Jane Loudon encouraged women gardeners - In the first part of the nineteenth century John Claudius Loudon became the voice for the gardener. He wrote several books, edited a magazine Gardener's Monthly, painted, and also designed landscapes. John Claudius Loudon…
Jane Loudon lists familiar flowers - Recently I came across a nineteenth century book on gardening by writer and gardener Jane Loudon (1807-1858). Loudon (or 'Mrs. Loudon' as the book's title page lists her) wrote the book The Ladies’ Companion…
In search of a blue dahlia - I have often heard that there is no blue dahlia. Last year I planted a blue dahlia I bought at the market Stop and Shop. The bright photo on the front of the…
Darwin's research on earthworms - All gardeners treasure the soil, or at least try to do so. Both the goal and the reward as you can see from this photo is wonderful, healthy soil. Photo by Kyle Ellefson on Unsplash One way to…