Ellis Rowan Archives

Ellis Rowan by Kate Collins

As Heard on The Daily Gardener Podcast: Ellis Rowan, 1848-1922 by Kate Collins This book came out in 1989, and it’s part of the Australian book series that featured its most outstanding artists. My copy arrived last week, and it features incredible full-page color plates of Australian native flowers, birds, and insects. Born in Melbourne,…

February 18, 2021 The Little Fern That Could, Antoine Nicolas Duchesne, Snowy Owls, Showy Lady’s-Slipper, Ellis Rowan by Kate Collins, and the New Rare-Plant House at the Fairchild Tropical Garden

Today we celebrate the French botanist who created the modern strawberry. We’ll also learn about the sweet little orchid known as the moccasin flower. We hear words that offer perspective on our loss of wildlife and habitat. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book about one of the world’s best botanical illustrators – and…

November 6, 2020 Bernard de Jussieu, Alice Lounsberry, Alfred Austin, American Gardens by Monty Don and Derry Moore, and Frank Kingdon Ward

Today we celebrate a son of France who developed the first natural classification of flowering plants. We’ll also learn about the young female garden writer who teamed up with an Australian botanical illustrator and turned out some fabulous garden classics. We salute the English Poet Laureate who wrote inspiringly about gardens. We Grow That Garden…

Ellis Rowan

Ellis the Explorer Today is the birthday of the Australian artist and botanical illustrator Ellis Rowan. In a 1994 newspaper article, Sarah Guest described Ellis this way: “She was an explorer. She set off alone at 68, for Papua New Guinea – and died in 1922. She dyed her hair red; had a face-lift; left…

July 30, 2020 A Call to Decolonise Botanical Collections, Castor Bean, Emily Brontë, Ellis Rowan, the Arkansas State Flower, Alfred Joyce Kilmer, Natural Living Style by Selina Lake and Disney’s Flowers and Trees

Today we celebrate the author and poet who wrote some beautiful garden verses. We’ll also learn about a magnificent Australian artist and botanical illustrator, and her art is now part of Australia’s national library. We celebrate the selection of the State Flower for Arkansas – and the very cute story of how it came to…

Ellis Rowan

An Explorar, Artist, and Illustrator It’s the birthday of Ellis Rowan, who was a well-known Australian artist and botanical illustrator, born on this day in 1848. In a 1994 newspaper article, Sarah Guest described Rowan this way: “She was an explorer. She set off alone at 68, for Papua New Guinea – who died in…

July 30, 2019 Growing Castor Bean, Emily Brontë, Ellis Rowan, the Arkansas Apple Blossom, Russell Baker, Bev Adams, Gertrude Jekyll at Munstead by Martin Wood and Judith Tankard, Pruning Blackberries or Boysenberries, and Walt Disney’s Flowers and Trees

Have you tried growing Castor Bean? It’s one of Michael Pollen’s favorite plants. Check out the way he starts his article on the plant called, “Consider the Castor Bean”: “Pretty they are not, but a garden can labor under a surfeit “surfut” of prettiness, be too sweet or cheerful for its own good. Sometimes what’s…