Celebrating the first director of Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum: Charles Sprague Sargent
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:
On April 24, 1841, Charles Sprague Sargent, American botanist, was born.
Charles was the first director of Harvard University's Arnold Arboretum. A botanist of renown, he was as steadfast as the oaks he oversaw.
Charles was known for being a little curmudgeonly. He was pretty stoic.
One of my favorite stories about Charles was the day he went on an exploration of mountains. The botanist accompanying him could hardly contain himself when they stopped at a spot of singular beauty. The botanist was jumping around and shouting for joy, and he looked over at Charles Sprague Sargent and said something to the effect of
"How can you stand there and say and do nothing amidst this incredible beauty?"
That's one of my favorite stories and a glimpse into the personality of Charles Sprague Sargent.
While his stoic demeanor may have obscured his true feelings, his contributions to the field of botany will undoubtedly endure, a testament to a life spent in the company of nature's most magnificent creations.
