Belated Thank You's

Before this year draws to a close and we usher in 2010, I want to take care of some unfinished business. In the last two months I've received several gifts, and I'd like to thank those who were so kind to give them to me.

Some time ago I received a free copy of Flora Mirabilis: How Plants Have Shaped World Knowledge, Health, Wealth, and Beauty from the publishers at National Geographic. Written by Catherine Herbert Howell in collaboration with the Missouri Botanical Garden Library, this is a beautifully illustrated book that would be perfect for any gardener's coffee table collection.

Several other bloggers have already posted reviews of this book, so I won't bore you by repeating the same information here. Besides, in all honesty, I haven't had time to read the whole book yet, just snippets here and there. But that is one of the great things about this book--you can choose a chapter or one of the mini-chapters about specific plants in any order you wish.

A few bits of trivia I found fascinating in the book:

• One example is the olive, which appears in Greek mythology when Athena and Poseidon held a contest to see who would be the protector of Athens. Whoever produced the most valuable gift for the people of the city would win. Poseidon produced a saltwater spring (in the translation I had read before, it was a horse), and Athena offered an olive tree. She won the contest hands down, and the city adopted her name. In the familiar Biblical story of Noah, the olive appears again, as a dove released by Noah came back with an olive branch, a sign that the flood had receded. The olive branch is still a symbol of peace today.
  


• European explorers are believed to have brought many diseases to the New World, including malaria. Several stories tell of people cured of malaria by the bark of a special tree in South America. This "Peruvian bark" was brought back to Europe, and eventually renamed Cinchona officinalis. This plant is still in use as a remedy today--known to us as quinine.
  


• 
  We all think of Holland when we think of tulips, but did you know just how popular this flower once was in this country? In the early 1600's tulipomania took over the country, and prices for the most desired bulbs shot skyward. "By 1610 a new tulip variety was perfectly acceptable as a dowry, and houses and businesses were often mortgaged to facilitate the purchase of a coveted flower." Not surprisingly, the market eventually crashed, nearly bankrupting the whole country.
  

• 
  One of my favorite plants is pictured above in one of the many excellent illustrations in the book. Theobroma cacao literally means "food of the gods"--certainly appropriate for this source of chocolate. In Mayan culture cocoa seeds were used as currency, and it wasn't until 1847 that a British company produced the first chocolate that could be eaten.
  

Flora Mirabilis, however, is not a book of trivia but rather an engaging history of the role plants have played in our lives. It is what its name means--"a wonderful book about flowers." If you would like to know more about this book, check out some of the reviews posted by other bloggers, including an excellent and thorough review by another Rose at Rambleonrose.

Please note other than the free copy of this book, I received no remuneration for mentioning this book, nor was I required in any way to review the book here.


My tiny garden library has also increased in volume recently after winning two giveaways. The first was a giveaway by gardening guru Carol at MayDreams Gardens, where I was the lucky winner of this book, What's Wrong With My Plant? Carol, as well as several other bloggers, have posted reviews of this book, so I'll refer you to them for details. But I have skimmed through the book and can say that this will definitely come in handy! No more wondering what is causing those little holes in the leaves of my roses or what's causing the sedum to flop over and die. Next year, with the help of this reference, I'll have all the answers! Thanks, Carol!

Apparently the stars were in alignment for me for a short time (too bad I didn't buy a lottery ticket!), because a few weeks later I also won a giveaway at Commonweeder. Nancy Ondra's The Perennial Care Manual is another excellent reference that I know I'll consult frequently. Filled with beautiful photographs, the book gives instructions for specific plants on everything from pruning to propagating.

Looks like it's time to buy that new bookcase I've been wanting for my office!

And one more gift . . . Along with Nan Ondra's book, Pat at Commonweeder also sent me two dozen "Cowpots." Now all I need are some packets of seeds, and I will be all set for spring seed sowing! Thanks, Pat!

Finally, two more belated thank-you's. Shady Gardener at Does Everything Grow Better in My Neighbor's Yard? gave me this blog award some time ago.

And Suburbia at Moments From Suburbia gave me this award a few months ago. Thank you to both of you! I know the rules are to pass these on, but there are so many blogs I read these days that I thoroughly enjoy that I would have trouble picking out just a few. So, I thank these two friends for the awards and extend my thanks to all of you who make each day a little brighter with your creative, inspiring, or often humorous views of the world around us.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that you are able now to enjoy a little relaxation after the hubbub of decorating, baking, and shopping. All the presents have been opened here, and not one garden gift in the bunch! Oh well, my birthday is in June, so there is still hope. Meanwhile, we did have one more "gift"--the snow began to fall on Christmas Day, and by today my yard was a vision of white.

My camera was not out of focus--that is blowing snow you see in the background. Looks like I can finally join in on Nancy's "First Snowfall" project!

Wishing you all a great week and the beginning of a happy New Year!