RHS The Secrets of Great Botanists: and What They Teach Us About Gardening

by Matthew Biggs

Botanists are the trailblazers who first discovered how plants work and collected from around the world many of the species that we find in our gardens today. This informative and beautiful guide presents the stories of 35 plant collectors and gardening pioneers of the past and present, including Joseph Banks, Asa Gray and Marianne North.

Arranged in chronological order, each profile covers one botanist, presenting their life story, discoveries and legacy, while special feature pages reveal their secrets, exploring the qualities that brought them success and showing what ordinary gardeners can learn from them.

Illustrated with beautiful period botanical watercolours and vibrant photographs, RHS The Secrets of Great Botanists will provide inspiration and practical guidance for gardeners of all levels, from successful plant cultivation to adding interest to your garden.

Genres: Nature, Gardening

395 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 4, 2018

Reviews

[Geert · Rating 2 out of 5]

HIGH LIGHTS

* Verschillende soorten botanisten (p. 6):
* cytologisten: bestuderen cellen en chromosomen.
* plantenkwekers en genetici: ontwikkelen planten voor economische doeleinden.
* veld botanisten: verzamelen nieuwe soorten
* palaeobotanisten: bestuderen fossielen
* ethnobotanisten: leven en leren tussen inheemse volken en hun planten
* De Fuchsia is vernoemd naar de Duitse middeleeuwse botanicus Leonhart Fuchs (p. 18).
* Plumeria, mooie bloemetje uit Bali, is vernoemd naar Charles Plumier (p. 19).
* Henry Compton (1632-1713); heeft Fulham Palace garden groot gemaakt (p. 38 e.v.).
* Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778). Zweeds. Bekend van binomial systeem (naam van maar 2 woorden). Eerste die walvis als zoogdier classificeert, en de mens tussen de primaten plaatst.
* Richard Evans Schultes (1915-2001); ethnobotanist op wie film Medicine Man is gebaseerd (p. 194 e.v.).

[Caitlin Fitzsimmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully presented book that provides a potted history of botany illustrated with lovely images, both photographs and botanical illustrations. I particularly like the fact that the book features many female botanists who are uncredited in most conventional histories. It would make a good gift for a plant lover or avid gardener in your life.

[Stephen_Digital · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost too short

Interesting book about those than have had an impact on gardening by finding and writing about plants. Each person has a section that takes about 5 minutes to read. Some of the subjects are so jnteresting a longer passage would be useful but this is my personal preference.