Born from the Bomb
With the detonation of atomic bombs at Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 1945, the world lurched uncertainly into an Atomic Age. So did the garden.
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Atomic Plants. Godzilla. Spider-Man.
Where do we get the idea that radiation makes things strong, rather than weak?
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Atoms for Women: the Atomic Enthusiasms of Muriel Howorth
In 1946, Muriel Howorth received a mysterious letter asking if she would like to “interest herself in atomic science”. Indeed she would.
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Muriel’s Eccentric Atomic Occasions Round 1: An Atomic Ballet
In October of 1950 Muriel Howorth staged an atomic occasion so eccentric as to be hardly believable had it not been recorded by the foreign desk at Time magazine.
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Atoms for Peace
“To the making of these fateful decisions, the United States pledges before you–and therefore before the world–its determination to help solve the fearful atomic dilemma–to devote its entire heart and mind to find the way by which the miraculous inventiveness of man shall not be dedicated to his death, but consecrated to his life.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953
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Government Gamma Gardens
It wasn’t a plot, or a secret. Scientists were proud of their efforts to ‘remake’ plants by radiation.
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North Carolina’s NC4x Peanut
Gargantuan goobers grown by Dr. Walton C. Gregory of North Carolina State University.
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The Atom-blasted Seeds of C.J. Speas, atomic entrepreneur
Because everyone should have an irradiation bunker in their Own. Back. Yard.
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Muriel’s Eccentric Atomic Occasions Round 2: An Irradiated Peanut Dinner
What do you do with atomic peanuts? Serve them to unsuspecting dinner guests, of course.
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The Atomic Gardening Society
Surely the strangest gardening society ever assembled, Muriel’s AGS distributed irradiated seeds, organized tours, and awarded prizes for the best atomic plants.
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First Atomic Garden in the United States, 1961
The good citizens of Cleveland, Ohio are confronted with C.J.’s atom-blasted seeds. The looks on their faces are priceless.
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Just when you think things can’t get any weirder…L. Ron Hubbard shows up.
The founding documents of the AGS list L. Ron Hubbard, PhD, “Pioneer in Radiation” as a member of the “Scientific Advisory Board”. He was living in the UK—near Muriel—at the time and conducting his own wacky plant experiments; claiming that his e-meter readings proved that plants felt pain.
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The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the Moon Marigolds
Paul Zindel was a science teacher, and his Pulitzer prize-winning play uses C.J. Speas’ seeds as a plot device
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Atomic Seeds reach Gilligan’s Island. Fun follows.
The midcentury plant experiments inspired a 1966 episode of Gilligan’s Island. Not unexpectedly, they got the science all wrong.
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Disillusionment and Demise
“…the glamour, the excitement, of the boundless possibilities of power from the peaceful atom is gone. The peaceful atom has not ushered in a ‘new world’ but has rather become a part, a minor part, of the old one.” – David Lilienthal, 1st chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission
David Lilienthal, 1963
The Atomic Garden LIVES!!
It’s essentially low-tech GMO. Plant irradiation remains an active area of research, and government gamma gardens still exist around the world.
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Atomic Plants: Were they safe? ARE they safe?
First, it’s important to recognize that except for a few unusual lines of research, the atomic plants were *not* radioactive.
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Oral Histories of the Atomic Gardens
Soon there won’t be anyone left who remembers the midcentury atomic gardens…if you do, please add your history via the contact form to be included with the others here!
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Atomic Garden Resources: The Journal of Radiation Botany (1961-1975)
Let’s crowdsource just like Muriel…help wanted here!
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Atomic Garden Resources: The Wilkinson Collection
I visited Muriel’s remaining family. Here is what was in her trunk of mementos.
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