Category: Holidays
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World Art Day 2024: A Garden of Expression
World Art Day, introduced by UNESCO, honors art’s role in advancing knowledge, creativity, and cultural diversity. Its theme changes yearly, with the 2024 focus on cultivating community through art. The date, April 15th, coincides with Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday. Anyone can participate in World Art Day, from simple sketching to botanical art. Realism, capturing the…
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Year of the Dragon: The Madagascar Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)
The Chinese New Year just started, marking the Year of the Dragon. To celebrate, a deep dive into the Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata) is offered. The author shares a personal connection with this plant and discusses its characteristics, propagation, care, common problems, and significance as a lucky plant. Through a personal anecdote, the acquisition and…
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Seed Swap Events: Increase Your Home Seed Library & Expand Your Garden
National Seed Swap Day, typically celebrated on the last Saturday of January, provides gardeners with the opportunity to exchange seeds, cuttings, and plants. These events offer a chance to acquire a diverse range of seeds, including local varieties better suited to the area. Seed swaps also facilitate social interaction, learning opportunities, and the acquisition of…
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Season’s Greenings at the United States Botanic Garden: A Site Visit
Light shows and exhibitions abound all around the world during the winter holiday season. While the cold keeps gardens growing their slowest (or not at all), it’s odd to think of visiting botanical gardens during this time of year. However, not all botanical gardens go into winter hibernation. During the winter holiday, the US Botanic…
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A Poinsettia Holiday Story: Planty the Watered Plant
In the spirit of the holidays, it will come as no surprise that we will often purchase a poinsettia. Poinsettias are everywhere during the holiday season. This is the unexpected true and hilarious story of a poinsettia that made its home in our hearts.
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Poinsettia History: How a Mexican Flower Became a Symbol of the Holiday Season
It’s impossible to visit a store during the holidays and not see with the showy sight of bright red, white, or multicolored heads of Poinsettias. This week, I wanted to delve into the history of how the poinsettia singlehandedly took over the plant industry for a month out of the year.
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Homemade Infused Olive Oil With Your Own Garden Produce
If you have a garden that occasionally over-produces, you’ll want to look at ways to preserve your herbs and spices for the long term. Making your own infused olive oil is an excellent method of preservation, and it creates a wonderful and beautiful gift to friends and family. Get started a few months in advance…
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The Four Leaf Clover and the Luck of the Irish
Saint Patrick’s Day typically dominates the month of March with its shamrocks, Irish flags, and Leprechauns. But there’s a lot of confusion surrounding the humble Irish clover. What’s the difference between a clover or a shamrock? How do you find a four leaf clover? Why is a four leaf clover lucky anyway? I’m tackling all…