James Gordon (c.1708-1780): “a most Knowing and Ingenous" gardener, nursery and seedsman
Trade card of 'James Gordon, Seeds Man', c.1770. Gordon’s shop was located at the Sign of the Thistle & Crown near Philpot Lane,...
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gardenhistorygirl
Feb 1311 min read
Apple Stories Part 2: The National Apple Congress of 1883
‘Exhibition of apples in the Great Vinery of the Royal Horticultural Society, Chiswick, October 4 to 25, 1883’. From ‘The Gardeners...
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gardenhistorygirl
Nov 27, 202324 min read
Miss Willmott's Water Lilies
'Lily Pool', Plate 16 from Ellen Willmott's book of her own photographs titled 'Warley Garden in Spring and Summer', published 1909 Those...
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gardenhistorygirl
Oct 25, 202310 min read
Apple Stories Part 1: 'The Herefordshire Pomona'
Plate XLV from 'The Herefordshire Pomona’, vol. 2, 1876-1885 “There is no fruit, in temperate climates, so universally esteemed, and so...
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gardenhistorygirl
Oct 10, 202310 min read
Crompton & Fawkes - and the Wentworth 'Winter Garden'
‘Iron Winter Garden for T.W. Vernon Wentworth, Esq., Wentworth Castle, Yorkshire. Designed, Erected, and Heated by Crompton & Fawkes,...
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gardenhistorygirl
Sep 28, 20237 min read
William Robinson's monthly journal: 'Flora and Sylva' (1903-1905)
‘Group of Hybrid Iris: 1. Psyche, 2. Charon, 3. Iphigenia'. Coloured plate from a drawing by H.G. Moon, of flowers sent from Haarlem. ...
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gardenhistorygirl
Sep 13, 202311 min read
The Veitch Nursery: A Family Dynasty c.1808-1969
Selection of plants offered for sale in a Veitch catalogue of the 1890's Introduction During the 19th century, plant collecting in new...
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gardenhistorygirl
Aug 28, 202313 min read
A "perfect bower of beauty": The White House Conservatory
The first Conservatory at the White House by Harriet Lane, built in 1857. From 'Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper', tinted by Hall...
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gardenhistorygirl
Jun 29, 202319 min read
"Hidden Beauties of the Sea": the Victorian aquarium
Plate I from 'A History of the British Sea-Anemones and Corals' by Philip Henry Gosse, 1860 Introduction If you've read my blog about the...
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gardenhistorygirl
Apr 14, 202314 min read
A Belgian Botanical: 'Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l’Europe'
"Embothrium Coccineum". From 'Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l’Europe', Vol.13, 1858 Introduction Many of the historic images of...
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gardenhistorygirl
Mar 30, 202312 min read
The Fruits of America Part 2: The US Department of Agriculture's 'Agricultural Explorers'
'Garcinia mangostana' (the mangosteen), watercolour by Deborah Griscom Passmore, 1909 – said to be agricultural explorer David...
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gardenhistorygirl
Mar 22, 202314 min read
Miss Willmott's Orchids
One of Miss Ellen Willmott's few existing 'autochromes' c.1908. The plant featured was identified recently by experts at Royal Botanic...
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gardenhistorygirl
Feb 28, 202327 min read
Castlewellan Part 2: The “long aisles of glass” - Castlewellan's Glasshouses
Castlewellan's Head Gardener, Thomas Ryan, in front of the terrace glasshouses c.1880's. By kind permission of the Ogilvie family...
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gardenhistorygirl
Feb 7, 20239 min read
The Fruits of America Part 1: The US Department of Agriculture's Pomological Watercolor Collection
Corsican lemon by Deborah Griscom Passmore, 1899. US Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection Introduction: A lucky...
461 views2 comments
gardenhistorygirl
Jan 15, 202325 min read
Castlewellan - Part 1: An Irish gentleman gardener, the 5th Earl Annesley
Profile photograph of Huge Annesley (later the 5th Earl Annesley of Castlewellan) c.1854-55 Introduction This month, I’m writing about a...
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gardenhistorygirl
Dec 24, 20229 min read
The Christmas Cactus: flowers for under "gas light"
'Christmas Cactus', painting by Christian Mollback I was pondering what to write for Christmas, when a friend reminded me that I’d...
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gardenhistorygirl
Oct 26, 202211 min read
The UK's first garden gnomes - or "fairy miners"
Painting by Heinrich Schlitt, c.1900, Hungarian National Gallery Do you have a gnome in your garden? If you do, you’re in good company!...
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gardenhistorygirl
Oct 15, 202220 min read
In focus: Miss Willmott's published photographs
'The Garden House'. Plate 37 from 'Warley Garden in Spring and Summer' by Ellen Willmott, 1909 Introduction Anyone that reads my blogs...
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gardenhistorygirl
Sep 24, 202213 min read
Country Life: The Garden Historians’ ‘bible’
Front cover of June 1st, 2022 issue of 'Country Life' Introduction I have to admit to only buying Country Life very occasionally – it’s...
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gardenhistorygirl
Aug 8, 202215 min read
Photography as applied to flowers: Mr Stevens’ ‘prize picture’
'Gloire de Dijon Roses from a prize photograph by Mr Henry Stevens', from 'The Gardeners' Chronicle', February 10, 1883 After a day’s...
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