The naturalists that made England into a gardener’s paradise (Academy of Natural Sciences, 4/29)

Posted on | March 23, 2009 | Comments Off

Three generalities about Englishmen (and Englishwomen, although the first two apply with slightly less strength):

Its uncanny. Enter any bar or pub, almost anywhere on the planet, and you can speak to a stone drunk Brit ranting about American beer and why we don’t play soccer. Yet that person will, with sudden, arresting sobriety, be able to tell you, on demand, what sort of soil conditions are best for Aubrieta deltoidea.

Try it when you have the opportunity. Next time you enter a bar, simply shout out “What’s the average height of Echium pininiana?” And if you get an instantaneous, reflexive response (2-3 meters), you’ll be able to spot someone who can put down your national pastimes with alarming alacrity.

(People of English descent will register a flicker of response — marked by a sudden turn of the head as if they’ve heard a familiar song but can’t name place the tune — before they resume pretending to care about March Madness. )

You might be able to find the explanation behind this amazing quirk of national character April 29 at the Academy of Natural Sciences, which will be hosting author Andrea Wulf, 2 pm to 4pm, at the Academy’s lovely library. The event costs just $5 and you can make reservations by calling 215-299-1040 or e-mailing library@ansp.org

Here are the linkified details:

Andrea Wulf, author of “The Brother Gardeners: Botany, Empire and the Birth of an Obsession,” tells the story of a small group of 18th century naturalists who made England a nation of gardeners in this beautifully illustrated talk. The story begins when American farmer John Bartram sent hundreds of boxes filled with seeds to England, and includes Philip Miller, author of the Gardeners Dictionary, the cantankerous Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, and two passengers on Captain Cook’s Endeavour, Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander. Together, these men introduced lustrous evergreens, fiery autumn foliage, and colorful shrubs that shaped the Georgian landscape. They also brought science and rational thought to horticulture.

Wulf will be available to sign copies of her book, which is available in the Academy Shop.

More info: http://www.ansp.org/activities/adult_programs.php

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