Category Archives: Gardens

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

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

Garden Work for Every Day

Posted on 23/10/2017 by carolinemmurray

Back in the day, I was involved in reissuing several books by the polemical garden writer William Robinson (1838–1935), he of Gravetye Manor. The Wheel of Fortune having nudged on a bit, I am now spending a few hours each … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Gardens, History | Tagged Foster's Schoo, head gardener, Sherborne Castle, Victorian country estate, W.G. Pragnell, William Robinson | 2 Comments

The Unusual Grand Tour of Sir J.E. Smith

Posted on 28/08/2017 by carolinemmurray

Although, in my previous existence, I had been involved in reissuing the hagiographic two-volume ‘life and letters’ of Sir J.E. Smith (1759–1828), founding president of the Linnean Society, written by his delightfully named widow, Pleasance, I did not actually read … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Botany, France, Gardens, History, Italy, Natural history, Printing and Publishing | Tagged Grand Tour, Jonas Dryander, Linnaeus, Linnean Society, Sir J.E. Smith, Sir Joseph Banks | 7 Comments

Plant of the Month: July 2017

Posted on 30/07/2017 by carolinemmurray

Regrets, I’ve had a few … but none so profound as for the fatal day on which I gratefully accepted a kind neighbour’s gift of a single plant of Meconopsis cambrica. Up to my oxters (whatever they are) in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Gardens, Natural history | Tagged Himalayan balsam, invasive plants, Meconopsis cambrica, non-native plants, Welsh poppy | Leave a comment

A Curious Herbal

Posted on 16/07/2017 by carolinemmurray

In Modena recently, we were having a nice mooch round the Biblioteca Estense in the Palazzo dei Musei, which also houses the Galleria Estense, the Lapidario Romano, the Musei Civici di Modena, and several other collections. (A tasting session for … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Bibliography, Botany, Cambridge, Gardens, History, London, Natural history, Printing and Publishing | Tagged Alexander Blackwell, Biblioteca Estense, Cambridge University Library, Chelsea Physic Garden, debtor's prison, Elizabeth Blackwell, herbals, Modena, Sweden | 3 Comments

Hortus Academicus

Posted on 10/07/2017 by carolinemmurray

The botanic garden in Leiden is always associated with its hugely distinguished first director, Carolus Clusius, and sure enough, his bust is the first thing you see at the entrance. I wasn’t aware, however, until our recent visit, that other … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Botany, Gardens, History, Natural history, Uncategorized | Tagged botanic garden, Clusius, Japan, Leiden, Linnaeus, Rumphius, Siebold | 20 Comments

Plant of the Month: June 2017

Posted on 21/06/2017 by carolinemmurray

There is no doubt that, for a very long period, the pineapple was THE evidence, across Europe, of your wealth, your taste, and your ability to choose a head gardener for your estates who could manage a stove-house. This exotic … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Botany, Exploration, Gardens, Museums and Galleries, Natural history | Tagged Chelsea Physic Garden, Fitzwilliam Museum, hot house, Parks and Gardens UK, pineapple, plant of the month, still life | 4 Comments