History of Gardening: How Cultures, Events, and People Made Gardening What It Is Today
Bryce Lane, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Emeritus and Lecturer Emeritus, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University
Mondays, February 3 through March 23, 2020 – 6:30 pm–8:30 pm
Register RegisterUnlike many history courses which can be boring, this one is not! First, it’s all about gardening, and second, it’s about fascinating stories of past cultures, events, and people who made gardening what it is today. How did today’s greenhouse come about, and what did a sickly Roman Caesar have to do with it? What did the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans do that contributed to horticulture as we know it today. Who is the Father of American Horticulture and what did he do to launch gardening into the 20th century? This eight week course will provide a series of historical snapshots that help to enhance our understanding of "modern-day" gardening. By deepening our understanding and appreciation of where gardening came from, we will, in turn, be better gardeners today and in the future!
The following topics will be discussed:
- Ancient peoples and their contributions to horticulture.
- Birth of a greenhouse, history of manipulation.
- L. H. Bailey, the father of American horticulture.
- Critical decades of horticultural advancement … aka. "War and Peace."
- The great plant explorers … where they went and how they got there!
- Bartram, Linnaeus, Le Notre, Mendel, and Johnny Appleseed … "who are those guys?"
- Great historical gardens from around the world.
- Highlights of the 20th Century … DDT, Rachel Carson, Agent Orange, IPM, and more!
- The advent of the independent garden center, how the GI Bill changed everything.