In gardening,
nothing is really new. Yes, tools are invented to ease the aches and pains, and
new discoveries allow us to add just the right something to make the flower
grow or bloom a little longer, a little shorter, or a little more. Even our
ideas about design are well-rooted in the past. Design concepts that worked in
colonial America continue to enhance our
landscape enjoyment and use. The tools of the landscape design trade and the
insider-tricks that are sure to get results are well founded in the historis of
horticulture.
An amazing description, for example, of our modern suburban, cookie cutter, absent-of-any-sense-of-design
developer driven landscapes was published in 1806. Can you read this and not picture the usual 21st century McMansion subdivision
landscape or urban park installed under pressure by a developer eager to move
on with maximum profit.
"But some modern Pleasure-grounds,
in which rural design is copied to an extreme, are often very barren of variety
and entertainment as they frequently consist only of a grass lawn like a great
field; having a running plantation of trees and shrubs all round it, just broad
enough, to admit a gravel-walk winding through it, in the serpentine way, in
many short twists and turns, and bordering at every turn alternately, upon the
outward fence and the lawn; which are continually obtruded upon the sight,
exhibiting the same prospect over and over, without the least variation; so as
that after having traversed the walks all round this sort of pleasure-ground,
we find no more variety or entertainment than at our first entrance, the whole
having presented itself at the first view."[1]
If you are interested in any
aspect of gardening from fruits and berries to vegetables, annuals to
perennials, as well as houseplants, and are looking for an in-depth calendar of
work; and you want this to be completely
organic as in no use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, then the work for
you is The American Gardener’s Calendar by Bernard
McMahon.
M'Mahon
was born in Ireland in 1775 and came to the United States in 1796 because of
political instability in his native country. He settled in Philadelphia and
established a seed and nursery business. Very shortly thereafter he began to
collect and export seeds of American plants. Because of his work, many native
American plants became established in Europe. The History of
Horticulture web
site continues:
"In 1804 his catalogue
of seeds included 1,000 "species." He became acquainted with Thomas
Jefferson as well as other distinguished men of his time. It is said that the
famous Lewis and Clark expedition was planned in his home. His horticultural
interests were very broad and his seed store became a meeting place for
botanists and horticulturists. M'Mahon and Landreth, a noted Philadelphia
nurseryman, distributed the seeds collected in the Lewis and Clark expedition.
He published in 1806 the first really important horticultural book which was
entitled, American Gardeners Calendar. This was a standard encyclopedia for
many years. The 11th edition was published in 1857. M'Mahon was
born in Ireland but came to America in 1796 because of political instability in
that country. He settled in Philadelphia and established a seed and nursery
business. Very shortly thereafter he began to collect and export seeds of
American plants. By this means many nature plants became established in Europe.
In 1804 his catalogue of seeds included 1,000 "species".
[1]
McMahon, B., 1806. The American
Gardener’s Calendar; Adapted to the Climates and Seasons of the United States:
Containing a Complete Account of All the Work Necessary to be Done ... for
Every Month in the Year; with Ample Practical Directions for Performing the
Same ..., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: B. Graves,.
1 comment:
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