Gladiolus of Remembrance: The Enduring Legacy of Rod and Rachel Saunders
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:
February 10, 2018
Dearest reader,
On this dark day, the world lost two extraordinary botanical explorers and horticulturalists, Rod and Rachel Saunders, British botanists whose dedication to the natural world was as enduring as the flora they cherished.
Tragically, they were murdered by terrorists during their work in South Africa’s remote Ngoye Forest, a chilling end to lives committed to the advancement of science and the beauty of rare plants.
For decades, Rod and Rachel devoted themselves to the study and collection of South Africa’s diverse flora, with a particular passion for Gladiolus—the striking, graceful flowers often referred to as the “sword lilies.”
In the 1970s, they founded Silverhill Seeds in Cape Town, a beacon for collectors and scientists alike. Nearing the completion of a monumental project to find and photograph every known species of Gladiolus in South Africa, they were tragically taken before their last flower could be captured.
Yet their legacy was not to be cut short. Despite the loss of their valuable notes and laptops, a dedicated team completed the Saunders' work, culminating in the publication of Gladiolus of Southern Africa.
Professor Fiona Ross, writing in the foreword, honored their intentions beautifully:
“Rod and Rachel always intended to dedicate the book to the tortoises they saved from Road deaths. We do not know what they would have said in their dedication, but to honor their intentions, this book recalls the tortoises.”
Historically, the Gladiolus symbolizes courage—a trait Rod and Rachel exemplified in their intrepid explorations. In modern floral language, it also represents perseverance and remembrance.
How fitting these sentiments are, woven through both the flowers they adored and the story of their lives.
What can we learn from their courage to venture into the unknown, to nurture life and knowledge amid danger?
Might their perseverance inspire us to cherish and protect the fragile wilds still left on this Earth?
So, dear reader, as you admire blossoming Gladioli or tend your own hidden corners, let your thoughts reach out to Rod and Rachel Saunders—the botanists who dared to chase beauty and truth in some of the world’s most untamed places. Their story is a reminder that nature’s wonders are worth guarding, even when the path grows perilous.
Will you join in this silent vow to celebrate and defend the fragile splendor of our shared garden?
