The Origin of Plants: The People and Plants That Have Shaped Britain's Garden History

by Campbell-Culver (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  2004

  $3.25

  A fascinating history of Britain's plant biodiversity and a unique account of how our garden landscape has been transformed over 1000 years, from 200 species of plant in the year 1000 to the astonishing variety of plants we can all see today. Thousands of plants have been introduced into Britain since 1066 by travellers, warriors, explorers and plant hunters - plants that we now take for granted such as rhododendron from the Far East, gladiolus from Africa and exotic plants like the monkey puzzle tree from Chile. Both a plant history and a useful reference book, Maggie Campbell-Culver has researched the provenance and often strange histories of many of the thousands of plants, exploring the quirky and sometimes rude nature of the plants, giving them a personality all of their own and setting them in their social context. The text is supported by beautiful contemporary paintings and modern photographs in 2 X 8 pp colour sections.

• Used

  Hardcover
  2001

  $3.25

  In AD 1000 Britain had only a few hundred indigenous plants and many of the species we take for granted in our gardens and parks were as yet unknown in the UK. Over the past millennium, plant hunters have introduced what we now consider everyday plants, such as rhododendrons from China and gladiolus from Africa and exotics such as the monkey puzzle tree from Brazil. Respected garden historian Maggie Campbell-Culver has researched the provenance and often strange stories of many of the thousands of plants which add colour and beauty to our gardens to produce a gorgeous and valuable book.