News Digest: January – February 2021

PlantNetwork members regularly share their news through the PlantNetwork newsletter, which is sent out every week to the membership. This news digest captures some of these items and provides another opportunity to share news, events and opportunities across the network.

Please, walk ON the grass!

PlantNetwork member, Sarah Lane, has recently started a weekly(ish) newsletter which captures Sarah’s reflections on horticulture and plants – and would like to invite PlantNetwork members to subscribe. As Sarah says: “This newsletter will pass on some of my enthusiasm and enjoyment for the physical and creative tasks involved in gardening all year round. It will hopefully be part horticultural experience, part observation and always seasonal.”

Read Sarah’s recent posts and then subscribe if you would like to share Sarah’s enthusiasm.

Plant Explorer: A Plantsman’s travels to Northern Vietnam

Richard Baines’ first book for RBGE promises to be a horticultural delight. This beautifully illustrated and in-depth account provides a first-hand guide of plant exploration and conservation in Northern Vietnam. Richard is the Curator of Logan Botanic Garden and has a particular interest in Rhododendrons, Camellias and Magnolias. 

The book provides a detailed and fascinating overview of three collaborative expeditions to North-West Vietnam focusing on the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. This area is a Plantsman’s paradise with a wealth of plant material, much of which is proving to be hardy when grown outdoors in the UK.  The book highlights the diversity of extraordinary and stunning plants observed during the expeditions and provides a first-hand insight into expedition participation.  Planned in partnership with The Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR) in Hanoi with fieldwork support from botanical institutions in the UK, USA & Canada. Order your copy here.

Cherished Plan

David Gray, Senior Horticulturist at Benmore Botanic Garden, has recently written a book –Cherished Plan: The Story of Puck’s Hut at Benmore. 

Cherished Plan celebrates RBGE at Benmore and the desire to commemorate Sir Isaac Bayley Balfour, a renowned academic, botanist and visionary. Scratch a little deeper and it becomes clear that his modest memorial building Puck’s Hut, encapsulates and reflects a wide range of developments in Scotland’s environmental awareness over the past 150 years. The many threads running through the narrative can be related to current concerns on climate change and effective management of land resources.  Culminating with how people are encouraged to access the outdoors and interact with trees and plants. Order your copy here.