Posts Tagged ‘British gardeners’
Revolutionary Gardener: The Many Lives of Edward Hyams
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. September 30, 1910 Today we celebrate the birth of Edward Solomon Hyams, that fascinating polymath whose life embodied the rare intersection of revolutionary politics, practical horticulture, and scholarly dedication. As we shall see,…
Read MoreRichard Irwin Lynch: The Curator Who Elevated Cambridge Botanic Gardens
The Book of the Iris June 1, 1850 Today is the birthday of the gardener and author Richard Irwin Lynch. Richard learned to garden from his father, who was classically trained at Kew. By the time he was seventeen, Richard had followed in his father’s footsteps and worked at Kew – starting with herbaceous perennials…
Read MoreNorah Lindsay: The Socialite Who Made Gardens Poetic and Personal
Her Magical Garden at the Manor House, Sutton Courtenay April 26, 1873 Dearest reader, On this day, the world welcomed Norah Lindsay, a British socialite whose legacy in garden design would bloom as wildly and charmingly as the gardens she fashioned. Norah was much more than a mere dilettante with a fondness for flowers—she was…
Read MorePercy Thrower: The Gardener Who Brought Gardening to British Television
The Windsor Writer March 18, 1988 And today is the anniversary of the death of the British Gardner broadcaster and writer, Percy Thrower. As a young boy, Percy wanted to grow up to be a head gardener – just like his father. After spending his entire childhood learning from his dad, he became a journeyman…
Read MorePeter Smithers: The Spy Who Loved Gardens
A Gardener with a Camera December 9, 1913 Today is the birthday of the lawyer, politician, diplomat, scholar, photographer, award-winning gardener, writer, and spy Peter Smithers. Peter learned to love gardening as a little boy. One of his earliest memories came when he was four years old and planted mustard seeds with his nanny. He…
Read MoreRichard Savage and the Price of Garden Access
Flowering Pride of Gardens Today is the anniversary of the death of the English poet Richard Savage. Richard once wrote about a practice among the wealthy, allowing their servants to show their gardens in exchange for money. Even the Queen let her Richmond garden and cave to be viewed for a sum. It was a…
Read MoreBeatrix Potter’s Charming Garden Letter to Dulcie
Letters to Dulcie Beatrix Potter writes to a little girl named Dulcie and describes her garden. She writes that her garden has: “… a box hedge around the flower bed, and moss roses and pansies and black currants and strawberries and peas —and big sage bushes for Jemima, but the onions always do badly. I…
Read MoreHenry Arthur Bright’s “A Year in a Lancashire Garden”: Embracing the Challenges and Delights of Gardening
A Year in a Lancashire Garden On this day in 1873, the gardener and writer Henry Arthur Bright began a diary, which would become known as the book “A Year in a Lancashire Garden” – one of the most beloved garden biographies of the nineteenth century. Bright’s book would inspire future garden writers like Eleanor…
Read MoreJohn Lindley: The Orchidologist Who Saved Kew Gardens and Shaped Botanical History
Lindley Library Today is the anniversary of the death of the botanist John Lindley who died on this day in 1865. Lindley was a British gardener, a botanist, and an orchidologist. He also served as secretary to the Royal Horticultural Society for 43 years. This is why the Lindley Library at the RHS is named…
Read MoreRemembering Geoff Hamilton: The People’s Gardener Born This Day
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. August 15, 1936 Oh, my darling dirt-diggers and rose-scented revelers! On this day in 1936, the gardening world received a most marvelous gift when Geoff Hamilton first graced this verdant earth. Your Lady…
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