On April 13, International Plant Appreciation Day, plant enthusiasts from around the globe gather to express their appreciation for these green oxygen generators. To appropriately honour this natural gift, the event also discusses the numerous environmental advantages plants provide, such as improving air quality, creating small wildlife habitats, and beautifying homes. Additionally, this day occurs in the spring, which is the primary growing season for trees and plants. With 66% of U.S. households already possessing at least one houseplant and a growing number of families around the world following suit, we are well on our way to a plant-e-filled existence of vegetation and clean(er) living. Check out our gift guide for plant enthusiasts if you desire to celebrate in style.
International Plant Appreciation Day: History
While we do not yet know the history of this day, we are all fascinated by how plants became an intrinsic part of our lives and homes. Since the beginning of ancient civilizations, humans have been fascinated with vegetation. Multiple archaeological sites contain evidence of plants cultivated in containers, and 16th-century Egyptian tomb paintings contain some of the earliest evidence of ornamental horticulture and landscape design.
With colonisation in the 17th century came a greater exposure to diverse plant species. Explorers would bring exotic plants back to their homelands for cultivation, and the practise of growing plants indoors became widespread. Britain’s introduction of tropical plants from North America, Asia, Australia, and Africa increased the prevalence of indoor plants and may have influenced the development of various gardening tools. In the 1930s, London physician Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward created the ‘Wardian case,’ a sealed glass container ideal for growing and transporting plants. This invention had the earliest and, at the time, the greatest impact. The invention of Ward made it easy for the British to import plants and eternally altered the cultivation of plants around the world.
Prior to the 19th and 20th centuries, only affluent individuals utilised plants to cover surfaces in their residences. People throughout the globe grew both exotic and indigenous plants in their homes and gardens. Similarly, the unassuming plant has risen in the world. Where it once adorned the corners of residences, parks, and gardens, it now holds a prominent position wherever it is grown. Increasing numbers of people are embracing plants, which can only be beneficial for the earth due to the widespread appreciation for the environment and ecological living.
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5 FACTS ABOUT PLANTS AND GARDENS
Garden means ‘enclosure’
Specifically, the words ‘garden’ and ‘yard’ are derived from the old English word ‘geard,’ which means ‘fence’ or ‘enclosure’ — a boundary erected by the first humans some 10,000 years ago.
The Gardens of Babylon Suspended
This garden, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is characterised as a feat of engineering that resembled a large green mountain and featured a diverse assortment of trees, shrubs, and vines.
They can perceive
Some studies indicate that plants flourish in environments where music is played between 115 Hz and 250 Hz for approximately one to three hours per day.
Plants enjoy being spoken to.
According to research conducted by the Royal Horticultural Society, plants grew more quickly when their plant parents spoke to them, but only if they were spoken to politely; shouting had the opposite effect.
The oldest tree still alive
China’s native Ginkgo Biloba is the last surviving member of the Ginkgoales family, which first appeared on Earth some 290 million years ago.
INTERNATIONAL PLANT APPRECIATION DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | April 13 | Thursday |
| 2024 | April 13 | Saturday |
| 2025 | April 13 | Sunday |
| 2026 | April 13 | Monday |
| 2027 | April 13 | Tuesday |
