Somerville Garden Club

May 2, 2012
by Head Gardener
Comments Off on Meeting – May 9, 7-9pm

Meeting – May 9, 7-9pm

History of Botanical Art

The story behind the history of botanical art, and its changing role through the centuries is a fascinating one. From drawings done by monks to record the medicinal importance of plants, to paintings commissioned by explorers and wealthy landowners, botanical painting has had a significant impact on the path of history. In this illustrated talk developed by the American Society of Botanical Artists, Sarah Roche will lead you on the journey and show you how external influences have impacted the art form that we all appreciate today.

Sarah Roche is Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture’s Certificate Program Education Director and has a degree in Graphic Illustration from the University of the West of England where she majored in Botanical Illustration. An experienced instructor, Sarah also teaches at the South Shore Art Center in Cohasset, MA where she is a Gallery Artist. She is Education Co-chair of the American Society of Botanical Artists and a professional artist member of the Copley Society of Art, Boston. See more at www.sarahrochebotanicalart.com

All Somerville Garden Club meetings are free and open to the public. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at the Tufts Administration Building, (TAB), 167 Holland Street, second floor, wheelchair accessible. Parking is available, and the building is a ten-minute walk from the Davis Square MBTA stop.

April 10, 2012
by Head Gardener
Comments Off on Select Radish Cultivars

Select Radish Cultivars

The newsletter’s loss is the web site’s gain. A list of radish cultivars from Liz Loveland.

Many of the radish cultivars that were popular even twenty years ago in the U.S. have become rare or completely disappeared from commerce. Here are some radishes that usually grow well in our climate, including some that are sometimes sold at local farmers’ markets and others that are much less common:

Spring/Autumn Radishes

  • ‘Cherry Belle’ – The type of radish many think of as the classic radish, it is small, fast-producing, and cherry-colored with a white interior.
  • ‘French Breakfast’ – If ‘Cherry Belle’ were squeezed, this might be the result. It is long and thin and partially white, partially scarlet. The name nods back to the days when radishes were commonly eaten as an appetite stimulator or an appetizer, regardless of the meal.
  • ‘Helios’ – A beautiful globe radish with rich yellow skin, it produces roots a bit slower than the smaller cultivars above.
  • ‘White Icicle’ – This was once one of the most popular radish cultivars, but is much less common today. Its appearance tips one off to its name—long, thinnish white roots that can reach about 5–6 inches.
  • ‘Red Meat Chinese’ – If not identical to the popular radish now sold as ‘Watermelon’, it is at least very similar. It is a beautiful round cultivar with a red interior. Takes about two months to fully mature, but like all radishes, it can be pulled young.
  • ‘Green Meat Chinese’ – Similar to ‘Red Meat Chinese,’ but with a green interior.
  • ‘Violet de Gournay’ – Rare in the U.S., it is a French heirloom with a deep violet exterior and pure white interior, and looks somewhat like a carrot from the outside. In our type of climate, it is generally better grown in the autumn and harvested in early winter.

Winter Radishes

  • ‘Black Spanish Round’ – Perhaps the classic winter radish, this heirloom has been grown for hundreds of years and is still fairly popular today. There is also a ‘Black Spanish Long’ with icicle-like roots that is less common.
  • ‘China Rose’ (AKA ‘Chinese Rose’) – Another very old variety, this one with a strong flavor that is great for radish aficionados.
  • ‘Minowase Daikon’ – Once a popular open-pollinated variety from Japan, it is being replaced commercially by hybrid versions in the U.S. The roots can grow to two feet in good conditions yet still stay tender.