The Brother Gardeners: Botany, Empire and the Birth of an Obsession
During the 18th century, Britain moved from following the French and Italian styles of gardening to become the foremost nation in gardening and botany. This fascinating book tells how it happened, with an emphasis on the extraordinarily productive relationship between Peter Collinson in England and John Bartram in the colony of Pennsylvania, which introduced large numbers of North American plants to England; the Swede Carl Linnaeaus and his impact on nomenclature, which made it possible for the average person to gain an understanding of it; and Joseph Banks and his extraordinary efforts to use the increased knowledge of plant life to benefit the empire. Along the way are fascinating tidbits, such as Erasmus Darwin’s poem called “Loves of the Plants,” which personified plants and their love lives, staying true to the Linnaean system which categorized plants by their sexual apparatus. As the author writes, “Plants not only changed the English landscape but the very fabric of the nation, contributing to the country’s global dominance and imperial strength.” Wulf tells the story compellingly.
