This is the fascinating story of a small group of eighteenth-century naturalists who made Britain a nation of gardeners and the epicenter of hortic...
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Jul 13, 2009
Michael
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A well-researched and wonderfully written book about the beginnings of modern botany, the origins of the English-style garden, the export of American plants to Europe, and the personalities of the men who made all these things happen, The Brother Gardeners is a fascinating read and a rich reference book. In a time when everyone who has ever planted a petunia feels qualified to write a gardening book, it is refreshing to find a scholarly book based on thorough research that is not only readable a
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May 01, 2011
Margaretelberson
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As a gardener who grew up near Philadelphia, I truly enjoyed learning about John Bartram, who is one of the 4 gardeners/botanists that the book follows. This book describes the intense plant trade between America and Britain and its dramatic effect on British gardening and the development of the "English garden" style that everyone aspires to achieve in their flower borders. The great Carl Linneaus is also presented as well as his binomial naming system for the classification of pl
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May 14, 2011
Shawn
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Botanists working together really changed the world in the 18th century, at least that's what Andrea Wulf argues, and I came away from her book in complete agreement. The Brother Gardeners is enjoyably readable (I was a little afraid it would be a dry and dusty). I knew next to nothing about Captain Cook and the voyage of Endeavor before reading the book, and didn't realize that the Bounty (Mutiny On) was on a botanical adventure to Tahiti. The craftiness and self absorption of Carl Linnaeus
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May 14, 2010
Lynne-marie
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A splendid introduction to how the brotherhood of botanists and gardeners in the 1700's within the British Empire and without, brought plants from the newly discovered lands of the Americas, Africa, Asia and the Indonesias to Britain and Europe and set about creating what we know now as the jandin anglais. They were unequaled in their devotion, in some cases for their outright courage, and for their vision. Including Linneas who cataloged the whole into an understandable catalogue, these men g
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Jun 07, 2011
Jose
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Este livro relata como seis botânicos do séc. XVIII revolucionaram o mundo botânico e da jardinagem dedicando as suas vidas ao estudo das plantas e à procura de novas plantas por todo o mundo, viajando, colhendo e estudando novos exemplares que eram trazidos das colónias britânicas. Mas este livro é muito mais do que isso. Para além da sua importância no mundo botânico, estes seis homens, Peter Collinson, John Bartram, Philip Miller, Carl Linnaeus, Daniel Solander and Joseph Banks tiveram as sua
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Apr 06, 2010
Hester
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A surprising book about how the British did not become the West's most obsessive gardeners until they were able to get plants from their American colonies, especially Pennsylvania. They got them through the correspondence of an English merchant, Collinson, and an American farmer, John Bartram. Initially a man of modest social stature, Bartram's botanical interests led to renown and an important role in Pennsylvania's intellectual life. He was friends with Ben Franklin and gave Oswego tea its
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Oct 13, 2009
Melody
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This was a fascinating and accessible book. I learned so much from it, I don't know where to begin. Except maybe to say that Fuchsia is NOT pronounced Fyou-sha, oh no. It should be pronounced FOOKS-ia after our dear Mr. Fuchs. I can hardly wait to try that out on the garden store clerk come spring.
This sweeping history of gardening and botany in the 18th century is compulsively readable and full of interesting trivia and tidbits about famous gardeners and botanists. Some of whom I'd More...
This sweeping history of gardening and botany in the 18th century is compulsively readable and full of interesting trivia and tidbits about famous gardeners and botanists. Some of whom I'd More...
Jun 30, 2011
Nezka
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Fascinating history that illustrates the connections between early American botanists with supporters and botanists in England, and some in Europe. John Bartram (his house and garden are a historic site in Philadelphia) was essential in identifying and collecting most of the American plants that became part of the English cultivated landscape and garden. Also, because these gentlemen (and only men were mentioned) were interested in the scientific progress they were enamored of Linnaeus' scientif
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Dec 26, 2011
JodiP
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As an avid gardener,I enjoyed reding how so many of my plants traveled to England and back again. I thought Wulf was a good writer, keeping you i.nterested. Sadly, I could not say the same for Founding Gardeners, which I did not finish.
Jul 14, 2011
Christina
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I chose this book because it promised to talk about Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander, whom I'd met in my readings about Captain Cook, not because I was particularly interested in the rise of the English garden. It was an informative read, if not a thrill ride.
Aug 08, 2011
Mhbright
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Most enjoyable--well written and informative story of gardeners and botanists, English and American with the exception of Linnaeus and Solander, in the eighteenth century. Highly recommended.
Jul 20, 2011
Fostergrants
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Absolutely deserves five stars from me. Wulf managed to dig up the juiciest bits and pieces with her thorough research and put it together in an entertaining and readable package. What could have easily become a textbook-ish and patronizing book, was instead a rich and amusing journey through the early history of exploration, botany, and aesthetic gardening. The personalities and lives of the early naturalists comes through and carries the book along nicely. She manages to convey their passionat
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Jul 22, 2011
Claire
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Loved this story of the importance of plants (and plants exported from American to the UK, as well as all the exploration driven by plants) overlaid on a period of history.
Jul 10, 2011
Jane
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Fascinating account of the introduction of North American plants to British landscape gardens and the characters of the botanists involved.
Jan 05, 2010
Wrdwrrior
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Great information on the beginnings of the plant business in the U.S. through John Bartram. Also how U.S. plants influenced Europe.
Jul 30, 2009
Jack
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A thorough and interesting look at how the English became the leaders in botany and gardening in the late 18th Century, and the people who provided them with "exotic" plants, especially America's John Bartram. What I found most interesting were the glimpses of what Linnaeus was like, and the wonderful accomplishments of Joseph Banks in spreading the love for and science of botany.
Apr 25, 2011
Ltbook
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Long but informative. Some of the gardeners were quite interesting. After a while it would put me to sleep each night at bedtime.
Jun 14, 2010
The premise of this book is right up my alley - happy to have happened upon it at the library the other day.
Jul 10, 2009
Rachel
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Fascinating. The English plant-lust is, so the book tells it, related to everything the empire touched.
Oct 24, 2009
Mary
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Fascinating. I learned a lot about events I thought I knew about, like Cook's voyage to Australia and the mutiny on the Bounty, in addition to learning a lot about the development of botany and gardening in England.
Mar 28, 2010
Karen
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Sadly, I am only giving the book three and a half stars because I am an aspiring botanist. This is for the botanist, not the gardener. So, I think a lot of it was wasted on me. I found the Linnean naming for interesting as well as those who catalogued plants before they were catalogued. Sometimes you think everything has been discovered by now, or mapped. It is a quandary.
Jan 22, 2012
Judith
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I picked up this one as a prequel to reading Founding Gardeners for a garden book club.
This smart, thoroughly researched story warrants a careful read. Wulf cleverly makes botanical history colorful, tangible, human. You feel as if you've peered over the shoulder of Darwin's grandfather and his contemporaries (Bartrum, Joseph Banks, etc.) and sheltered the seedlings across the oceans.
This smart, thoroughly researched story warrants a careful read. Wulf cleverly makes botanical history colorful, tangible, human. You feel as if you've peered over the shoulder of Darwin's grandfather and his contemporaries (Bartrum, Joseph Banks, etc.) and sheltered the seedlings across the oceans.
Apr 10, 2010
Faye
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A fun read about the origin of the "English garden" which turns out to contain many plants from the Americas, Australia, and South Africa. The story is filled with many interesting characters but my favorite is the American, John Bartram. Linneas, Erasmus Darwin (grandfather to Charles), Joseph Banks (hired Captain Bligh to move breadfruit trees to Jamaica), and others not always so kind to each other manage to create a passion for gardening of which I consider myself a descendant.
Aug 05, 2009
William
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Thanks to Elizabeth for recommending this book.
I am amazed bordering upon stupification that a mere handful of dedicated gardeners had such a profound impact on modern gardening.
Features a cast of characters more interesting than those in many novels.
The most interesting of all was John Bartram, a plain American country man who shipped seeds, cones, and acorns to feed the English obsession with American plants.
I am amazed bordering upon stupification that a mere handful of dedicated gardeners had such a profound impact on modern gardening.
Features a cast of characters more interesting than those in many novels.
The most interesting of all was John Bartram, a plain American country man who shipped seeds, cones, and acorns to feed the English obsession with American plants.
Apr 04, 2011
Mom
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Fantastic insight on the beginnings of plants and nurseries within early America and England; England and European continent. This book receives a new respect from me, regarding the transportation of new plants from America to England via ships in a time of natural disasters and war. I would consider a must read for those who understand the salience of botany within our lives.
Apr 26, 2010
Stephanie
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Fascinating account of how two Quakers across 2 oceans...one in England, the other in rural colonial PA in the 1700s, transformed the horticulture world and introduced radical plant hybrids to the common gardener.
Mar 23, 2010
Erin
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I loved this book. I thought it was a touch slow at first, but I'm glad I stuck with it. Lots of interesting things and people.
Sep 24, 2011
Kate
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There is no shortage of names in botany. A book that honors some of the greatest names by revealing the human beings behind them deserves our attention. I devoured Wulf's accounts of the triumphs, failures and most importantly, the connections made by history's most prolific botanists.
