A Verdant Legacy: 400 Years of the Oxford Botanic Garden
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:
July 25, 1621
On this day, at the stroke of two in the afternoon, a most extraordinary event transpired in the hallowed grounds of Oxford University.
The Botanic Garden, known also as the Physic Garden, came into being – a verdant jewel destined to become England's oldest botanical sanctuary.
Imagine, dear reader, the scene as it unfolded: dignitaries of the University processing solemnly from St. Mary's church to the newly consecrated plot.
Mr. Edward Dawson, a physician of some renown, and Dr. Clayton, the esteemed Regius Professor of Medicine, each delivered orations to mark the occasion. The Vice-Chancellor himself, with all due pomp, placed a stone in the garden gateway, sealing the fate of this horticultural haven for centuries to come.
But let us delve into the soil of this tale, shall we?
The garden's inception was not without its trials. Henry Danvers, the first Earl of Danby, generously bestowed upon Oxford University a sum of 250 pounds – a princely amount in those days – to fund this ambitious endeavor.
Alas, the chosen land proved to be a capricious mistress, prone to the whims of the River Cherwell's floods.
Undaunted, our intrepid forbears devised a plan most ingenious: to elevate the garden above the river's reach.
Enter Mr. Windiat, a name that should be etched in the annals of gardening history.
This resourceful fellow brought forth 4,000 loads of "mucke and dunge" to raise the garden from its watery peril. One can only imagine the fragrant bouquet that must have perfumed the air during that momentous undertaking!
As the seasons turned, the garden flourished, nurturing within its bounds a legacy of botanical brilliance.
The Bobarts, father and son, established the herbarium, while the Baxters, another familial duo, served as curators. It's a testament to the garden's allure that it has drawn generations of families into its leafy embrace.
But the garden's charm extended beyond mere horticulture.
Lewis Carroll, that master of whimsy who masqueraded as a math professor at Oxford, found inspiration here for his fantastical tales. Picture, if you will, young Alice Liddell traipsing through the beds, her imagination taking flight amidst the curious flora.
J.R.R. Tolkien, too, found solace in these grounds.
One can almost see the great author, pipe in hand, seated beneath his beloved ornamental black pine, weaving tales of hobbits and elves amidst the garden's verdant splendor.
In more recent times, the garden has continued to evolve.
In 1941, a dawn redwood seed was planted, a living link to prehistoric times that continues to reach skyward.
And as we approach the garden's 400th anniversary, preparations are underway to transport visitors back to its 17th-century roots, with beds planted according to their original prescriptions.
The garden's popularity shows no sign of waning.
In 2019, it welcomed over 200,000 visitors, a testament to its enduring appeal.
As we look forward to the quadricentennial celebrations, one can't help but wonder what horticultural marvels and literary inspirations the next 400 years might bring.
So, dear gardeners, I implore you to pay homage to this venerable institution.
Walk its paths, breathe in its history, and let your imagination run wild amidst its botanical wonders.
For in the Oxford Botanic Garden, you'll find not just plants, but the very roots of England's horticultural heritage.
