July is an excellent time for National Picnic Month. The fresh air stirs the appetite, and garden vegetables and fruits make outdoor eating easier.
Picnics hearken back to mid-18th-century al fresco French dining. A bottle of wine, a loaf of bread, some cheese and fruit made for an instant meal under the sky. The word picnic is derived from the French word piquenique.
Whether we pack meals for tailgating at sporting events, an afternoon get-away or a weekend of camping, picnics provide an excellent way to enjoy the company of friends and family away from home.
It’s important to keep the meals simple and focus on the company. Sandwiches, finger foods, and beverages may seem plain, but it’s more about spending time with each other and being in nature.
Pack up the picnic basket and head out to your favorite park. Bring juice, wine, fruit, cheese, bread and some smoked meats and you’re all set. Use #NationalPicnicMonth to share on social media.
Each year on April 29th, National Peace Rose Day honors a well-known and fruitful garden rose.
The light yellow to large cream-colored flowers of the Peace rose have slightly flushed crimson pink petal edges. It is a hybrid tea rose that is hardy, vigorous, and highly resistant to disease.
French horticulturist Francis Meilland developed the Peace rose between 1935 and 1939. When Meilland foresaw the German invasion of France to protect the new rose, he sent cutting to his friends in Italy, Turkey, Germany, and the United States. It is believed these cuttings were sent to the United States on the last plane available before the German invasion.
Each country that received a cutting gave the rose a different name. In France, it was called “Madame A. Meilland” in honor of the breeder’s mother. Italy named the rose Gioia, meaning Joy. In Germany, the name of the rose was Gloria Dei, for glory to God. The United States named the rose “Peace,” and the national flower of the United States is the rose.
As the Second World War came to a close in Europe, the trade name “Peace” was publicly announced on April 29, 1945, by the Conrad Pyle Co. in the United States.
Later in 1945, Peace roses were given to each delegate at the inaugural meeting of the United Nations, in San Francisco, with a note that read: “We hope the Peace rose will influence men’s thoughts for everlasting world peace.”
National Peace Rose Day offers the opportunity for us all to discover the beauty of the Peace Rose. Whether you plant a shrub or share clippings with others, join in the celebration. These beautiful blossoms and their story encourages the sharing of peace between friends and neighbors.
Use #NationalPeaceRoseDay to post on social media.
Each year on April 16th, National Orchid Day recognizes one of the world’s diverse and widespread family of flowering plants. The orchids’ often colorful and fragrant blooms grow in abundance around the world. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species. Not only are they prolific, but they range in size from the 2.1 mm wide Platystele jungermannioides to broad-bloomed Grammatophyllum speciosum.
While some find the orchid challenging to grow, others find pleasure in their pleasant fragrance and uncommon beauty. With so many varieties to choose from, the beauty can be enjoyed from home or by visiting botanical gardens around the world.
Orchids are beautiful and extremely special. The creators of National Orchid Day, Mike and Faith Young, volunteered at an orchid reserve in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, in 2010, and the experience changed their lives forever. So much so, the Youngs decided if they were ever to have a daughter, they would name her Orchid. On April 16, 2014, sadly, they lost their precious daughter during labor. They named her Orchid Faith. Since then, they have been desperately trying to find ways to honor her life.
Creating National Orchid Day
After discovering that no National Orchid Day existed, the Youngs set out to secure the day in honor of their daughter, Orchid Faith. On the year anniversary of losing their precious little girl, they created a Kickstarter campaign. They offered pre-orders of their backyard honey (The Humble Bumbles Honey) with the goal of designating April 16th as National Orchid Day through the Official National Day Registrar. Within the first day, they met their goal, and the campaign brought in over $1,500. Thanks to the generosity and kindness of many friends, family, and supporters, April 16th will now forever be National Orchid Day in honor of their daughter.
For the rest of their lives, Mike and Faith say they will be caring for and spreading awareness about orchids. They feel that having a National Orchid Day dedicated to the beautiful life they lost, orchids will be appreciated a little bit more, and their little girl will feel the warmth of those that think of orchids that day. They feel as though all orchids are a representation of their little girl and hope that this special day will inspire those who come across orchids to think of their daughter, Orchid Faith, too; she is alive within you and all of us.
Radiant Faith Orchid
Also, for Mother’s Day 2015, Mike designated and named a Cattleya orchid ‘Radiant Faith’ through Chadwick and Son Orchids, Inc. The International Orchid Register of the Royal Horticulture Society in England officially recognizes and recognizes the Radiant Faith orchid. The Youngs were inspired by the color company Pantone’s color of the year for 2014 (the year they lost their daughter) – Radiant Orchid. Information on the Radiant Faith orchid can be found here: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/horticulturaldatabase/orchidregister/orchiddetails.asp?ID=982975
National Gardening Day on April 14th encourages gardeners and would-be gardeners to pick up a shovel, plant some seeds, and kick off a beautiful year of homegrown bounty.
Whether you want to grow vegetables, fruit, flowers, houseplants, or anything in between, National Gardening Day celebrates a satisfying pastime that you will enjoy for decades.
Growing your own food also provides fresh and natural nourishment for your family and saves you time and money at the grocery store.
As many gardeners know, the benefits of gardening come from more than the produce. Spending time in the garden also provides physical activity and an opportunity to join with nature.
The day is a call to action to get out and grow flower or vegetable gardens. No matter how you garden, plant in the ground, in containers, in straw bales or in a square foot gardening box. Just garden!
NATIONAL GARDENING DAY HISTORY
Cool Springs Press, an imprint of The Quarto Group, founded National Gardening Day on April 14 to celebrate gardening and to encourage home gardeners and students to learn more about how to garden.
About Cool Springs Press
Celebrating over twenty-five years of inspiring gardeners, Cool Springs Press is a leading publisher of best-selling gardening books with titles that cover all facets of plant cultivation and gardening techniques, both indoors and out.
Green thumbs are not required to learn to garden. Attend gardening seminars to gain knowledge. Read up about the plants that thrive in your zone. Start with some easy plants to grow such as: Radishes, Lettuce, Potatoes. We always do Tomatoes, Herbs, Zinnias, Pansies, and Marigolds.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL GARDENING DAY
There are many ways that you can celebrate the day, including:
Find the right book, guide or resource for your needs at Cool Springs Press, county extension service, the local bookstore or library.
Look for a community garden in your area.
Organize a seed and perennial plant swap with neighbors and friends.
Join a garden club. There isn’t one near? Start one!
Visit your local nursery or garden center—you will be amazed and excited by all the beautiful options
Visit Quarto Homes on Facebook and Instagram for more gardening information
While you’re gardening, be sure to share your experience with others on social media using #NationalGardeningDay, #garden and #gardening.
During National Garden Month in April, gather up your tools. You have permission to get dirty!
Like any other gardener, you’ve spent the last few months paging through catalogs dreaming and planning the next big adventure. The time has come. Whether you dream in color, spice or flavor, the all-important pleasure is getting to place those seeds or plants in the ground and nurture them along their way.
As gardeners know, we learn from each other and find joy in improving our skills. Working the soil and seeing the result of our labor is more than just satisfying. Being able to hand the seeds of life to another generation brings joy beyond measure.
Start small – Gardening can be an investment. Start with container gardening if you want to give it a whirl. Tomatoes and peppers will provide color and produce to eat.
Herbs such as basil, sage, and rosemary can also be brought in during the winter if planted in a container. If kept in a sunny window and watered when they are dry, they should survive the winter. Trim and use in your cooking.
Soil – Use the right soil for the plant. Depending on the plant, you may need to check with the garden center or extension service to determine if you have the right soil to grow a particular plant or tree. Areas with clay soils do not drain well and your plants will have wet roots in rainy weather. Sandy soils drain easily, but in a drought, the plant will require more water unless the plant is drought resistant.
Potted Plants – Anything in a container, such as a clay, plastic or resin pot will require more watering than a plant that has been placed in the earth. Depending on the daily temperature, these plants will likely need to be watered at least twice a day.
Fertilizer – Not all fertilizer is the same. Read labels and use the correct fertilizer for the type of plant.
Mulch – Mulching bedded plants helps protect from weeds and keeps from water loss.
Raised beds – Helps save on weeding and back-breaking work.
Sharpen your tools. Collect your seeds. Prepare your beds. It’s time to plant! Use #NationalGardenMonth to share on social media.
