In a national webinar, BBC’s Advolly Richmond shares backstories of our favorite plants
The beautiful floral illustrations in Advolly Richmond's new book are by Sarah Jane Humphrey. Illustration by Sarah Jane Humphrey, courtesy “A Short History of Flowers” (Frances Lincoln)
Here’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in garden knowledge – and still beat the heat: A virtual (and beautiful) history lesson on the origins of our favorite flowers.
Set for 11 a.m. PDT on Thursday, Aug. 8, “A Short History of Flowers: The Stories That Make Our Gardens” traces how many ornamental plants found a home in our landscapes and our hearts. Garden and social historian Advolly Richmond of BBC’s “Gardeners’ World” will share some of her favorites (both plants and stories) from her new book, “A Short History of Flowers,” illustrated by Sarah Jane Humphrey.
To be held via Zoom, the one-hour online presentation is part of The Garden Conservancy’s series of Virtual Programs. Advance registration ($15) is required. Find the link here: https://www.gardenconservancy.org/education/education-events/virtual-talk-a-short-history-of-flowers.
(Unavailable to sit in on the live Zoom? A recording of the webinar will be sent to all registrants a few days after the event. The Garden Conservancy encourages interested folks to register, even if they cannot attend the live webinar.)
The author, podcaster and TV presenter will take participants around the world and back through time on a journey full of flowers – and wild adventures.
“Advolly Richmond’s beautifully illustrated talk highlights some of the flowers featured in her book, ‘A Short History of Flowers,’ ” say the organizers. “Many of the plants we love and grow as ornamentals first appeared in early herbals for medicinal and culinary use. But how often do we stop to think about how these beautiful flowers ended up in our tiny corner of the world?
“Flowers have played pivotal roles in societies for centuries, from the wild fuchsia hedgerows of Ireland, to the lily of the valley bringing luck and making a bold fashion statement in Paris. All of these blooms hold a treasure trove of stories,” they add.
“Have a giggle, shed a tear, but most of all, enjoy the tales of exploration in disguise, enduring love, cultural appropriation, and hybridization that Advolly will bring to life in this webinar. You will also get a glimpse of some of the gorgeous, specially commissioned botanical illustrations which appear in the book.”
Based in England, Richmond is best known to Americans for her work on BBC’s “Gardeners’ World.” Producer of “The Garden History Podcast,” she adds history and context to BBC garden features as well as contributes plant history profiles on BBC Radio 4. Her new book, “A Short History of Flowers” (published by Frances Lincoln, 208 pages, March 2024, $24.99 hardcover), features 60 plants and their backstories – full of intrigue and surprising twists.
As in the book, the flower stories will be accompanied in Thursday’s presentation by gorgeous illustrations. It’s a thought-provoking way to enjoy some serious (and light-hearted) gardening on a 100-degree day.
For more on The Garden Conservancy and its programs: https://www.gardenconservancy.org/.
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Food in My Back Yard Series
July 1: How to grow summer salad greens
June 24: Weird stuff that's perfectly normal
June 17: Help pollinators help your garden
June 10: Battling early-season tomato pests
June 3: Make your own compost
May 27: Where are the bees when you need them?
May 20: How to help tomatoes thrive on hot days
May 13: Your plants can tell you more than any calendar can
May 6: Maintain soil moisture with mulch for garden success
April 29: What's (already) wrong with my tomato plants?
April 22: Should you stock up on fertilizer? (Yes!)
April 15: Grow culinary herbs in containers
April 8: When to plant summer vegetables
April 1: Don't be fooled by these garden myths
March 25: Fertilizer tips: How to 'feed' your vegetables for healthy growth
March 18: Time to give vegetable seedlings some more space
March 11: Ways to win the fight against weeds
March 4: Potatoes from the garden
Feb. 25: Plant a fruit tree now -- for later
Feb. 18: How to squeeze more food into less space
Feb. 11: When to plant? Consider staggering your transplants
Feb. 4: Starting in seed starting
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Garden Checklist for week of June 29
We're into our typical summer weather pattern now. Get chores, especially watering, done early in the morning while it's cool.
* It’s not too late to add a splash of color. Plant petunias, snapdragons, zinnias and marigolds.
* From seed, plant corn, pumpkins, radishes, winter squash and sunflowers. Plant Halloween pumpkins now.
* Keep your vegetable garden watered, mulched and weeded. Water before 8 a.m. to reduce the chance of fungal infection and to conserve moisture.
* Water, then fertilize vegetables and blooming annuals, perennials and shrubs to give them a boost. Feeding flowering plants every other week will extend their bloom.
* Don’t let tomato plants wilt or dry out completely. Give tomatoes a deep watering two to three times a week.
* Harvest vegetables promptly to encourage plants to produce more. Squash especially tends to grow rapidly in hot weather. Keep an eye on zucchini.
* Pinch back chrysanthemums for bushy plants and more flowers in September.
* Harvest tomatoes, squash, peppers and eggplant. Prompt picking will help keep plants producing.
* Remove spent flowers from roses, daylilies and other bloomers as they finish flowering.
* Pinch off blooms from basil so the plant will grow more leaves.
* Cut back lavender after flowering to promote a second bloom.
* Give vegetable plants bone meal or other fertilizers high in phosphate to stimulate more blooms and fruiting.
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