Tag Archives: Linnaeus

Hyacinths

Posted on 25/03/2017 by The Garden History Blog

At this time of year my favourite smell is hyacinths. Close packed into every conceivable sort of container they made ideal presents for Christmas, but they are still be available for sale everywhere to bring a wonderful touch of spring scent and colour whatever the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Besler, Clusius, Curtis's Botanical Magazine, Haarlem, John Gerard, John Parkinson, Linnaeus, Philip Miller, Queen Charlotte, Voorhelm, Wedgwood | Leave a comment

Avoiding sex with Mrs Moriarty

Posted on 28/01/2017 by The Garden History Blog

In November 2015 I wrote a post about Augusta Withers, complaining that, as is the case with many female botanical artists, little was known about her. However by comparison with today’s subject, we had a veritable plethora of biographical information! Mrs H. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged botanical art, Curtis's Botanical Magazine, erasmus darwin, greenhouse, Linnaeus | 1 Comment

The further adventures of Francis Masson – the man with itchy feet

Posted on 02/07/2016 by The Garden History Blog

Last week’s post finished with Francis Masson returning to Kew in 1775 after a successful plant collecting expedition to the Cape of Good Hope. But he was clearly a man with itchy feet so the following year he was off again … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Azores, bulbs, Canada, Curtis's Botanical Magazine, Dutch, DUtch East India Compnay, Francis Masson, George III, geranium, Gladiolus, heaths, herbarium, Holland, Hortus Kewensis, houseplant, James Lee, James Smith, Joseph Banks, kew, Linnaeus, Linnean Society, Montreal, Mrs Delany, pelargonium, plant hunters, pot plants, Royal Society, South Africa, succulents, Thunberg, Willaim Aiton | 1 Comment

How Francis Masson found the world’s oldest pot plant…and a few other things

Posted on 25/06/2016 by The Garden History Blog

“The country is encompassed on all sides with very high mountains, almost perpendicular, consisting of bare rocks, without the last appearance of vegetation; and upon the whole, has a most melancholy effect on the mind.” So wrote Francis Masson … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Anders Sparrman, captain cook, cycad, Dutch, Dutch East India Company, Francis Masson, George III, Holland, Hortus Kewensis, James Lee, Joseph Banks, kew, L'Heritier, Lee & Keneddy, Linnaeus, Oldenburg, plant hunters, pot plants, Royal Society, Scotland, Scottish, South Africa, succulents, Thunberg, William Aiton | Leave a comment

Robert Thornton & The Temple of Flora

Posted on 13/02/2016 by The Garden History Blog

Dr Robert Thornton was the brains behind one of the most impressive and quirky of all flower books: The Temple of Flora. Despite not being either an artist or a professional botanist, he was fascinated by the rapid development in botanical knowledge of … Continue reading →