In his song 'Juicy' released in 1994 the Notorious

In his song 'Juicy' released in 1994 the Notorious B.I.G. rapped the lyrics "if you don't know, now you know..." Well did you know that the Notorious W.E.B. (W.E.B. Du Bois that is) wrote the words "conquer the soil" in his 1903 book 'The Souls of Black Folk'...
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Du Bois an author, scholar, and the first Black man to receive a PhD from Harvard University penned 'The Souls of Black Folk' as a collection of essays on race and experiences in Black American society. In one passage he describes three of the many gifts enslaved Black people brought to the Americas from Africa and used while in bondage to build economies *for free* with zero return on their labor. Those three gifts include: story and song, sweat and brawn, and spirit. I know some of you are familiar with my story of "Conquer the Soil" being a nod to Du Bois and homage to the ancestors whose hands were in the dirt. However, there is no better time than Black History Month to share a gentle reminder of this story—cause if you don't know—now you know!
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Picture of thee iconic William Edward Burghardt Du Bois sitting in his friends Massachusetts garden above👆🏾and context of Du Bois' powerful words from ‘The Souls of Black Folk’ below👇🏾
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"Your country? How came it yours? Before the pilgrim landed we were here. Here we have brought our three gifts and mingled them with yours: a gift of story and song. . . the gift of sweat and brawn to beat back the wilderness, *conquer the soil* and lay the foundations of this vast economic empire . . . a gift of the Spirit. Around us history of the land has centered for thrice a hundred years; out of the nation's heart we have called all that was best to throttle and subdue all that was worst."
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#WEBDubois #ConquerTheSoil #BlackHistory

My sister, friend, colleague, phenomenal horticult

My sister, friend, colleague, phenomenal horticulturist, and garden designer Wambui Ippolito @wambuilovesplants *casually* sent this to me last year (as if it is actually casual.) Y’all it is beyond UH-MAZINGGG — just like Wambui ❤️
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The clip features an interview with Mrs. Ella Little Collins, the older sister of icon and revolutionary Malcolm X. In 'The Autobiography of Malcom X' he speaks of his adoration of Collins in detail. She helped raise him and also gave money for Malcolm X's transformative pilgrimage to Mecca. Sound up to hear Collins speak of their love for plants and flowers. She talks about Malcom X bringing her plants back from other countries and "he'd water it just like it was a baby."
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Fun fact my Daddy once shared a *casual* story with me that while a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, he met Malcolm X several times when he came to campus to talk to the students. I was like "sir--come again--you met who?!” Can you imagine meeting Malcom X let alone chatting him up about plants?! Y'all couldn't tell me not one darn thing had this scenario ever happened to me.
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Swipe 👉🏾 to see a pic of Ella Little Collins and Malcom X in Boston and swipe 👉🏾 2xs for a pic of the incomparable Malcom X. (photo by Rodnell P. Collins/@mizan_project)
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#ConquerTheSoil #GardenHistory #BlackHistory #MalcomX #EllaLittleCollins #PlantLover

During this time of year I usually post one of my

During this time of year I usually post one of my favorite holiday photos—my Daddy and his siblings posing as children with a not so cheery Santa Claus. However, I’m gonna switch it up this year and share one of my new faves!
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Today we’re gonna take a trip back to the roaring 1920s in Washington, D.C. These brothas were suited and booted while out selling Christmas trees and holly. Snow on the ground and all! We’ll talk about the history of Black men as tree farmers *owning them* on another day 🎄🌲🎄yep we’ve long been in that game too!
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And oh—what the heck...the family pic is just too precious to not repost! Swipe 👉🏾 to see the cuteness overload that is: Lady, Buddy, Boy, and Dimples (as my family calls them) with mean mugging Santa in 1940s Atlanta. I really don’t know how that Santa kept that job. He was the worst 😩
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#ConquerTheSoil #VintageChristmas #1920s #1940s #OhChristmasTree #ChristmasEveEve

It is some kind of cold in Atlanta tuh-day! Too co

It is some kind of cold in Atlanta tuh-day! Too cold to even think about ice cream ~but~ I could not resist sharing this tasty tweet by @KewGardens. Full transparency (I am a chocolate ice cream kinda girl knowing good and well my stomach was not set up for dairy.) Now—if you are talking French macarons and vanilla—that’s a whole different story. The last time I turned down a vanilla macaron I misunderstood the question (lame joke but hope you got it 🤦🏾‍♀️)
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Back to this vanilla orchid situation—we must acknowledge the other actual factuals in the room. For one there is Edmond Albius. A 12 year old French-owned enslaved Black child from Île Bourbon (now Réunion) who made vanilla accessible to the world by figuring out what botanists couldn’t for centuries y’all—how to pollinate the plant! But wait, there’s more....
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Second—Augustus Jackson a free Black man from Philadelphia and White House chef (who didn’t invent ice cream) invented a way to make ice cream last long enough for it to be shipped and sold. Ya know genius inventor type things like adding salt to ice to control the custard while it was freezing. So if you scream for vanilla and/or ice cream thank both of these brothas. Swipe 👉🏾 to see Edmond Albius; a statue in his honor in Réunion; and Philadelphia’s own Augustus Jackson. (pics f/these innanets)
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#Vanilla #BlackGardenHistory #ConquerTheSoil #Orchid #IceCream #BigFacts

Repost from @bipochort: Announcing the first speak

Repost from @bipochort: Announcing the first speaker in the BIPOC Hort public lecture series—none other than the iconic Juliet Sargeant 🥳 It all goes down Saturday December 5, 2020 from 10am - 11am EST. Tickets are $25 and you can click the link in my bio to get yours today!
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Sargeant’s lecture titled "Why Gardens Matter" will be a reflection on 30 years of work as a garden designer, outlining some projects that have been important to her in transforming people’s lives and the way that they relate to their gardens and the wider landscape.
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She is a made woman in this here horticulture world. Sargeant has a BA (Hons) in Garden Design and is a Registered Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers (UK). Sargeant acts as an RHS show garden judge and is a familiar face on British television gardening programs. She won the 2016 Gold Medal at the Chelsea Flower Show, as well as The People’s Choice Award for her Modern Slavery Garden. Learn more about her journey at www.julietsargeant.com

Questions I have been asked relentlessly in 2020..

Questions I have been asked relentlessly in 2020....How do we get more ________________ in our garden? ~or~ What would make more _______________ be interested in careers in horticulture?
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Answer: Meet people where they are.
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The Queen of Georgia Stacey Abrams giving a whole masterclass in meeting the people and the culture where they are. Last night she showed up virtually to the legendary Atlanta strip club Magic City to check in with The Snowman (Jeezy) & Big Guwop (Gucci) for a Verzuz battle. Poles in the background and all. Abrams came to deliver the message to get out and vote!
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This is one example of what moving the culture looks like garden/plant/horticulture/environmental/etc world! Showing up and doing the work. It’s not about keeping it cute to save face; it is about keeping it real. Go beyond the discussions, panels, mandates, yearly reports focusing on BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ representation. Act on it—-literally!
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I don’t know who needs to hear this but....you/we/me have to get outside our comfort zones and be okay with saying/hearing/reading BOTANICAL and BOOTY SHAKE in the same sentence.
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What are your ideas for how we meet the people where they are and grow the garden/plant community moving forward? 👂🏾
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#ConquerTheSoil #MeetPeopleWhereTheyAre ~edited to cc and credit @carsonl_b for starting the #BotanicalBootyShake hashtag 🌱🍑🤣 issa movement sis!

To my beloved Botanical Gardens, Arboretums, Conse

To my beloved Botanical Gardens, Arboretums, Conservatories, Display Gardens around the world—I implore you to shoot your shot at the incomparable @scottiebeam!
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I well know your stunning vistas and the level of VIP hospitality you are capable of serving up. Scottie is a national treasure that inspires many and deserves all the love and all the things 💚💚💚 Have your greenspace @scottiebeam below and host her for a visit and roll out the royal garden treatment for this PHENOMENAL woman! cc: @longwoodgardens
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Hot tip we are missing outreach to a lot of people. The fact that someone this dope has not visited a Botanical Garden means we have much work to do. @ your favorite outdoor space and encourage them to show Scottie some love!

@realdonaldtrump We are so ready to get your racis

@realdonaldtrump We are so ready to get your racist, homophobic, xenophobic, misogynist, evil self up outta here ✌🏾👋🏾👋🏾👋🏾
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cc: @staceyabrams coming through like a boss and flipping the State of Georgia Blue 💙💙💙 we love to see it!!!
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#DirtySouth #ByeShawty #GeorgiaOnMyMind #MyVoteCounted

In Nigeria people are viciously being shot dead by

In Nigeria people are viciously being shot dead by the police. Brutality in the criminal justice system is a problem worldwide! Peaceful protest should never be met with violence. I repeat peaceful protest should NEVER be met with
violence. Stop killing and harassing young people who are literally putting their life on the line. May we all stand with our Nigerian family in their fight to #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿🇳🇬 (pic from Toronto Star)
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https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/ways-to-support-endsars-nigeria-around-the-world/

I heard somebody say Iowa is in the house! That me

I heard somebody say Iowa is in the house! That means you 🗣Sioux City, Fayette, Ames, Iowa City, Des Moines, Indianola and every town in between—where y’all at?!?! We’ve got some things to talk about. See you tomorrow evening! 👋🏾👋🏾👋🏾
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P.S. Loving this throw back pic @kellydnorris posted from my days as an Atlanta Airport Landscape Manager. This photo is from the first time I appeared in a magazine. Airport horticulture shifted the course of my career. Was definitely faking it till I made it back then and praise God I made it!
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Repost from @kellydnorris: We're back at it this week @dmbotanicalgarden with our second installment of our virtual Annual Symposium featuring @conquerthesoil! I'm jazzed to hear from her and include her perspectives in this conversation we're calling Gardeners on Gardening. With more folks gardening this year than maybe ever before, we're convening a month-long dialogue of inspiration and information with creative folks who love plants and making gardens. You can still sign up for this week with Abra or the following weeks with Irvin Etienne and David Culp!

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