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Author : Harvesting History

Home » Articles posted by Harvesting History (Page 19)

  • Balsam

    Mar 01, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Balsam - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Balsams belong to an important family of plants which include the popular bedding plant, Impatiens. The plant is a native of Asia, but had been introduced into Europe by the mid-1500's and was being grown in Great Britain by the late 1500's. By the late 1700's, they had been introduced into the US. Joseph Breck, in his 1851 book, The Flower Garden, notes that the plant was also known as "Touch-me-not". He wrote, "The Double Balsam is one of the most prominent ornaments of the garden, in July and August. Old seed is considered by some to be the best, as more likely to produce double flowers. The seeds should be saved from double flowering plants only; all single

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  • Bachelor’s Button

    Mar 01, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Bachelor's Button -  A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Bachelor's Buttons, also known as Cornflowers, are the bluest of all the flowers in the garden and blue is the rarest of the colors offered in nature. The plants are native to Europe and Asia. Tutankhamen, the Egyptian boy king, was buried with a wreath around his head of cornflowers, olive leaves and water lily petals. Centuries ago they were so abundant in Europe that entire fields were covered with the flowers. The Latin name, Centaurea Cyanus, refers to the mythical centaur, Chiron. Legend has it that Chiron, the half man-half horse creature, used cornflowers to heal himself after he was wounded by a poisoned arrow in a battle with the mythical Hydra. Throughout the centuries, the

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  • Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila)

    Mar 01, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Baby's Breath - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Gypsophila which is known in the US as Baby's Breath and in Great Britain as Soapwort is a vigorous perennial which was originally native to Europe, Asia and Northern Africa. The plant was introduced into the United States in 1828 when many plants admired by the Victorian gardeners of Great Britain made their way into the gardens of the United States. Gardeners and garden writers immediately fell in love with the plant. It was described as a "...plant of great daintiness, both in foliage and flowers..." and "Useful for mist-like effects in mixed borders and container..." Baby's Breath was a staple of the Victorian Cottage Garden because of its light lacy floral canopy and its value as a

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  • Aster

    Mar 01, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Aster - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Asters are native to many parts of the world especially the New World. They have been a cottage garden favorite for centuries because of their incredible colors and late summer and fall blooms. Thomas Jefferson loved the China aster varieties and cultivated many of them at Monticello. Breck noted in his 1851 book, The Flower Garden, that the original China Aster was known as The Double China Aster. According to Breck, within a few years, because of work by German florists, and others, the Double China Aster had been so improved "so that it is hardly to be recognized as the same flower as the old China Aster...". Aster Crego, a China aster, a hardy annual, was introduced in

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  • Armenian Basketflower

    Mar 01, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Armenian Basketflower - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions The Armenian Basketflower is a robust perennial which is probably native to Europe, Asia and the Mediterranean. It is also known as Giant Knapweed and its Latin name is Centaurea macrocephala which tells us that it is related to Bachelor Buttons and Cornflowers. The large yellow flowers and the base which holds them are reminiscent of thistle flowers. The plants form clumps of thick, stiff, leafy stems and flowers are borne on the ends of each stem. Armenian Basketflowers are mildly easy to grow if given the proper conditions. The plants need full sun and will not tolerate evenly mildly wet conditions. On the other hand they seem to be both drought and heat tolerant. They will self

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  • Amaranthus

    Mar 01, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Amaranthus 
- A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Amaranthus comprises a family of about 60 species of annuals or short-lived perennials that were originally native to parts of South America, Africa and India. The plant was introduced into the United States during the 1700's. In his 1851 book, The Flower Garden, Joseph Breck was already describing Amaranthus as "an old favorite of the flower-garden". Amaranthus Caudatus Red also known as Love-Lies-Bleeding, Velvet Flower or Tassel Flower, Amaranthus Tricolor also known as Summer Poinsettia, Chinese Spinach or Joseph's Coat, and Amaranthus Hypochondriacus known as Prince's Feather are three of the most famous species Amaranthus Caudatus Red was popularly known as "Love-Lies-Bleeding" by 1665. The name Amaranthus means "never waxing old" and referred to the beautiful, chenille-like plumes

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  • Alyssum


    Mar 01, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Alyssum
 - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Alyssum also known as Sweet Alyssum is a perennial that is native to Southern and central Europe, Northern Africa and Southwestern and Central Asia and was included in gardens as far back as the 1500's. The plants are prized for their low hummock-forming habit and incredible fragrance. Flowers are either yellow, white or violet. During the 1800's, the yellow flowering variety of the plant began to enjoy popularity in the United States. Breck in his 1851 book, The Flower Garden, recommended "Golden Alyssum...for rock-work or to be planted in masses...". By the 1900's the more fragrant white flowering variety was enjoying immense popularity and was being recommended as a plant for attracting bees. The early cultivars were

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  • Ageratum


    Mar 01, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Ageratum
 - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Ageratum also known as Floss Flower or Whiteweed is an annual that is native to Southeastern North America and Central America with four species native to the United States. Depending on the cultivar, the plants can be erect, spreading or mounding. Flowers can be blue, white or pink and are known to attract butterflies. Ageratum needs well-drained soil and can be grown in partial shade or full sun. In mild climates seed can be sown in the autumn if the soil temperature remains above 50 degrees. In other climates, seed should be sown in the spring when the soil temperature has reached 60 degrees. Sprinkle the seed on the soil and cover with about 1/4 inch of soil.

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  • African Daisy

    Mar 01, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    African Daisy - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions The African Daisy also known as the Cape Marigold, the Star-of-the-Veldt and Osteospermum is a hardy annual that is native to the dry, stony soils of South Africa. The plants were discovered in the 19th century and brought to Europe and the United States where they quickly gained some popularity. The flowers of the original strains would remain open only during periods of full sun. When the sky clouded over or after the sun set, the flowers would close. For many this made the plant undesirable, but the vividly colored flowers were so attractive that breeding programs in Great Britain and the United States began to produce cultivars with blooms that remained open much longer. As

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  • Achillea


    Mar 01, 2016 Categories: Growing Instructions

    Achillea
 - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Achillea also known as Yarrow or Sneezewort to 19th century Americans is a vigorous and hardy perennial native to Europe, Asia and the Americas. There are white, yellow, red and pink varieties. According to Breck, in his 1851 book, The Flower Garden, the pink species was native to the United States. In general, the plant was known for its wound healing abilities, but the red variety was prized for bladder troubles and ulcers. Achillea is a very old plant. Pollen has been found at the burial sites of Neanderthals which would mean that it has been used by humans for at least 60,000 years. For the Native Americans, the plant was an important member of the medicines used

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