I Call it Pop, You Call it Soda

One of my fellow summer interns, Kayla Burns, has written an excellent blog post on public tagging.  As you will be able to tell from the map, it is amazing how many words there are for Fountain drinks in the USA - and how this effects the way we label and classify things.

Throughout the month of August and into the Fall, blog posts I have written will be popping up on the Smithsonian Collections Blog.  I will post them here to make sure you see what I learned over my summer at the Smithsonian Gardens. 

The Enid Haupt Rose Garden at the Smithsonian

Check out horticulturist, Shelly Gaskins talk about Roses, one of the world's favorite flowers.....

The ACTive Gardener

Last night, I watched the 2008 documentary, The Garden.  This documentary was about the fight for a South Central L.A. Community Garden to keep their garden going.  Due to shady legal and political corruption, the garden's land is targeted and threatened to be bought by a private owner - who has no interest in keeping the garden there.  The garden flourished in the middle of a industrial wasteland.  It provides food, community and happiness for it's urban growers. If you are at all interested in a case for social justice, community causes or the importance of a community garden, check this documentary out on Netflix.  It's instant so you don't even have to wait for it in your mailbox!

I recently saw an article from Huffington Post about Julie Bass and her controversial garden.  Mrs. Bass decided to grow a vegetable garden in her front yard for her young children and the other kids in the neighborhood.  She thought it would be fun for the kids to garden and witness the process of gardening.  The city of Oak Park did not agree and ordered she remove her vegetable garden or face 93 days in jail!!!!
To follow Julie fighting the good fight, you can visit her blog, Oak Park Hates Veggies and see what will happen to her garden.  

Also - If you are interested in your local community garden, I'd encourage you to check out if you have a CSA program nearby.  A Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program nearby.  Each week you will receive a box full of locally grown veggies and fruits from your farmer.  It's a great way to support your local farmer AND get great quality food.

Mount Vernon & Greenspring

Washington's seal featured in the movie "National Treasure"  - They filmed some of the movie in Mount Vernon's basement

Front porch view from Mount Vernon, looking out over the Potomac

This Wednesday we went on our final Intern field trip.

We went to Mount Vernon (George Washington's homestead) and Greenspring (A Virginia county public garden)

At Mount Vernon we saw the grounds, gardens, education center and museum.

The Smithsonian castle

Mount Vernon in the distance

Slave quarters

Wheat from the Mount Vernon farm

Potomac

On the "National Treasure" movie tour.  This was where Washington kept his ice.  The guide said he loved his ice cream - who knew?

Artichoke flower

Tree hugger

WASHINGTON'S DENTURES. NO, THEY ARE NOT WOODEN. i thought they were until i saw them.

Greenspring community garden

Children's garden at Greenspring

Historic Home on Greenspring property

At Greenspring, we saw the public garden and the outreach and education programs they do for the community.