John Bartram: America’s First Botanist and His Lasting Garden Legacy

William Bartram, a prominent American naturalist and explorer (1739-1823).

“The Greatest Natural Botanist in the World” March 23, 1699 Today is the birthday of the one of American’s earliest botanists, horticulturists and explorers: John Bartram. John founded the first botanical garden in America and Linnaeus called John the “greatest natural botanist in the world.” Like many botanists of his time, John was born into…

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The Philadelphia Botanical Club’s First Pilgrimage to Bartram’s Garden

Bartram's Garden, a significant historical and botanical site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

A Horticultural Landmark Today the Philadelphia Botanical Club took their very first field trip to Bartram’s Garden. In 1850, Andrew McCalla Eastwick (1806-1879), an engineer and the inventor of the steam shovel, bought the 46-acre Bartram estate from John Bartram’s granddaughter, Ann Bartram Carr. Eastwick had banked a personal mint after building railroads for Czar…

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A Landmark Blooms: Bartram’s Garden’s Prestigious Honor

Andrew McCalla Eastwick (colorized)

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. May 7, 2015 On this day, a verdant jewel in Philadelphia’s horticultural crown received a most prestigious accolade. Bartram’s Garden, that venerable sanctuary of botanical wonders, was bestowed the honor of being designated…

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