Boring Books for Bedtime Readings to Help You Sleep · Sharon Handy

1890 Gardiner and Co. Seed Annual, Part 2, Flowers for the Garden

·51 min·4 clips

Discover how 1890s gardeners bred cyclamens with extraordinary blooms of delicate colors and vigorous growth.

This episode continues a reading from the 1890 seed catalog published by John Gardiner & Co. of Philadelphia. The host reads entries for various flower seeds available to gardeners in the late 19th century. The catalog offers detailed descriptions and growing instructions for each plant variety. The flower section begins with Cyclamen, noting recent improvements in the 'Giganteum' strain for larger blooms. It lists Datura, or Trumpet Flower, as an ornamental annual with fragrant, trumpet-shaped blossoms. Delphinium, or Larkspur, is recommended for showy beds and cut flowers, with specific varieties like 'Barlowii' and 'Cashmerianum' named. Cosmos is described as a magnificent race of plants resembling single dahlias but better for cutting. The entry for Morning Glory highlights both climbing and lesser-known dwarf varieties suitable for borders. Convolvulus minor is listed as a dwarf morning glory growing about a foot tall. Dianthus encompasses pinks, carnations, and Sweet Williams, with the 'Hunts Perfection' strain noted. Digitalis, or Foxglove, is promoted for shrubbery borders. The catalog praises Freesia as a South African bulb that rapidly gained popularity for its fragrance and ease of growth. Gladiolus varieties include 'Gandavensis' from a French collection and new hybrids with orchid-like flowers. Sweet Peas receive extensive coverage, with the catalog claiming an unrivaled collection and detailing cultivation in deep trenches. Specific Sweet Pea varieties listed include 'Black Purple', 'Invincible Scarlet', and 'Princess of Wales'. Ornamental grasses like Job's Tears and Hare's Tail Grass are recommended for dried winter bouquets. The Hollyhock entry specifically mentions the 'Double Chater's Prize' strain saved from Mr. Chater's collection. Mina lobata is described as an annual climber whose flower buds change from vivid red to orange to creamy white. The Abyssinian Banana, or Musa ensete, is presented as a magnificent foliage plant with massive leaves for the lawn. The host concludes by admitting she is not a good gardener but enjoys dreaming of these gardens. The tone is calm, instructional, and deliberately monotonous, mirroring the catalog's original commercial text. The style is a straightforward, soothing narration of historical horticultural copy, designed to be dull. Listeners interested in heirloom gardening, historical commerce, or botanical history would find this episode captivating. Anyone seeking dynamic conversation, analysis, or modern gardening tips should skip this methodical reading.

As heard by us

A nineteenth-century seed catalogue becomes a calm, quietly absorbing spring listen.

This 1890 seed annual from John Gardner & Co. reads like a steady walk through packets, prices, heights, and plainspoken plant notes. Freesia, gladiolus, gadetia, and gomphrena all get their turn, along with the familiar sales pitch that some strains are especially good for…

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Plant your thoughts in a Victorian seed annual and let them drift off.

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