Category Archives: Cambridge

William Crump and Others

Posted on 25/10/2022 by carolinemmurray

23 October 2022 was Apple Day @CUBotanicGarden, and after the glorious warm sunlight of the day before, it was a bit disconcerting to be walking down Bateman Street to the back entrance, poised to take my place with my knife … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Botany, Cambridge, Gardens, History, Natural history | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Drought

Posted on 10/08/2022 by carolinemmurray

According to the National Geographic Society, a drought happens when: ‘Below-average precipitation affects the amount of moisture in soil as well as the amount of water in streams, rivers, lakes, and groundwater.’ Alternatively, the United States Government says it is … Continue reading →

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Buds

Posted on 09/03/2022 by carolinemmurray

March is all about anticipation: admittedly, whitethorn and Prunus cerasifera are doing their thing, and Mahonia is almost over, but, in the Botanic Garden, I don’t imagine I am the only person checking up on the great Prunus x yedoensis (the Yoshino cherry) … Continue reading →

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Déjà Vu All Over Again

Posted on 01/03/2022 by carolinemmurray

Sadly, the moment has arrived. Yesterday, I packed up my mug, my spoon and my jar of decaffeinated coffee and left my lovely workplace for the last time. This, as my devoted followers (I can dream, can’t I?), will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Cambridge, History, Museums and Galleries | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Brother of the More Famous Jan

Posted on 24/02/2022 by carolinemmurray

One of the treasures of the Fairhaven Bequest at the Fitzwilliam Museum is the series of twelve flower paintings, one for each month of the year, by van Huysum. Until a few days ago, I had assumed that the artist … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Bibliography, Biography, Botany, Cambridge, Gardens, History, London, Museums and Galleries, Natural history, Printing and Publishing, The Netherlands, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Plant of the Month: September 2021

Posted on 15/09/2021 by carolinemmurray

At this time of year, the colchicums are at their best, spreading out (usually under trees) in Cambridge University Botanic Garden in an apparently effortless, though brief, display. Come to think of it, I am not sure if I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Cambridge, Gardens, History, Natural history | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

St Jerome

Posted on 18/03/2021 by carolinemmurray

One of the Christmas gifts which I most appreciate every year is a diary from the National Gallery, donated by family members who understand that, as senility advances, I really do need to write down what (if anything) I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Biography, Cambridge, History, Italy, London, Museums and Galleries, Printing and Publishing | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Virtual Knowledge

Posted on 12/03/2021 by carolinemmurray

Now that The End may be in sight (touching wood, not counting my chickens, not jinxing it by booking holidays, etc. etc.), I’ve been pondering what, if anything, about life in lockdown I might actually miss. It is of course … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Bibliography, Biography, Botany, Cambridge, Gardens, History, London, Museums and Galleries, Natural history, Venice | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Litter

Posted on 06/01/2021 by carolinemmurray

A couple of months ago, I became a signed-up, official Volunteer Litter-Picker for Cambridge City Council. This came about because I get furious about litter all the time, but had no idea what to do about it in any systematic … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Botany, Cambridge, Natural history | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

2020 in the Research Plots

Posted on 03/01/2021 by carolinemmurray

Not all of 2020, in fact, as the Cambridge University Botanic Garden was sadly but inevitably closed between March and June … I began following a particular plant or hedge throughout the year in 2017, with varying degrees of success … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Cambridge, Gardens, Natural history | Tagged , , | 7 Comments