England Archives

Wild Flowers of Britain by Margaret Erskine Wilson

As Heard on The Daily Gardener Podcast: Wild Flowers of Britain by Margaret Erskine Wilson This book came out in 2016, and the subtitle is Month by Month. Here’s what the publisher wrote about this book: Margaret Erskine Wilson, late President of Kendal Natural History Society, was a keen amateur botanist and watercolorist. In 1999, she…

Commemorating the Beginning of WWI with a Sea of Red Ceramic Poppies at the Tower of London

“The work commemorated the centenary of the outbreak of World War I and was made up of 888,246 ceramic red poppies, one for each British or Colonial service member killed in the War. The title, Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red refers to the first line of a poem by an unknown soldier in…

Remembering Surrey Nurseryman George Jackman and the Purple Jackman Clematis

“The beginning of the year 1840 was a terrible time in the life of George Jackman. He lost his wife, Mary, in January and his father, William, in February. In twenty-five days, George and his 3-year-old son, George II, were alone. The nursery became the center of their world.” February 12, 1869 On this day,…

Remembering Charles Augustus Stanhope, the Happy Huntsman, and his Memorial Oak Tree near Elvaston Castle

“Family lore says that when Charles was buried, the hounds bounded into the graveyard and gathered around the oak tree near the family crypt. They would not leave and could not be coaxed away.” February 5, 1917 On this day, the Happy Huntsman’s Tree was planted, which stands beside the Harrington family crypt near…

The Night Gardener: How Edward Budding Revolutionized Our Lawns

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. August 22, 1830 My dearest garden comrades, on this most auspicious day in horticultural history, a revolution sprouted from the ingenious mind of one Edward Beard Budding – the very first lawn mower…