Tag Archives: william hooker

The Monkey Puzzle

Posted on 27/11/2021 by The Gardens Trust

If there is one unusual tree most of us will be able to name without much botanical knowledge or any reference books it surely must be the monkey puzzle. They became very popular in the mid-late 19thc and whenever you … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Archibald Menzies, chile, Dropmore, Jardin du Roi, John Claudius Loudon, Joseph Banks, kew, nurserymen, seeds, Veitch, william hooker, William Lobb | Leave a comment

Burchell in Brazil

Posted on 17/08/2019 by The Gardens Trust

Two recent posts have looked at the plant collecting and travels of William Burchell in St Helena and his more famous trek across South Africa. Today’s looks at the rest of his long life and especially his long plant hunting … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Brazil, plant hunters, Portugal, South Africa, william burchell, william hooker, william swainson | Leave a comment

Joseph, Victoria and the amazing leaf

Posted on 14/07/2018 by The Gardens Trust

Picture the scene. A small group of well dressed people stand around a room with a large pond in the middle watching a serious looking man and a 9 yr old girl. Everyone watches in silence as he lifts her … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Chatsworth, conservatory, duke of devonshire, greenhouse, hothouse, John Lindley, joseph paxton, kew, Syon, technology, water gardens, water lily, william hooker | 3 Comments

Belsay: “A self-contained Eden”

Posted on 25/11/2017 by The Gardens Trust

Belsay is an extraordinary match made in heaven, or rather in the green rolling hills of Northumberland. The estate is most famous for its stunning but stark Grecian revival mansion finished just 200 years ago in 1817, but tucked away … Continue reading →