Gabriel Hemery's Blog: Gabriel Hemery, page 25

Jeffrey pine cone

The Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi) was discovered by Scottish plant hunter John Jeffrey in northern California in 1852. Jeffrey is the protagonist in my latest book GREEN GOLD.

The photos below are of a Jeffrey pine cone from the Carpological Collection at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE). This amazing cone was collected in 1952 in California and measures 15.5cm in height. It was tracked down by artist Nicola Macartney who is following, in her own way, the footsteps of John Jeffrey. She has been doing her own plant hunting over the last few weeks – looking for plant material of specimens associated with him.

 

Nicola’s life-size drawing of the cone, made in pen and ink on Bristol board, captures the intricate structures in these giant cones, and from underneath the beautiful Fibonacci spiral in the cones bracts.

Nicola Macartney and I are working together with the aim of holding an exhibition at RBGE during 2018 to celebrate the life of the botanical collector. The exhibition is dependent on GREEN GOLD being successfully funded, so fingers crossed!

Read more about my latest book GREEN GOLD.

Other posts about Nicola Macartney and the Jeffrey pine.

With thanks to Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

 

Tagged: books, botanical art, cone, crowd funding, Green Gold, pine

National Plant Society of Oregon

I am really grateful to the Native Plant Society of Oregon for taking real interest in my latest book GREEN GOLD. The society ran an article on the front cover of their latest Bulletin – click on the cover below to download the entire excellent publication.

John Jeffrey , the plant hunter whose story is featured in GREEN GOLD, was first overseen by The Association for the promotion of arboriculture and horticulture of Scotland hosted by Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. It was later renamed the Oregon Botanical Society so it seems fitting that the NPSO is so supportive of the book.

Oregonians live in a US state that has exceptional beauty and natural diversity, ranging from alpine lava fields to coastal sand dunes. For nearly 50 years, members of the Native Plant Society of Oregon have been visiting the wild places of Oregon to enjoy, conserve, and study its natural vegetation. NPSO has a statewide network of 13 chapters and nearly 1,000 members. Read more about the Native Plant Society of Oregon.

[image error] John Jeffrey rediscovered – Native Plant Society of Oregon, July 2017

I love ash

[image error] I LOVE ASH by Gabriel Hemery
Tagged: ash, black and white, nature, photo, photography, trees

Help shape the future of forestry

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Devolution, pests & pathogens, Brexit, emerging markets, climate change, societal attitudes . . . these are just some of the momentous factors influencing our trees and woodlands, those who care for them, and those who rely on their products and services.

Have your say about what these and other issues mean to you by taking part in Britain’s only dedicated national survey about our woodlands and forestry: the British Woodlands Survey 2017.

The last British Woodlands Survey, which focussed on environmental change, represented 11% of all privately-owned forest land in Britain with 1,500 stakeholders taking part in the survey. This year the researchers behind the survey are asking questions around priority themes already suggested by some 400 stakeholders, plus themes of specific interest to England, Scotland and Wales.

If you are a woodland owner or manager, farmer, land agent, professional forester or forestry/wood business, please take part and help shape the future of forestry.

Take the survey or read more at: sylva.org.uk/bws2017

The survey is open from 7th July to end September.

Tagged: environmental, forestry, ownership, research, science, social, survey, woodland

Brecon Beacons and Usk Valley

[image error] Brecon Beacons and Usk Valley. Panorama image by Gabriel Hemery

I’ve uploaded a new panorama image to my online shop on Photocrowd.

It’s a view over the Usk Valley looking up to the ridge of the Brecon Beacons. I find myself getting easily lost in this image, which really comes alive when seen full size (available up to 72″ across). I love the patchwork of fields, woods, hedgerows, river valley (especially the line of poplars centre), and of course the high peaks of the Brecon Beacons in the distance. The threatening clouds add depth and contrasting texture.

Shot with my Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 and H-X025E Leica DG SUMMILUX (25mm / f1.4).

 

Tagged: Brecon Beacons, landscape, photo, photography, Wales

Gifting a voice beyond the grave

Now I’ve completed the draft of my first full-length novel—a work of historical fiction—I feel as though I travelled alongside my protagonist as he walked thousands of miles across North America in search of plants. Yet I went on a very real journey myself, learning about Victorian exploration, the wildernesses of North America, the Gold Rush, and Native Americans. Then further challenges came from attempting to master the art of structuring a novel, melding fact with fiction, and managing detailed research over the span of two years.

[image error]With these new experiences fresh in my mind I was intrigued to learn that Hilary Mantel was due to deliver the respected BBC Reith Lectures of 2017. As author of the award-winning and two-thirds completed trilogy Wolf Hall I looked forward to the opportunity of hearing the voice behind these celebrated books, and I was lured by the BBC’s smooth trailer which talked of how “The art of fiction can give the dead fresh life“.

It’s a good listen (available on the BBC iPlayer) and of course Mantel phrased this concept with a little more aplomb and subtly different meaning. She said:

“The dead can become active among the living.”

During Lecture 2 Mantel discusses the sometimes uncomfortable relationship between historians and novelists, of the responsibility of novelists to research thoroughly and to own up to invention. Yet historical fiction can complement the work of historians, not offering an alternative, but offering insights which may be accessible to more people.

Biographical fiction is a popular genre—just look at these best sellers on Amazon. I learnt early on during discussions with publishers that these two terms reversed, as in ‘fictional biography’, is most definitely an inappropriate term, suggesting a loose connection with fact rather than carefully-researched fact underpinning an imagined fiction. For my new book GREEN GOLD I worked hard to research fact, discovering an expected benefit in that this often stimulated fiction, leading me in unexpected directions. In the book I’ve been methodical in clearly indicating to readers what is fact or fiction, as without this clarity it may often be difficult to discern (either way).

Some historical or biographical fiction feeds familiar fantasies, led no doubt by knowledge of what sells. Yet this genre doesn’t have to flatter or extend common fallacies, it can challenge and bust myths. There is another and intriguing dimension to consider here, where fact may appear stranger than fiction. In my photography I am intrigued by images which capture visions that if drawn by an artist would not only confuse the viewer, but even lead to them to question the ability of the artist to capture life accurately (here’s one recent example).  Returning to the art of writing fiction, consider this extract from GREEN GOLD:

” . . . he says the only satisfaction you can get out of a fellow of that kind is to come out here and shoot him through the navel with a Mississippi Yangur, nobody will say anything to you; or if there is an investigation it will be brought in justifiable homicide. There was an advertisement in one of the papers the other day, somewhat part of this fashion––

The publication of the Police Gazette will be postponed for a month in consequence of the assassination of the Editor.

Them’s not the words, but them’s the sentiments. Cool, isn’t it?”

Does this sound like authentic Victorian prose from a letter between two brothers? You may be surprised by the inclusion of ‘cool’ for instance. Yet, this letter was written by William Murray in San Francisco, to his brother Andrew in Edinburgh, in May 1854. Andrew Murray was Secretary to the Oregon Botanical Association which sponsored John Jeffrey as their plant collector, and I found this letter in the archives of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. It challenged so many assumptions—and if I’m honest prejudices—of my own when I started research for my book.

[image error]The author holds an original letter written by plant hunter John Jeffrey from York Factory, to Professor Balfour at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 20th August 1850. From the archives of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

“Seek out gaps, as these offer opportunities for creativity”, suggested Mantel to fellow authors in her lecture. I recognise this as the element which drew me towards my first biographical fiction novel. A young Victorian plant hunter is despatched to North America and formally contracted to keep a journal, yet despite letters and plant specimens (400 no less) arriving home, no journals ever surfaced. We know where he went and what he found, but what did John Jeffrey actually experience as he walked, paddled and rode more than 10,000 miles in search of plants for rich investors back in Britain? The landscapes, effort and plant hunting alone stimulates the imagination, but consider too that Jeffrey travelled south against the flow of the 49ers fanning out north from the dwindling Californian gold fields.

I was drawn to the untold voice, a story unknown. I realised that if I were to ‘discover’ John Jeffrey’s journals, and imagine his words, I could play my own small part in helping the dead become active among the living. I hope botanists don’t rattle their vasculums, nor prospectors clatter their pans, in protest at my own invention of history when they get their hands on GREEN GOLD.

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Tagged: BBC, biographical fiction, book development, books, Green Gold, Hilary Mantel, history, novel

No science without art

Botanical art has long-played a fundamentally important role in plant science. It seems fitting, given the Victorian era of my recent book GREEN GOLD, that I’m teaming up with a very talented botanical artist.

Even in the modern world of easy-access digital imagery, there remains something compelling and magical about botanical art, as demonstrated by the stunning work of Nicola Macartney.

[image error]Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – click to read story on the RGBE blog

I’m really excited by my collaboration with Nicola Macartney, who will be depicting some of the plants collected by John Jeffrey — the main protagonist in GREEN GOLD. Many of these plants are now growing among the living collections in Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) and its three regional gardens across Scotland: Benmore, Dawyck, and Logan.

Nicola specialises in botanical illustrations. She began studying botanical illustration
 at RBGE in 2008, taking a range of classes and completing the RBGE two-year Diploma in Botanical Illustration in 2012. She has won a number of awards.

[image error]Initial sketches and colour matching for Dodecatheon jeffreyi by Nicola Macartney. The delicate, dart-shaped flowers tilt downwards giving the appearance of shooting stars and are produced on tall stems rising from a basal rosette of leaves. The flowers are pale-pink with blue undertones. These specimens were found at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh where they are thriving in the rock garden.

Nicola’s illustrations of a selection of John Jeffrey’s plants will form part of an exhibition planned at RBGE next year, alongside archival materials including letters, minutes and plant labels, together with specimens from the herbarium. Read more

I will be featuring more of Nicola’s GREEN GOLD artwork over coming months. Do check out Nicola’s online features at:

www.nicolamacartney.com  and Facebook page

 

Green Gold — my latest book — will be published with support from crowdfunding. Please consider supporting the book. Visit my sponsorship page at Unbound Publishing to learn more and see the special Subscriber Offers.

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Tagged: art, books, botanical art, botany, flowers, history, nature, writing

John Jeffrey rediscovered

In 1849 an influential group of subscribers came together under the care of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) to sponsor a plant-hunter, John Jeffrey, and support his ambitious expedition to North America in 1850. But after his mysterious disappearance, just four years later, he was soon all-but-forgotten. I’m delighted to announce that the little-known exploits of John Jeffrey will be celebrated in public for the first time, fittingly in a new collaboration with RBGE.

John Jeffrey is the protagonist in my latest book GREEN GOLD; a biographical fiction novel. I spent two years researching the archives of RBGE, reading letters, plant labels and a minute book of the expedition’s co-ordinating body the Oregon Botanical Association.  Jeffrey was contracted to write detailed journals recording his explorations, but they were never discovered. In GREEN GOLD I merge fact with fiction, in the form of his journals which I have imagined.

Jeffrey sent seeds from 119 plant species home to Edinburgh, and more than 400 specimens were received by the Herbarium at RBGE, including seeds and/or specimens of 35 conifer species. Despite this, Jeffrey never earned the recognition of other plant collectors such as David Douglas or William Lobb.

[image error] Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – click to read story on the RGBE blog

Together with RBGE I am planning a programme of activities to coincide with the publication of GREEN GOLD, including:

A book launch at RBGE in early 2018 (date dependent on how quickly the book gets funded).
We will offer a guided walk, myself together with a senior member of staff from RGBE.
We are organising an exhibition at the John Hope Gateway where we will display archival materials, alongside herbarium specimens.

Some pledge levels (‘Prospector’ and above) offer personal invitations to these events – read more at unbound.com/books/green-gold.

Finally, I am discussing an exciting collaboration with a botanical artist linked to RBGE. I will write more news on this soon.

GREEN GOLD will be published by UNBOUND, a specialist crowd-funding publisher, if fundraising is successful. Please consider pledging your support. Find out more at: unbound.com/books/green-gold

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Tagged: book development, books, botany, John Jeffrey, royal botanic garden edinburgh

National tree improvement strategy

This week a National Tree Improvement Strategy for Britain and Ireland has been launched by the Future Trees Trust.

[image error]A proud forester talks about a super sycamore in a UK-registered seed stand

Back in 1993 I cut my teeth as a silvologist working for a new co-operative group of organisations, known first as the British Hardwoods Improvement Programme. Soon afterwards researchers and landowners joined from Ireland, and it was renamed BIHIP. First as Research Manager, and later as its Secretary, I planted field trails across Britain and Ireland (read more) supporting a vision which united scientists, foresters, policy makers and landowners — namely that producing valuable hardwoods from our forests would be good for the economy, society and the environment.

[image error]National Tree Improvement Strategy

Fast forward 24 years and earlier this week I attended the launch of the National Tree Improvement Strategy, led by the charity which BIHIP morphed into, the Future Trees Trust. What a fantastic collaborative venture this has become. It is well-supported by government and funding bodies, and the charity’s success attracting investment is very apparent. Not least, this week’s launch of the strategy is a significant milestone. The vision of the strategy is:

“Through selection and breeding of a wide range of tree species capable of thriving in UK conditions — broadleaves and conifers, natives and exotics — we aim to promote economic value, genetic diversity and species resilience, producing trees with good vigour and timber quality, showing resistance to known pests and diseases, and able to withstand the seasonal and long-term climatic variations, whilst ensuring that all selected material is available to all interested parties.”

The strategy describes over the medium term an intention to have productive seed orchards for ‘new alternative’ conifer and broadleaved plus trees. In the longer-term the aim is to use genomic selection aided by DNA markers to promote important economic traits of key species. Alongside the science, the strategy highlights key elements under Governance, Funding, Intellectual Property and Communication.

The one aspect I would have liked to have seen included would have been future casting in relation to timber properties. There is clearly an assumption that tree breeding work will work to support tree health by working alongside entomologists and pathologists. Yet there is no mention about markets for any improved productivity. It is all too easy to assume that aiming for ‘quality’ will support society’s future needs, but what might this quality entail — is it yield, figure, straightness or even lignin content? The super sycamore I visited recently (pictured) has been selected for straightness and vigour, but it may be unlikely that trees like this will feed a furniture market in the future. New markets are emerging for wood fibre, for instance nano-cellulose products to replace plastics, or thermal-modification technologies which transform non-durable timbers into outdoor products. Growing trees is a long-term business; we need to work hard not just on the genetics but be constantly aware of shifting markets and societal demands. Only that way can our forests really help us build a sustainable society.

The National Tree Improvement Strategy is not yet available online but I’m told will soon be available at www.futuretrees.org.

Tagged: forestry, future, research, science, sycamore, tree improvement, trees

BBC Costing the Earth

[image error]BBC Radio 4 – Costing the Earth, Tuesday 23rd May at 15:30The Future of Forestry is today’s theme on the BBC Radio 4 flagship environmental programme Costing the Earth.

The main question posed was whether Britain could revive its forestry and provide for more of its own needs.

BBC reporter Tom Heap came to interview me at the Sylva Foundation’s Wood Centre, where he also spoke with one of the resident furniture makers Jan Waterston.

The programme is broadcast at 15:30 GMT today and will be available on the BBC iPlayer for some time afterwards.

Tagged: BBC, forestry, future, media, press, radio