Legends in the Garden: Who in the World Is Nellie Stevens?

By Allan M. Armitage and Linda L. Copeland

Book Overview

If you've ever wondered about the people and places immortalized in plant names, this enlightening and entertaining book will provide some answers. Legends in the Garden introduces 46 people and places some familiar, others unknown associated with popular garden plants. Rosa 'Burbank' honors Luther Burbank, the "plant wizard" of Santa Rosa. John Champneys and Philippe Noisette, key figures in the development of the rose, gave their names to R. 'Champneys' Pink Cluster' and R. 'Blush Noisette'. But who were Nellie Stevens (Ilex 'Nellie Stevens') and Frances Williams (Hosta sieboldiana 'Frances Williams')? This delightful book combines accounts of the lives of these intriguing characters with descriptions of the plants that bear their names and the stories of their chance discoveries or deliberate breeding.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1930897081
• ISBN13: 9781930897083
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Timber Press (OR)
• Length: 194 Pages
• Weight: 1.17 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Who is that plant named after???

If you've ever wondered who the "Betty Corning" clematis or the "Carol Mackie" daphne was named after, then here's the book for you. Over 40 individuals who've had plants named after them are profiled here. Each person's biography and how their namesake came about is covered in a 2-4 page chapter. A photo of each person is included. A section in the middle of the book features color photos of the plants. Among those included are Jane Bath (Bath's Pink dianthus), Molly Bush (heuchera), Vince Dooley (hydrangea), Katie Ferguson (rhododendron), Azilda Gerbing (rhododendron), Kim Hawks (echinacea), Frank Meyer (lemon), Jane Platt (magnolia), Betty Sheffield (camellia), Nellie Stevens (holly), George Tabor (rhododendron), Frances Williams (hosta) and many more.

Highly Entertaining

This book is a great read for anyone wanting to know where the names of plants evolved from. Linda Copeland and Allan Armitage skillfully put this book together by sharing the stories of the people plants were named after. Learn the stories behind `Baths Pink', Calycanthus `Michael Lindsey,' or Heuchera `Montrose Ruby,' just to name a few. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of getting to know these great people behind the plant. This book is a great read on a rainy cold day.

Legends in the Garden: Who In The World is Nellie Stevens?

I have always wanted to know how various plants got their names. This book is a great source for discovering the stories behind plant names. It is quite enjoyable and interesting. A delight to read! I highly recommend this book to everyone!... Even people who do not know much about plants will love to read these fascinating stories!