From Desert to Doorstep: The Legacy of Edward Hummel
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:
November 29, 1978
On this day, the gardening world bid farewell to Edward Hummel, a remarkable American plantsman and hybridizer whose green thumb left an indelible mark on the landscape of exotic horticulture.
For 43 glorious years, Edward and his beloved wife Minnie presided over Hummel's Exotic Gardens in the sun-drenched climes of southern California.
Their nursery was a veritable Eden, specializing in the most captivating of desert denizens: cacti, succulents, bromeliads, and orchids. These were not mere plants, but living sculptures, each with its own story to tell.
In a delightful twist of fate, the year 1935 saw the Hummels thrust into the limelight, courtesy of a Quaker State Motor Oil advertisement.
Picture, if you will, the young Hummel family amidst their home cactus garden - a tableau of horticultural bliss.
Edward, ever the botanist, examines a prickly specimen with the reverence of a jeweler appraising a rare gem.
His children, Marquetta and Edward Jr., gather round, their eyes wide with wonder at nature's marvels.
And there, standing behind them all, is Mother Minnie, her gaze filled with pride and affection.
This charming advertisement caught the eye of the public, and soon Edward found himself inundated with inquiries from fellow gardening enthusiasts across America. Their letters, brimming with curiosity about his cactus garden, sparked an idea in the minds of Edward and Minnie - why not bring the beauty of their exotic plants to the doorsteps of gardeners far and wide?
As the world plunged into the throes of World War II, Edward Hummel saw an opportunity to lift spirits and inspire hope.
In 1943, he published "Hummel's Victory Picture Book," its cover adorned with a striking image of two 6-foot-tall Barrel cacti forming a perfect 'V' for victory.
The book was an instant sensation, with subsequent editions following in quick succession.
In the foreword of the first edition, Edward penned these words to his eager readers:
Perhaps you will wonder at receiving this free picture book which contains no prices of plants.
If you enjoy a few minutes of interest and relaxation in looking it over, it will have fulfilled its obvious purpose.
If your interest and curiosity are stirred to the point that you write us for further information, it will have fulfilled its hidden purpose.
As the post-war years unfolded, the Hummels found themselves seeking a new haven for their beloved nursery, driven from their original location by the acrid fumes of LAX.
Fortune smiled upon them once more as they discovered the perfect site in Carlsbad - a nursery formerly owned by the late Dr. Robert W. Poindexter, a kindred spirit who shared the Hummels' passion for cacti and succulents.
The torch was passed, with Robert's son John finalizing the sale, ensuring that the legacy of both families would continue to flourish.
Edward Hummel's true passion lay in the propagation and cultivation of drought-resistant plants, a prescient focus given our current climate concerns. His dedication to these resilient botanical wonders earned him numerous accolades, but it was his work with bromeliads that truly set him apart in the horticultural world.
As we reflect on Edward Hummel's life and legacy, we're reminded of the beauty and wonder that can be found in even the most unlikely of places - be it a prickly cactus or a hardy succulent.
His dedication to bringing these marvels of nature into our homes and gardens continues to inspire gardeners to this day, encouraging us all to find joy and resilience in the green world around us.