Heirloom Cottage Garden
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Seeds
  • My Garden
  • Gardens I've Visited
  • Misc.

Inspired by Emily Dickinson

9/27/2018

6 Comments

 
  One day last week while researching something else (don't remember what!) I came across a picture of a page from Emily Dickinson's herbarium. Of course, I was immediately interested and started to dig deeper. Although I've read some of her poems and noticed that many of them are about flowers, I didn't fully realize until that moment that she was also a passionate gardener and lover of nature! I'm now reading a wonderful book called The Gardens of Emily Dickinson, by Judith Farr. I've often thought I was born in the wrong century, and reading this book makes me so wish that I could have known her! When I get done with this book I am going to go back and read all her poems, with a brand new appreciation! 😊
  Meanwhile, inspired by her herbarium, which contained over 400 specimens of plants from both her garden and surrounding fields and woods, I have started my own little herbarium. I already had a fair amount of pressed flowers and leaves because I love to tuck them into letters and between the pages of books, so a few pages have already been filled. And there are lots more being pressed right now! I just wish I had thought of this in the Spring! 
Picture
My herbarium is just a simple black sketchbook that I decorated with a Victorian-style floral print and label that I printed out and glued on the cover.
Picture
The first page: Chionodoxa forbesii (Glory-of-the-snow), Hesperis matronalis (Evening Dame's Rocket), Viola tricolor var. hortensis (Pansy) Aqueilegia vulgaris (Columbine), and Spiraea prunifolia (Bridalwreath Spirea)
Picture
Puschkinia scilloides var. libanotica (Striped Squill)
Picture
Nabalus altissimus (Tall Rattlesnake Root), Cosmos bipinnatus (Cosmos), Myosotis sylvatica (Forget-me-not), and Fallopia japonica (Japanese Knotweed)
I will close with the words of an enthusiastic 14-year-old Emily Dickinson in a letter to her school friend: "Have you made an herbarium yet? I hope you will if you have not, it would be such a treasure to you." It is certainly a pleasant occupation and will be such a comfort on those cold winter days that are fast approaching! 
6 Comments
Nancy
9/27/2018 10:58:40 pm

Love this idea. I have been pressing flowers for years. They are just stuck in books all over. On a recent trip to Ireland I brought home some beach heather. I will need to do something special with that.

Reply
Joanna link
9/28/2018 05:14:24 pm

I love it when I open a book I haven't read in a while and find some flowers from a previous summer. Usually brings back memories. :) A trip to Ireland sounds wonderful and how special that you were able to bring something you found growing there back with you!

Reply
Diane Bailey
9/28/2018 10:23:06 am

Thank you for your beautiful writing and pics! In these troubled times, it brings me peace!

Reply
Joanna link
9/28/2018 05:15:53 pm

Your comment warmed my very soul! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

Reply
Eliza link
9/28/2018 12:14:19 pm

What a lovely idea to put your summer 'memories' into a book. Your cover is beautifully done, too. I haven't pressed flowers in years. I used to have a press that my spouse made for me. I must have given it away, as I haven't seen it in a while, probably gone in one of my rare 'purges.'

Reply
Joanna link
9/28/2018 05:58:36 pm

I really need to make a real flower press! I usually just use books, but they don't seem to give enough weight for many flowers. Right now I'm pressing a lot of things under a pile of lumber in the garage! 😁

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    ​I am a passionate gardener and seed-saver, who also enjoys playing the violin and accordion, running, spending time with my 4 golden retrievers, keeping chickens, photography, and reading. ​
    ​

    Picture

    Archives

    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017

    RSS Feed

      Follow my blog!

    Subscribe
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Seeds
  • My Garden
  • Gardens I've Visited
  • Misc.