Need a Gardening-based Break but Can't Get Outside Yet?
The first signs of spring are here, but our gardens are not quite shovel-ready. So, today I’ve brewed a cuppa and am delving into gardening’s past, with the help of the internet. The Biodiversity Heritage Library, is a free and open online resource where anyone can access thousands of historical journals, botanical and scientific prints and volumes.
Today I’ve been checking out flower varieties from early 20th century seed catalogues. It’s been a fun exercise in finding both the similarities and the differences with my own hort practice and what was on offer back in 1930 from, Peter Henderson & co.
Of course there are loads of great illustrations of all the varieties, including some dazzling colour plates.
And advice about preserving your own food security through gardening, beautifying your home with flowers and attracting birds and bees into your space. Does that sound familiar to anyone else?
Plus the usual selling points, florescence, colour and form.
New, improved varieties bursting with fragrant blooms (that your neighbours will undoubtedly covet).
With so much on offer, for just a few dollars and cents.
Hardy stock and reliable germination, for the best chances of success.
And the promise of that gold medal winning garden that we all anticipate each winter.
Plus there are some amazing titles that top each page:
A Supreme Product of the Horticultural Art
Get the Spirit of Natural Beauty into Your Garden
A Stereotyped Garden of 1/2 Doz. Plants Should Not Satisfy
Plant a Garden and Enjoy the Fruits Thereof, It’s Economical
Gardening is the Oldest and Least Artificial of Human Joys
I guess that some things never change ;)
I hope you’ve enjoyed this quick and refreshing journey into gardening’s past, hopefully it was just what we all needed today.
If you find something spectacular in the collections of the, Biodiversity Heritage Library, do share it, we’d love to see!
Sara-Jane at Virens Studio
We’re a studio that specializes in eco-planting design, urban greening and garden writing in the Vancouver, Canada area.