Plant Exploration for Longwood Gardens

Foreword by Christopher Brickell

Longwood Gardens of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, enjoys a long and distinguished tradition of plant exploration and introduction, dating back to the foundation of its arboretum in 1798. Since the 1950s, 50 such plant-hunting expeditions have taken place on six continents and in some 50 countries. These quests are the subject of Plant Exploration for Longwood Gardens, which tells the stories of the people who participated in what were often arduous but always stimulating adventures and the plants they brought back. Illustrated with 500 photographs, this book provides a complete account of these journeys to the far corners of the world and is sure to be a fascinating read for anyone interested in the history of plant exploration and introduction.

Media reviews of this book:

"Each collecting region is introduced by a chapter, starting with a handsome map and short description of climate and plant communities. The chapters are filled with superb photos, most of which were taken by the collectors."

—S. Hammer, Choice, April 2006

"Beautifully, masterfully done. You are never, never bored. Buy this book. Either for your coffee table, as it is large and beautiful, or for your reference shelves as it is detailed and precise, or for poring over with a pack of Post-Its to flag and try to find the pictured plants."

—Jim Dronenburg, Washington Gardener, January/February 2008

"Gives the reader an in-depth look at the ways arboretums, horticultural organizations, and botanical gardens have thrived and adjusted over the years."

—Biology Digest, April 2007

"This extaordinary book is in celebration of the garden's centennial and provides stories of the people who participated in expeditions, bringing back plants, determining how to best propogate and introduce to the horticultural trade and home gardens."

—Florence Clowes, Polish American Journal, June 2006

"An entertaining and enjoyable read. ... That the book honors those that have gone before and those plant explorers of today makes it 'worthy.'"

—HortMemo, April 30, 2006

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An excerpt from this book:

Thirty years passed before the next expedition would continue plant exploration in that region. In the meantime, historical changes took place: the USSR was replaced by the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). In 2001 an expedition was organized to Georgia, one of the republics in the Caucasus and a member state of the CIS. The main purpose for the expedition was to collect new germplasm of common boxwood, Buxus sempervirens, from areas where it grows wild in Georgia and also from locations where it was introduced centuries or possibly millennia earlier. The expedition was organized in collaboration with the Georgian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany ...

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