Ep 156. Castor Beans & Jefferson's Monticello Lab for Plants

Thomas Jefferson's birthdate recalls visiting Monticello, considered a Lab for Plants. We chat about the fascinating history of the plantation and Jefferson's Garden Book, which is filled with trials and tribulations. One is his remarkable Castor Bean Plants. We chat about Castor Bean Plants overcoming the concern of toxicity in the garden and how I used them to "Hide Uglies."  The episode wraps up with a reflection on Thomas Jefferson's self-written epitaph, which suggests a sense of self-awareness and perhaps shame for offenses and imperfections. May we learn from history rather than erase or ignore it so that we continue to become better than we used to be.Related Stories and Helpful Links:  Jefferson's Monticello Lab for Plants – Blog Post Castor Bean Plants Hide Uglies – Blog Post Episode 29 Aphid Invasion - Beneficial LadybugsBeneficial Ladybugs – Blog Post Reasons to Prune – Blog Post 8888 I'd love to hear your garden and nature stories and your thoughts about topics for future podcast episodes. You can email me at [email protected]. Thanks so much for tuning in. You can Follow Garden Dilemmas on Facebook and Instagram #MaryElaineStone.Episode web page —Garden Dilemmas Podcast Page Thank you for sharing the Garden of Life,Mary Stone, Columnist & Garden Designer                                        AskMaryStone.com More about the Podcast and Column:  Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries. It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about. Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone  Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone.comDirect Link to Podcast Page