Author Archives: carolinemmurray

The Legacy of Sir J.E. Smith

Posted on 08/02/2018 by carolinemmurray

A terrific bargain available once a month in London is a ‘Treasures Tour’ and visit to the Library of the Linnean Society, in Burlington House, Piccadilly. (I have now managed one way and another to get inside the Royal Astronomical … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Gardens, History, London, Museums and Galleries, Natural history, Uncategorized | Tagged Burlington House, Daniel Solander, Linnaeus, Linnean Society, Sir J.E. Smith, Sir Joseph Banks | 11 Comments

Object of the Month: January 2018

Posted on 28/01/2018 by carolinemmurray

On 21 January, already deeply memorable as a family birthday, I was looking for a picture of a squirrel, since some Power had Decreed that it was also Squirrel Appreciation Day. The photo I found was a rather bad (full … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Cambridge, History, Italy, Museums and Galleries, Printing and Publishing | Tagged book flask, ceramics, emblemata, Fitzwilliam Museum, knitting, Leonardo da Vinci, niddy-noddy, squirrel, swift, wool, yarn, yarnwinder | 3 Comments

Plant of the Month: January 2018

Posted on 21/01/2018 by carolinemmurray

The first problem I have in considering the hazel (apart from the minor detail that, in the last few days when I have been confined to bed/the house, it has been bright and sunny – ideal photographic weather – and … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Classics, Gardens, Italy, Natural history | Tagged botany, climate change, ctakins, hazel, hazelnut, plant of the month, spring | 2 Comments

Small But Perfectly Formed

Posted on 19/01/2018 by carolinemmurray

When I was unexpectedly cast upon the shore of the Island of Leisure, nearly three years ago now, one of the resolutions I made to myself in contemplation of the Rest of the Journey of My Life was that I … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Botany, Exploration, History, London, Museums and Galleries, Natural history, Printing and Publishing | Tagged British Museum, history of medicine, Jan Van Huysum, Maria Sibylla Merian, Middleton Stoney, Natural History Museum, Royal Society, Sir Hans Sloane | 15 Comments

The Mustard Plant of the Scriptures

Posted on 05/01/2018 by carolinemmurray

Discussion of conifers and mention of David Don brings me back to Mr Aylmer Bourke Lambert (1761–1842), whose great work on the genus was published in seven parts, with plates by Ferdinand Bauer (collaborator on John Sibthorp’s Flora graeca, artist … Continue reading →

Posted in Bibliography, Botany, Gardens, History, London, Natural history | Tagged Aylmer Bourke Lambert, botany, Cory Library, Exploration, herbaria, Linnean Society, Sir J.E. Smith, Sir Joseph Banks | 1 Comment

Plant of the Month: December 2017

Posted on 31/12/2017 by carolinemmurray

This piece runs the risk of being the most boring blog ever – even by my own soporific-tending standards. Yet it seemed a good idea at the time … I decided to take one picture every month in 2017 of … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Cambridge, Gardens, Natural history | Tagged Andrew Murray, Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Charles Lawson, Cypress, Leighton Hall, Leyland family | 4 Comments

The Consequences of Varicella (Part 2)

Posted on 07/12/2017 by carolinemmurray

Continuing (rather belatedly – I’ve been busy with retail) the exploration of a small area of the East End of London by foot and buggy – we lose our way, but are guided onward by the pinnacles of an extraordinary … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Botany, Gardens, History, London, Museums and Galleries | Tagged Daniel Solander, Linnaeus, London churches, Lord Brabazon, Nicholas Hawksmoor, Octavia Hill, St George's in the East, Swedenborg, Whitechapel Museum | 3 Comments

The Consequences of Varicella (Part 1)

Posted on 19/11/2017 by carolinemmurray

One of the things about this grandparenting lark is being asked occasionally to improve one’s knowledge of the East End of London by pushing a baby in a buggy around it. The Object of Worship and I had a very … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, History, London | Tagged City of London School, East End, James Cook, London docks, Sir William Perkin, St Paul's church Shadwell, Thomas Jefferson, Urban Baristas, Walter Pater | 3 Comments

Death on the Ice

Posted on 09/11/2017 by carolinemmurray

Can I enthusiastically recommend the current (until 7 January 2018) ‘Death in the Ice’ exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich? It contains some fantastic Stuff (including artefacts found in the ongoing investigations of the recently discovered wrecks of … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Biography, Exploration, History, Museums and Galleries | Tagged 'Death in the Ice', Arctic, National Maritime Museum, Sir John Franklin | 1 Comment

Plant of the Month: October 2017

Posted on 31/10/2017 by carolinemmurray

Earlier this month, I took a picture of the Malus tschonoskii @CUBotanicGarden with the idea of making it October’s plant, but after many interesting and thought-provoking conversations at the chopping-board front line at Apple Day 0n 22 October, I decided … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Cambridge, Gardens, Natural history | Tagged Apple Day, apple genus, fruit breeding, John Williams, Pitmaston, Witley Court, Worcestershire | Leave a comment