hans sloane Archives

Mary Somerset: The Duchess of Beaufort and Patron of Botanical Collections

Duchess of Beaufort Today is the anniversary of the death of Mary Somerset, Duchess of Beaufort (“BOH-fert”). She was an avid gardener and botanist. She survived two husbands and had eight children. After she was widowed a second time, she focused all of her discretionary effort on gardening. The best horticultural minds of her time…

Sir Hans Sloane: From Plant Collector to National Treasure

Sir Hans Sloane portrait at The Royal Society.

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. April 16, 1660 On this day, dear gardeners, we celebrate the birth of that most extraordinary gentleman, Sir Hans Sloane – physician, naturalist, and collector extraordinaire. One simply cannot overstate the magnitude of…

Gardens Painted in Poetry: The Wit and Legacy of William Kent

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. April 12, 1748 Dearest reader, On this day, we mark the passing of William Kent, the visionary who helped free gardens from the tyranny of rigid formality. Often called a pioneer of the…