The weather diagnosis for today was just a bit off and I woke to continuing winds and snow flurries. Not to be deterred from my Garden Blogger Bloom Day duties, I was determined to scour the mountain for some hint of hidden blossoms. Still in my morning attire of plush brown robe and sloggers, I posed before the excursion into the big chill. Alas no current flowers were to be found.
Instead we can look to the near future with the aid of a beautiful and thoughtful gift from a blossoming new friendship. Thanks Deb.
The Book of Botanical Prints by Basilius Besler was first printed in 1613 under the title Hortus Eystettensis, or "the thorough and careful identification and lively illustration of all its plants, flowers, trees..."
The complete set of copper plate engravings collected in this book chronicle the gardens of Prince Bishop Johann Konrad von Gemmingen who had the 14th century castle of Willibaldsburg converted into a prestigious Renaissance palace. At the time the garden, Hortus Eystettensis, was admired for its remarkable variety of rare plants such as Tulips, Hyacinths and Crown Imperials.
Today many of these are no longer rare and can be found hidden in the soil on a mountaintop in North Carolina. Narcissus and Hyacinth were added to the native Hepatica.
The bulk of the Daffodils here will hopefully wait patiently for the proper time to emerge and not be fooled by intermittent bouts of warmth.
The 1100 plant types detailed on 367 plates are arranged by approximate bloom time. Even 400 years ago gardeners were obsessed by Bloom Day and blogged about it in the manner of their time.
In today's world satellite signals can be cut off by frozen blobs of ice suspended in the air and delay publication of what is going on in the parent gardens and to the evolving grounds of Ku'ulei 'Aina.
We do the best we can. From Outside Clyde this has been Garden Bloggers Bloom Day for January 2008.
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7 comments:
Christopher this is a very clever way to participate in the GBBD. I will have to be clever next month I am afraid. Not much blooming going on around my garden either.
What a great gift from your friend deb. I am impressed with the way you brought the pages from the book to the blog. Did you photograph the page or copy and scan it, if you don't mind my asking?
What a beautiful book and commentary on gardening and blogging. You remember that all of this started because of a quote from another gardener, Elizabeth Lawrence that struck me one Feb. day? It is indeed a long standing tradition of gardeners to see what is blooming in their gardens, and to want to compare with other gardeners.
For those who did go outside, bundled up as you were, we must have looked nuts looking for blooms under the snow, in the cold.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
(Are you getting used to the cold weather yet?)
Well, I for one judge folks on their soil type, but then I'm a freak (aka soil scientist). :)
(such gorgeous book pages!)
Nice botanical prints, but what I really enjoyed was the picture of you in your plush brown Hugh Heffner robe, albeit covered by the snow parka.
Guess we'll just have to wait another month or two for the hot horti- center folds to unveil themselves.
Ah, garden porn.
Christopher, you are the Hugh Heffner of horticultural imagery.
Lisa I bet I am going to need to be clever again next month. If I could just find an easy way to get all my older pictures off the crashed computer I'd be set with a new plan for Feb.
Frances I just photographed the cover and pages with my little digital camera.
Carol this cold thing is not so bad as long as the wind is not blowing. When the wind is blowing, forget it. I ain't gonna spend too much time out there.
Pam the world could use more freaks like you.
Ha Deviant. I got the robe now I just need an empire.
Oh, to be able to draw like that! Like your outfit! Very stylish.
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