In China, July is the month of the lotus. Recently I shared a video in the Facebook Group for the Showfrom the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburghwhich shows Senior Horticulturist, Pat Clifford, teaching their intern Hazel, how to remove the older leaves of the Giant Water Lily so the pond does not get overcrowded. Using a pitchfork, Pat carefully folds the large lily pad first in half, then quarters, and then once more. Then he stabs the large folded pad with the pitchfork, hoists it in the air to let the water drain out and then flops the beast down on the edge of the pond. The camera zooms in to reveal the most savage thorns that grow on the underside of the lily pad and all down the stem of the plant. It was so surprising to see how viscous the thorns are - rivaling the thorniest rose.     Brevities   #OTD It's the anniversary of the day that Captain Cook arrived in England in 1771.  He had successfully led that first voyage to Australia. But, neither Cook, nor his botanist Joseph Banks, realized that the quartz reef where they planted the British Flag contained gold. The area would remain untouched by Europeans for almost two more decades. And, Cook's ship, the Endeavor, had somehow managed to survive the trials of sailing on the Great Barrier Reef and River. Before he sailed for England, Cook worried the Endeaver wouldn't make it around the Cape of Good Hope. In a fateful decision, Cook had brought the ship to Batavia, a Dutch colony, in order to fortify his ship. Batavia was a dangerous place. Malaria and dysentery were rampant. As a result of his stop in Batavia, Cook lost a staggering 38 members of his crew. The botanists, Banks and Solander, managed to survive the stop, although at one point they were both gravely ill. Even as they battled back from illness, they still went out to collect specimens. So, on this day, in 1771, Cook and Banks and Solander make it home to England. 365 days later, Cook would be setting sail once more, but this time Banks would not be going with.  Instead, a German, Johann Reinhold Forster and his son Georg—would be the botanists for his next big adventure.       #OTD Today, in 1835, Charles Darwin wrote a letter to his friend John Stevens Henslow.   He wrote:   “In a few days time the Beagle will sail for the Galapagos Islands. I look forward with joy and interest to this, both as being somewhat nearer to England and for the sake of having a good look at an active volcano.” Throughout his life, Darwin exchanged letters with Henslow, professor of Botany and Mineralogy at Cambridge University,  Their correspondence was a powerful influence on Darwin; helping to shape his thinking about the natural world.   And, it was thanks to Henslow that Darwin received the invitation to join captain Robert FitzRoy on the HMS Beagle. Henslow had written a letter recommending Darwin for the journey because of his like-able personality. When they were young, Henslow and Darwin had walked the Cambridgeshire countryside together. Their walks inspired Darwin to study the natural world and to travel. Once Darwin was part of team Beagle, Henslow presented Darwin with a copy of Humboldt's Narrative, an account of Humboldt's travels in South America. In it, Henslow had inscribed these words:   "J. S. Henslow to his friend C. Darwin on his departure from England upon a voyage around the World. 21st Sept. 1831."   Darwin treasured this gift above all others and at his death, the book was safely brought to Cambridge University Library where it remains to this day.     Unearthed Words   #OTD  It's the birthday of Henry David Thoreau, born on this day in 1817.    National Simplicity Day is observed on July 12th in his honor.  Thoreau was an advocate for living a life of simplicity. Thoreau said all of these things: "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." ”The question is not what you look at, but what you see." "Though I do not believe that a pla