The Brother Gardeners: Botany, Empire and the Birth of an Obsession

by Andrea Wulf

One January morning in 1734, cloth merchant Peter Collinson hurried down to the docks at London’s Custom House to collect cargo just arrived from John Bartram, his new contact in the American colonies. But it was not reels of wool or bales of cotton that awaited him, but plants and seeds…

Over the next forty years, Bartram would send hundreds of American species to England, where Collinson was one of a handful of men who would foster a national obsession and change the gardens of Britain forever, introducing lustrous evergreens, fiery autumn foliage and colourful shrubs. They were men of wealth and taste but also of knowledge and experience like Philip Miller, author of the bestselling Gardeners Dictionary, and the Swede Carl Linnaeus, whose standardised botanical nomenclature popularised botany as a genteel pastime for the middle-classes; and the botanist-adventurer Joseph Banks and his colleague Daniel Solander who both explored the strange flora of Tahiti and Australia on the greatest voyage of discovery of modern times, Captain Cook’s Endeavour.

This is the story of these men – friends, rivals, enemies, united by a passion for plants – whose correspondence, collaborations and squabbles make for a riveting human tale which is set against the backdrop of the emerging empire, the uncharted world beyond and London as the capital of science. From the scent of the exotic blooms in Tahiti and Botany Bay to the gardens at Chelsea and Kew, and from the sounds and colours of the streets of the City to the staggering vistas of the Appalachian mountains, The Brother Gardeners tells the story of how Britain became a nation of gardeners.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Gardening, Nature, Science, Biography, Plants

350 pages, Hardcover

First published May 6, 2008

About the author

Andrea Wulf is a biographer. She is the author of The Brother Gardeners, published in April 2008. It was longlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize and received a CBHL Annual Literature Award in 2010. She was born in India, moved to Germany as a child, and now resides in Britain.

Reviews

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating and accessible book. I learned so much from it, I don't know where to begin. Except maybe to say that Fuchsia is NOT pronounced Fyou-sha, oh no. It should be pronounced FOOKS-ia after our dear Mr. Fuchs. I can hardly wait to try that out on the garden store clerk come spring.

This sweeping history of gardening and botany in the 18th century is compulsively readable and full of interesting trivia and tidbits about famous gardeners and botanists. Some of whom I'd actually heard of.

Highly recommended for gardeners.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a pleasure this book was for me. It worked on me like a tonic. I get spring fever every year about this time and I guess I've already seen all the "how-to" garden books at our library 'cos none of them seem to tell me anything new anymore. (I can still hear my 3rd grade teacher's words reverberating in my head,"Yes dear, but if you would only APPLY what you learn..."). So this book came along at the perfect time for me. I want to eat, sleep, and talk of nothing but gardening, I love history and always like to learn how things happen. This is an excellently well written non-fiction account of how England became a country of gardeners. It's a exciting story believe it or not and full of all kinds of colorful people, some of whom you may have known, others unfairly lost to history until now. What adventures they had! What naughtiness they succumbed to! And of course they're are so many fabulous plants and trees to learn the stories of. Some of them have the most fascinating stories. And yall go ahead and sit down for this next bit. I am considering buying myself a copy. Yep, ya heard me right. It'll make such a great reference book. I learned so much about the classification systems and how they developed. P.S. If you think you know the story of The Mutiny on the Bounty, think again. It's all here, it wasn't at all what the movies make you think. It was all about plants!
P.S. (again) I was so sorry to see this one coming to an end, I reserved another of Andrea Wulf's books, Founding Gardeners. It's about the American Founding Fathers and what gardening, horticulture and all that meant to them. Alot of that was in Brother Gardeners but now we get all the delicious detail. Sigh, swoon, repeat.

[Sarah Guldenbrein · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this would be a way to learn about colonialism and gardening, two of my strong but mostly separate interests. I figured I might get some foundational knowledge about the history of garden design, and also learn about the colonial history of some plants that I'd previously taken for granted. It did offer some of that, but it became too tiresome to wade through the uncritical hero-worship of these white men enriching themselves while they argued over how to categorize plant specimens from the colonized world with total disregard to the indigenous peoples who surely had long relationships to and deep knowledge of the plants in question.

I understood going in that I would be reading between the lines, but it just became too much and I couldn't be bothered to finish it.

[Robert Craven · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book I found by accident, and absolutely loved it. It covers, history, exploration, botany and the rise of gardening. Wulf captures perfectly the 18th century, not only the wonderful characters, but descriptions too - The Thames is described as 'A forest of masts'. James Cook's voyages are brought to life along with the early English colonies in America.

I'm actually going to read it again.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much beauty in our gardens and parks that we owe to the insatiable curiosity of those of our forefathers who wanted to search out....and bring home, trees, shrubs and plants that flourished in distant places, exotic blooms that we probably take a little for granted today, but were things of wonder when they were first introduced by the botanists who overcame so many hurdles, not to mention risking life and limb to introduce these exotic specimens to their fellow gardeners

In her book, The Brother Gardeners: A Generation of Gentlemen Naturalists and the Birth of an Obsession, author Andrea Wulf looks at some of the people whose passion for horticulture went beyond simply growing what had always been available in their homeland........including two men, one in England and one in America, who worked together for many years to bring the botanic wonders of the new world to the parks and gardens of England, changing the landscape forever.

That so many of the lovely trees and flowers that seem so familiar a part of the British landscape owe their place here to an intrepid American plant hunter, who scoured the American wilderness for beautiful and interesting species, and a passionate English botanist, whose determination and business acumen made sure the plants found their way across the Atlantic to people with both passion for their gardens, and the money to buy them.

It wasn’t only America that provided a hunting ground for gorgeous, unusual specimens, there were many men, and I hope, women, who undertook long and arduous sea journeys to far off places.....sometimes undiscovered places, to search out new treasures......and they invented ways of bringing them home safely.
The story of such men as Joseph Banks, an amazing man to whom every gardener owes gratitude, Captain Cook who gave Botany Bay it’s name because of the wealth of specimens found there, and, the story of what became of the Captain of the Bounty and his ship after that notorious mutiny.....it’s all in this brilliant book.....I loved it.

Thank you, Kerri.....definitely the best secret Santa gift ever.....

These lovely and very apt words were on the bookmark that came with my book....and they also appeared in the book itself....

......If you have a garden and a Library
. You have everything you need........


So true.......

[Roberto Rho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non sapevo come si è evoluta la storia della botanica. Narrazione epica di 4 uomini che hanno trasformato lo studio delle piante e anche il nostro presente grazie al loro coraggio e alle loro innovazioni.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gli inglesi prendono la botanica molto seriamente e Andrea Wulf racconta la loro storia in modo piacevolissimo.
Si parte dai primi giardini e dai primi ibridi creati dall'uomo, che avrebbero potuto essere condannati per eresia: si pensava che i fiori e le piante si riproducessero senza attività sessuale, per cui far nascere un nuovo fiore manipolando polline, stami e pistilli era azzardato. Alla fine anche i grandi botanici fanno come i bambini: mentono. "l'ho trovato in giardino, l'ho mica fatto io...". E gli altri grandi botanici fingono di crederci perché sono più interessati alla scienza che alla religione.
Il libro parla poi dei rapporti con le nuove colonie, l'America e le sue piante, gli scambi di semi attraverso l'Atlantico, i sotterfugi per evitare che le casse contenenti gli specimen non finissero tra le mani dei pirati, la compravendita e il furto. Mi immagino questi Lord inglesi travestirsi come Burke ed Hare a girare per giardini altrui rubando rami di azalee o piantine di gardenie. Altro che Diabolik.
Ultima sezione: il nuovissimo mondo, cioè l'Australia. Un paio di personaggi e il loro entourage si imbarcano col capitano Cook sull'Endeavour, pronti a navigare alla volta dell'altro emisfero. Ottima la descrizione degli allegri studiosi che ribaltano anche gli alloggi del capitano pur di stiparvi scrivanie, attrezzature, colori e ammenicoli vari per la catalogazione di piante e animali: riesco a immaginarmi il capitano fermo sul ponte con un grosso facepalm che si rammarica di averli accettati a bordo.
L'entusiasmo dei botanici aumenta ad ogni scoperta, specie quando scoperte sono le fanciulle di Tahiti. Nel puro spirito di adattamento vediamo i suddetti studiosi partecipare a cerimonie locali vestiti solo di un perizoma, per esempio.
Non voglio citare tutti i momenti comici del libro, ma ce ne sono più di quanti mi sarei aspettata in una simile lettura. Dite quel che volete, ma gli inglesi sanno appassionarsi e divertirsi qualunque sia l'attività intrapresa. Solo Linneo ci fa la figura dello stronzo.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-researched and wonderfully written book about the beginnings of modern botany, the origins of the English-style garden, the export of American plants to Europe, and the personalities of the men who made all these things happen, The Brother Gardeners is a fascinating read and a rich reference book. In a time when everyone who has ever planted a petunia feels qualified to write a gardening book, it is refreshing to find a scholarly book based on thorough research that is not only readable and useful but also interesting. For those interested in the travels of plants in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, in the development of Linnaean classification, and in the founding of botanical gardens, this is a must-read. Wulf also covers the discovery of the botanical paradise of Australia and its effect on the gardening practices of the Europeans. I hope to see more contributions to the history of gardening by this talented author.

[Ivona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aseară am terminat de citit The Brother Gardeners de Andrea Wulf! Doamne, nu-mi ajung cele două mâini pentru a da steluțele necesare pe Goodreads, atât de mult mi-a plăcut! Nu mi s-a mai întâmplat să îmi ia mai bine de 6 luni (din cauza cursurilor de ilustrație) să citesc o carte pe care efectiv am adorat-o, savurând fiecare paragraf, fiecare nouă informație, într-o permanentă stare de admirație și uimire! Aproape o treime din carte e ocupată doar de bibliografie! Ce carte! Ce CARTE! Nu-mi revin. Îmi era dor de starea asta de entuziasm, care în ultimii ani doar volumul Salt: A World History de Mark Kurlansky și Prince Rupert: The Last Cavalier de Charles Spencer mi-au mai provocat-o! Să se așeze puțin toate informațiile și am să scriu despre ea, despre cum a apărut o națiune de grădinari, despre cum pasiunea pentru flori și plante a ținut un imperiu, iar imperiul a definit o pasiune care din Anglia s-a extins în întreaga lume, despre traseul neștiut și plin de aventuri al plantelor de care acum ne bucurăm în grădini, despre grădinile englezești, despre Miller, Collinson și Bartram, Linnaeus și Solander, și Banks ❤! Doamne!

[Simon Pressinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delight! It turns out that the 18th century quest for plants is a story that spans, and forms an integral part of, some big historical events in Western history. It goes from domestic efforts at gardening and botany in England, to the epic voyages of Captain Cook and, later, the notorious Bounty expedition — stories I’d not expected to see framed from the viewpoint of a botanist. Western imperial ambitions are laid bare. “We want plants, therefore we want your land.” The key figures in the story are empiricists, through and through. I avoided all the tooth grinding at the little that was said about the lasting harm empire has inflicted on the world in the name of progress, because I know this isn’t a story about that. It’s more a close character study of men with vaulting ambitions, towering egos, and a great passion for plants. There’s so much I hadn’t before known about the relatively recent developments in the natural history of Britain. There’s quite a few surprises in this book, well worth checking out.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical book that traces the English obsession with gardening through the 18th century. This book brought together so many random pieces of historical and botanical information I have learned in the past and solidly rooted them in the lives of significant individuals who revolutionized our understanding of the plant world. We learn about Fairchild who creates the first hybrid; Collinson and Bartram who share information and plants across the ocean; Linnaeus who classified the plant world; Banks and Solander who sail the world discovering new species. From wild exotics to humble native species the English explore the world of botany at both the scientific and recreational level. Their obsession with plants sends ships around the world looking for new species, experimenting with transporting plants to new homes and turning botanical treasures into lucrative businesses. I learned so much from this book and for the first time ever have an interest in learning the Latin names of species. I have a fresh perspective on both native and exotic plants and appreciate the work of those who founded the basis for the study and appreciation of plants.

I will definitely be looking up other books by this author!

[Zuska · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot, but would have loved it if it had undergone a little more/better editing. The transformation of English gardening, the rise of England as the garden center of the world, the beginning of the global trade in plants, the role John Bartram of Philadelphia played in Americanizing the English landscape - these are fascinating stories. But you have to slog through some less-than-compelling prose to get them; the story-telling is sometimes repetitive, sometimes gets you lost,, sometimes it bogs down in the author's ambitious effort to quote every bit of extant source material. With all that, it's worth the effort if you care anything for gardening. There's just so much wonderful information in here.

One does wince, while reading, at the blithe manner in which these colonial-era men sent plants and seeds willy-nilly across oceans and over continents. Our invasive species problem was embedded in the birth of modern gardening - the serpent was in the garden from the get-go.

Side note: hilarious portrait of pompous, self-aggrandizing Carl Linnaeus. Modern scientists with their cutthroat competition to be "first", to steal credit, and to jealously guard resources and information, have nothing on Carl!

[Graychin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let’s say three-and-a-half stars, but I’ll round it up. This is a nicely done history of botany and the birth of popular gardening in eighteenth-century England. Wulf makes crisp portraits of Linnaeus and Joseph Banks but mostly focuses on the decades-long friendship and correspondence between Pennsylvania’s John Bartram and Peter Collinson in London. It was largely through the seed and plant boxes dispatched by Bartram to Collinson that the English landscape – and the idea of the English garden – was transformed in the middle 1700s. The book is meticulously researched, the glossary, bibliography, notes and index adding 100 pages to its total length. Wulf’s prose is nothing very special but it’s clear enough and inoffensive. The concluding chapters could have been better. This said, the publisher (Vintage) has done a lovely job with this paperback in terms of typesetting, layout, illustration, etc. It’s a beautiful book to hold and own. I do look forward to reading another of Wulf’s titles, maybe Chasing Venus. I hear she’s currently writing a book on Alexander von Humboldt, which sounds promising.

[Jose Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este livro relata como seis botânicos do séc. XVIII revolucionaram o mundo botânico e da jardinagem dedicando as suas vidas ao estudo das plantas e à procura de novas plantas por todo o mundo, viajando, colhendo e estudando novos exemplares que eram trazidos das colónias britânicas. Mas este livro é muito mais do que isso. Para além da sua importância no mundo botânico, estes seis homens, Peter Collinson, John Bartram, Philip Miller, Carl Linnaeus, Daniel Solander and Joseph Banks tiveram as suas vidas cheias de aventuras, discordâncias, guerras políticas e muito mais para além da botânica. As plantas que temos hoje, os jardins que temos hoje e muito do que sabe hoje sobre a flora mundial faz parte desse legado deixado por estas seis personagens caricatas e extraordinárias, sendo os exemplos mais visíveis, e que tornam a Inglaterra no país dos jardins, o Chelsea Physic Garden, os jardins de Kew e o conceito de 'Jardim Inglês' e todas as suas influências por todo o mundo.
O livro está muito bem escrito nunca se tornando massudo. Uma leitura muito agradável e onde aprendi imenso.

[MonicaEmme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Collinson era un quacchero aristocratico che commerciava tessuti con l' America attraverso delle navi. Approfittava di questi traffici per farsi portare delle piante spesso sconosciute in Inghilterra.
Il bonario John Barthram aveva origini più umili, ma era riuscito a diventare proprietario di una fattoria a Filadelfia. Si era preso l' impegno d' inviare al botanico semi e piante vive. Quando divenne più competente la sua fama crebbe e con essa le spedizioni.
Mentre il rapporto tra i due si rinforzava, l' innovatore Philip Miller, esperto di giardinaggio, dispensava esperti consigli ai dilettanti che si stavano espandendo anche nelle fasce meno alte della società. Scriveva il Gardeners Dictionary, un testo sul quale ancora si fonda ogni enciclopedia delle piante. Divenne capogiardiniere del Phisic Garden allestendo un' enorme raccolta di piante unendo teoria e pratica.
Thomas Fairchild era un vivaista appassionato di piante rare. Eseguiva esperimenti genetici creando ibridi floreali dimostrando al mondo che le piante si riproducevano similmente agli uomini.
Questi due sono i fondatori della Society of Gardeners composta dai migliori giardinieri e vivaisti londinesi il cui scopo è assegnare un' universale e decisiva nomenclatura alle piante.
Linneo era un botanico svedese che, approdato in Inghilterra, quotidianamente faceva un giro botanico armato di penna e foglietti per un bisogno ossessivo di classificare la flora. Così rivoluziona il metodo applicandone uno basato sul sistema sessuale creando un linguaggio internazionale. Miller e l' Inghilterra lo snobba, mentre l' America lo trova geniale.
Nel 1753 pubblica Species Plantarum ossia un catalogo di tutte le piante conosciute, classificate con una nomenclatura universale latina formata da due nomi: genere e specie.
Petre (che morì di vaiolo a soli trent'anni) era un amico di Collinson e quando ereditò Thorndon si dedicó alla tenuta ed, utilizzando i semi inviati da Bartram, creò una tenuta dove si contavano più di 200.000 piante esotiche: il più bel parco espositivo della nazione! Non ci troviamo più di fronte un giardinobarocco, in cui l'uomo dominava la natura, era stato soppiantato da uno stile dove regnava la natura. Rispecchiava le idee politiche dell'epoca.
Il 18 maggio 1756 la Gran Bretagna dichiarò guerra alla Francia.Per Bartram fu sempre più difficile inviare semi e trovare piante nuove e l'età, coi suoi acciacchi, e il freddo della primavera successiva non erano d'aiuto. Riuscì a portare in Europa la Dionea, l'anello di congiunzione tra il regno vegetale ed animale dimostrando che aveva ancora stoffa! In trent'anni si era trasformato da un uomo rozzo in un individuo che non si sentiva più inferiore. Fu nominato botanico reale! Nel 1795 re Giorgio diede il benestare per la tassa sul bollo e i coloni si inacidirono. Sembra che Franklin comunicando ai parlamentari, che i coloni non si sarebbero piegati alla tassazione, riuscì a far abrogare la legge; la floricoltura aveva avuto la meglio sulla politica.
Florida, Canada, regioni ad est del Mississippi, la valle dell' Ohio erano diventati possedimenti inglesi e questo fece altro che accrescere la fame di novità floreali dei giardinieri.
L' 11 agosto 1768 Collinson morì e Bartram non avrebbe più guadagnato il controllo britannico e morì nel settembre del 1777.
Linneo mandò il suo allievo Solander a Londra (nel giardino di Miller a Mitt Hill) affinché imparasse le tecniche inglesi, diffondesse le idee del maestro e reclutasse giardinieri per Uppsala. Nel 1793 divenne aiuto conservatore al British Museum.
Finalmente intorno al 1790 gli inglesi decisero di accogliere la nomenclatura di Linneo.
Per la prima volta l' Inghilterra diventava la nazione più progredita in questo campo.
Nel 1768 Solander s' imbarcò sull' Endeavour con altri novantaquattro uomini, tra cui Banks, verso l'allora sconosciuto Sud America. Salparono poi sulla Terra del Fuoco, Thaiti, Nuova Zelanda, Tasmania ed, infine, Australia. Lì scoprirono più di quattrocento specie sconosciute! Quando Banks e Solander rientrarono Miller fu costretto a dimettersi dall' incarico al Physic Garden e poco dopo morì.
Le piante australiane rappresentavano il successo inglese dei viaggi esplorativi e dei progressi scientifici.
Banks divenne "il primo patrono della botanica" impegnato in un gran numero di attività. Nel 1778 divenne presidente della Royal Society ed intorno a lui si creò una comunità globale.
Nel 1778 morì anche Linneo tradito da Solander, che non era più tornato da lui, ed ignaro delle nuove specie trovate.
Nel 1782, nel giro di soli cinque giorni, Solander morì per un colpo apoplettico. Negli anni successivi Banks si dedicò all' analisi del valore economico delle piante. Volle rendere Kew un centro di scambio botanico per l'impero.
Quando Carl Linneo morì l' eredità paterna fu acquistata da Smith, un' amico di Banks. A questo punto Londra diventa il centro botanico del mondo. La nuova passione divenne letteraria ed incontriamo Darwin che scrive poesie saggi botanici, uscite di periodici, testi divulgativi.
L' eredità che ci hanno lasciato queste persone è ancora viva oggi nei nostri vasi o balconi.
È un libro davvero interessante, consiglio a tutti!

[Ergative Absolutive · Rating 3 out of 5]

We bought this on the strength of Wulf's superb biography of Alexander Von Humboldt, and her very entertaining book about the passage of Venus. But this was disappointing. The subtitle promised a discussion of empire and colonialism, which did appear, a bit, at the end, but not really thoughtfully or in depth. The details about the plants themselves were lacking, teasing us with mentions of violent disagreements carried out in the Proceedings of the Royal Society but not actually laying out the nature of the botanical disagreements. Most of the book focused on the relationships of the plant-collectors themselves--and that was, to be fair, thoroughly researched and supported with lots of entertainingly spelled quotations from letters and reminiscences. But, overall, these bits of the focus just weren't interesting enough to hold our attention. We kept putting the book down for a week at a time, and I found myself trying to make the bits about Joseph Banks more interesting by remembering how Patrick O'Brian had him as the head of Britain's Napoleonic-era spy activities in the the Aubrey and Maturin books. But no hint of those pursuits enlivened this book, and in the end it was a well-researched slog.

[Dave Franklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrea Wulf has produced a well-researched and entertaining book about the ‘Commonwealth of Botany’ in the Age of Enlightenment. “Brother Gardeners” examines the origins of English gardening, the role political tolerance and colonialism played in developing a vibrant horticulture, and the personalities of the men who made all these things happen.

Wulf’s study is a rich dive into a little researched domain. The author has given considerable attention to the men who created modern gardening. Thomas Fairchild, Peter Collinson, Carolus Linneas, John Bartram, Benjamin Franklin and Joseph Banks all make cameo appearances in this effort to humanize the science of botany.

Those interested in the effort to internationalize horticulture in the eighteenth century, and the development of Linnaean classification, will find this a must read. “The Brother Gardeners” is complete with vivid plates, edifying portraits, and amusing anecdotes. A book for scientists, gardeners, and historians.

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book may become a must keep. The 18th century explorations, the mania for plant collecting world wide, and how the English became the world's foremost gardeners, collectors, landscapers. Extensive bibliography, references with plenty of human interest stories. Rather dense so I could only read up to 20 pages at a time.

Seems most plants have been all over the world for at least 3 centuries.

Oh, and contemporaries are argumentative and have plenty of disputes, hurt feelings, and dig in their heels. What we accept as the scientific names, invented by Linnaeus, took decades to be embraced for a host of reasons. Based on SEX and Linnaeus was a hard man to stomach.

Too bad we don't teach ourselves how to do a better job of managing our own contemporary disputes.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tangle of politics, science and art lead you through this tale describing one of the greatest benefits of the Enlightenment.........discovery!

Men with time and money; in search of monetary riches, scientific honor and fame, break ground for the path that encourages England's people to find, display and categorize the Kingdom of Plants. An unexpected, at time tedious, delight!

[Emg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having had little previous exposure to the subject, I found it very interesting and surprising (so many of England's landscape trees came for America).

[Annie Oosterwyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. European and American history of the 1600-1800s told in terms of exploration for the purpose of collecting and classifying plants, then for making money by distribution via colonialism. Really interesting stories!

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

You will not like this book if you are not interested in gardening or history of gardening or history. I repeat, YOU WILL NOT LIKE THIS BOOK.

Because it's full of facts and science and history of all things gardening. I liked the book, but I'm interested in those things. And it was slow to get into, which is why it took me so long to finish the book. In fact, I bought this back in 2017, and just stopped reading. I was bored. But now, I'm completely obsessed with my new garden and it captivated me.

This book was fascinating to learn the history of the men who basically created the garden in England, and it's importance. I never realized how much the English influenced so much around the world with gardens in the name of Kew. I mean, one man is responsible for bringing cotton to Georgia...never knew. This man also brought breadfruit trees to the Caribbean. It's crazy.

So, heed my warning when picking up this book, because it's not just a nice story. It's the history unfiltered with lots of science of gardening.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biased because it includes information about my ancestors, but also, as a lay botanist, I found it very readable.

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 out of 5

Andrea Wulf is a superb popular historian. I haven't read any of her technical works, but she has consistently impressed me with her popular writing. The Brother Gardeners is expertly written. Wulf flawlessly weaves narrative and analysis with primary sources, which kept me glued to this book. My one gripe is the title of this book, I didn't really catch the impact of 'Brother' gardeners (likewise her biography of Alexander von Humboldt was titled The Invention of Nature, another misnomer).

This is an exemplary example of what a history should be. Concise, insightful and captivating without neglecting accuracy and detail. By the end of the book, I left with a solid conceptualization some of the major players in the book. Collinson, Bartram, Banks and many others came to life in my mind as persons and not just as names on the page.

[Daphyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deeply enjoyable book for anyone who loves plants. Before reading this I could have vaguely told you about Carl Linnaeus, the Kew gardens, and that Brits sure like their gardens. This opened a whole new world...

• America farmers sending seeds to England through wars, pirates, & treacherous seas
• Botanists fighting each other over classification systems
• Peers of the realm getting gardening fever
• How Mutiny on the Bounty had everything to do with plants
• English Botany and Australia?

It’s a great read.

[Jim Folger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrea Wulf has a way of bringing some little known history to life and making it interesting reading.
Unless you are a botanical historian, you would not be aware that it was a farmer in America who galvanized the explosion of gardening in England. Beginning in 1773, John Bartram from Philadelphia shipped plants and seeds to England that founded the botany movement. Bartram’s connection to Benjamin Franklin and other botanical “brothers” in Peter Collinson, Carl Linnaeus, Philip Miller, Joseph Banks, and Daniel Solander fostered a passion for plants that was unparalleled. Wulf explores these connections over time as they evolved. She brings us the intriguing stories of Banks and Solander who traveled the world seeking new plants, and were on the sailing ship Endeavor with Captain Cook. The palatial gardens created in Britain became the envy of Europe. The whole of the book is made personal to us in delving into the lives and motivations of the people who were involved in this botanical movement. A must read for gardening enthusiasts around the world.

[Rachel Herschberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was a case of the right book at the right time, because I read it while in the middle of landscaping and putting in some new gardens at our place. I love history and gardening, which this book has in spades. It is the story of six nineteenth century naturalists and botanists who transformed Britain into a nation of gardeners. They were instrumental in making gardening a pursuit and pastime everyone could enjoy, not just the aristocracy.

This narrative history is the story of a garden revolution that to my surprise, began in America. Of the six naturalists this book explores, my favorite was the story of American farmer John Bartram who developed a friendship with London cloth merchant Peter Collinson over decades of swapping seeds and plants and letters about gardening. John Bartram sold subscription boxes of seeds and plants to people in Britain, beginning with his friend Collinson, and with Collinson's help, slowly expanded his endeavors into a growing enterprise. Bartram trekked through Appalachia, climbing mountains and scaling tall evergreens in all sorts of weather to fill the orders for American species the British craved. I loved the story of his tenacity and the friendship he forged with Collinson over the years. Bartram's plants would transform the British countryside and terrain. I found his story fascinating and now I really want to visit Bartram Gardens in Philadelphia!

This book also follows the story of Carl Linnaeus, who worked diligently to have his standard nomenclature become adopted by the leading naturalists of the day. He was a rather arrogant and unpleasant character, but he did succeed eventually and contributed much to botany. Linnaeus' standardized nomenclature simplified taxonomy greatly and helped bring botany to the middle class.

This book also includes the story of Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander, who set sail aboard Captain Cook's ship "Endeavor", a grand and exciting voyage of discovery. They explored the flora and fauna of Brazil, Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia, bringing back specimens of whatever they could manage.

This book is well written and researched, informative, and engaging, at least for me. Highly recommended if you enjoy history and horticulture.

[Mila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly as the back cover promises: "Bringing to life the science and adventure of eighteenth-century plant collecting, this is the story of how six men created the modern garden and changed the horticultural world in the process."

The book started out a bit too slowly for me. but later on it got more interesting. I enjoyed reading about Carl Linnaeus's life in Uppsala, Sweden, the best. I still like him even though he was a bit full of himself. I also enjoyed Wulf quoting Linnaeus:

"When I observe the fate of Botanists, upon my word I doubt whether to call them sane or mad in their devotion to plants." Linnaeus, Critica Botanica 1737

Wulf captured the passion of the botanists well and here is an example:

"One day Banks was arrested on a common while stuffing his bags full of plants and carried before a justice as a highwayman. Though some thought it hilarious that Banks had been mistaken for a "highway robber" while crawling through a ditch, for Banks this incident only underlined how the love for natural history was mostly confined to the scientists who gathered in learned societies: why otherwise would he have been arrested, or a fellow naturalist be locked up as a "Madman" when he told his neighbours that he was chasing the Purple Emperor across the village green?"

However, I disliked Wulf's non-linear style; for example, she ended a chapter with the death of Banks, and then began the next chapter with a tale from his travels.

[Hester · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprising book about how the British did not become the West's most obsessive gardeners until they were able to get plants from their American colonies, especially Pennsylvania. They got them through the correspondence of an English merchant, Collinson, and an American farmer, John Bartram. Initially a man of modest social stature, Bartram's botanical interests led to renown and an important role in Pennsylvania's intellectual life. He was friends with Ben Franklin and gave Oswego tea its English name.
This spurred the English interest in botany and horticulture, paving the way for men like Joseph Banks (such a jerk!), who traveled with Captain Cook, taking plant samples and seeds along the way. The English then used their botanical expertise to cement their empire.
A wonderful and surprising book, filled with insensitive, arrogant intellectuals(Linneaus and Banks) and lovely, kind, bickering friends(Franklin, Bartram, and Collinson). It tells the story of men( and a couple women) who shaped our lives, but are forgotten.

[Robert Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great entertaining read with lots of history thrown into the mix on the lives of two men , one in colonial America and the other in England. True Gardeners tend to be an obsessive lot so the movement of seeds and plants from America to England was not an easy task in that Era, however these two kept at the project for many years. Traveling around the U.K. one can see the results of their endeavors along with many others who brought back vast numbers of plants and trees from the Empire to the temperate but rainy climate of the British Isles.