Cultivating Place New Moon News - May 2026

Jennifer Jewell
1 day ago
5 min read

Have you ever noticed the presence of zonal geraniums (aka Pelargoniums), wherever you might travel? They are a longstanding human/plant love story.

Happy New Moon of May 16, 2026 (yesterday), because the new moon is a perfect time to start fresh, to grow up, and to grow out.

"Just think of how much cheer the humble pelargoniums have brought

to our world across centuries?!"

John Whittlesey, Nurseryman

Happy New Moon gardeners,

John and I have just returned from two and a half amazing weeks visiting Türkiye specifically to explore their astounding spring floral diversity. Our delayed flight home + our jetlag = this newsletter coming out one day late ;)

Our travels across this large and biodiverse region was an adventure of a lifetime: we visited friends, we visited ancient historical cultural sites, and ancient culturally tended landscapes rich with native plants. It was, as all travel outside of our own daily boundaries and understandings can be, an education, a revelation, and a reminder to us that people and plants' entwined lives go right back to the very beginning of us as people.

Everywhere we've found ourselves as humans across time and space, from the fertile crescent of ancient Mesopotamia to anywhere you might be as you read this, humans have relied on plants to make our lives lovelier, more cheerful, healthier, and oftentimes, to make our lives possible. Humans have always partnered with plants to change our lives–and theirs.

And every plant/human relationship carries with it the history of plants, places, and peoples–ever changing and evolving, but incredibly enduring.

John and I were thrilled, like little kids, to meet so many old garden friends in some of their wild original home places: cyclamen, primroses, and so many crocus in snowmelt at 7500' feet on the Anatolian Steppe in the northeast; what we call Spanish Lavender growing in wide swathes across the bright understory of long-tended pine and olive forests inland from the Aegean Sea of southwest Turkey, and native, sages, thymes, and oreganos as we scrambled along rocky exposed hillsides in central Türkiye. And more: wild centranthus, styrax, and SOOO many orchids. It was a plant lover's dream.

Which brings me to the cheer (and lesson) of zonal geraniums. Walking through Istanbul, on a whim, we wandered into the courtyard of the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua, which was hosting a weekend market. Gazing up at the arched openings onto covered walkways and balconies, I said to John: "Ahh look at all the pots of geraniums!" They were in full flower on every banister. John has grown a wide variety of true geraniums, and scented and zonal geraniums (Pelargoniums) throughout his nursery career, and he replied: "Just think how much cheer these plants have brought to people across the centuries?"

In looking back over just recent travels, I realized how many photos of colorful, abundant pelargoniums I had noted: in the UK last month at the Chelsea Physic Garden's beautiful glass house exhibit on the Geraniums and Pelargoniums across the globe, and everywhere in Türkiye, from very humble front stoop bucket gardens, to gas stations, to my grandmother's front terrace garden of memory, to these glorious exalted stone frames in high church in Istanbul.

And here's the thing that struck me, another reminder: we choose plants to carry with us for all kinds of reasons: medicine, food, utility, etc. Pelargoniums were described in the Western canon as early as the first century of the modern era by both Dioscorides and Pliny. No doubt they were well known to indigenous peoples for far longer in their native places of modern-day South Africa (home to more than 250 species), Australia, and Türkiye (which is home to two species). And while Pelargoniums do have significant medicinal properties, our photo journal across time and memory is a testament that their usefulness is not why most people grow them. Pelargoniums are a perfect reminder that we carry plants with us not just because we need them, but because we love them.

Which is a perfect reminder of why we're here together. Happy new moon season of mid-May gardeners. I love being here with you.

Jennifer & The Cultivating Place Team

PS: Keep reading for updates on all things Cultivating Place: Podcast, Film, Gatherings and Connections...

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The cheerful and familiar sight of zonal geraniums across Türkiye.

CP PODCAST:

What plants do you just love? And what do you love about plants? These are perennial sub-themes on any episode of Cultivating Place, from guests and hosts.

Since the New Moon of April, our universal love of plants in and with our places is explored in conversation with Kate Brown, Distinguished Professor in the History of Science and her newest book, Tiny Gardens Everywhere: The Past, Present, and Future of the Self-Provisioning City, with Christin Geall, of Cultivated By Christin, and her newest book FloraCulture; with Robin Jennings of Oregon-based Heirloom (Roses); and finally, with John Sonnier, Head Gardener of the British Embassy in Washington DC, about his astounding orchid collection. We all love plants, and we all love stories that help to ground us into our love and care for this world–through roses, orchids, or envisioning a more perfectly gardened future.

Enjoy catching up on your listening to the episodes from the last month (click each name or image for its audio link).....

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CP: THE POWER OF GARDENERS FILM SERIES:

Please welcome Samuel Villagra-Stanton as assistant editor on the Power of Gardeners film series. Born in Chile, and working in film production for the length of his career, Sam adds much-needed extra hands, eyes, and ears to Myriam's work, crafting our series with the clock now ticking for rolling out on PBS stations in less than a year.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for the rolling out of in-person and virtual screenings of the first working draft of a full episode of the series as the summer unfolds...exciting things are starting to bloom.

And when you are a Cultivating Place sustaining supporter, making a recurring monthly gift of $10 or more, or an annual gift of $120 or more, investing in this important work coming to fruition–you get early notice, discounted ticket prices, extra offerings, and value adds all along the way. To say nothing of the satisfaction of knowing you, too, are growing our world better.

Connect with us about partnering for pre-screenings events in 2026, screening events in 2027, gift licenses for school or garden groups, etc.: info@cultivatingplace.org.

Windowsill Pelargoniums at Babayanevi, a Michelin Green Star restaurant in the Cappadocia Region of Türkiye. Green Stars are awarded for outstanding work towards sustainability and the preservation of regional foodways.

AND FINALLY...Praise to the Garden spirits, you made it to the end...

Your bonus?

MARK your calendars to join us for the inaugural bi-annual

Cultivating Place Symposium September 25th & 26th, 2026:

THE POWER OF GARDENERS: SOUTH BEND

co-sponsored by Botany & Co in South Bend, IN

Cultivating Place sustaining supporters, who make a recurring monthly gift of $10 or more, or an annual gift of $120 or more, look for your Cultivating Place-supporter-only invitations in early summer to register for this catalyzing two-day gathering featuring me, Ben Futa, Abra Lee, Wambui Ippolito, Myriam Nicodemus, Chris Fehlhaber, AND a sneak peak film-screening and panel, followed by a community reception on Friday, and inspiring guided Garden and Green Space tours on Saturday morning.