During the early nineteenth century, new plant introductions into Britain accelerated as opportunities for plant collecting opened up through colonial exploration and the growth of British trade. This talk explores how plants came to Britain in the 19th century and who was responsible for the influx of new discoveries. We will examine how sponsorship sent plant collectors to South America, southern Africa, the west coast of North America and China, and how networks of colonial service and trade enabled private landowners, botanic gardens and nursery businesses to expand their collections. We will also consider how these new plants were used in British gardens and landscapes, and the inventions required for them to thrive. This Gardens Trust lecture will be given on Zoom on February 4. The ticket for this February 4 individual talk costs £8 Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days prior to the start of the talk, and again a few hours before the talk. A link to the recorded session will be sent shortly after each session and will be available for 2 weeks . https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/history-of-gardens-4-the-quest-for-novelty-tickets-1099999140039?aff=oddtdtcreator
Dr Keith Alcorn is a Visiting Tutor in the History department at Royal Holloway University London, where he is researching the trading and colonial networks that enabled plant introductions to Britain during the 18th and 19th centuries. His book, The Empire in the Garden: How Exotic Plants Came to Britain, will be published by Yale University Press in 2027. When not researching or writing, Keith attempts to garden on sandy soil at the edge of the Surrey hills.
