisy which is a member of the abundant Chrysanthemum family. Painted Daisies are annuals. It has been said that few flowers are more highly valued or widely grown than chrysanthemums. Chrysanthemums originated in China. Five hundred years before the birth of Christ, Confucius wrote about the flower. In 386 AD, chrysanthemums reached Japan via Korea, but the Japanese initially showed little interest in the flower. About 250 years after it was first introduced into Japan breeding programs with the flower began. The Chinese-Korean flowers were crossed with wild Japanese species with attractive results. Near the end of the 8th century, the chrysanthemum became the

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