The Brief Life of Flowers by Fiona Stafford. A review.

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In: free giveaway

I have a copy of The Brief Life of Flowers by Fiona Stafford to give away to a lucky reader. “Its elegant, beguiling and scented prose, brings the wonder of plants alive.” Gabriel Hemery, May 2019 Simply sign up to my Newsletter for a change to win. Deadline 23:59, 1stContinue Reading

Books about plant hunters

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In: books, feature, flowers, nature, people, plants

To celebrate the lives of plant hunters, like John Jeffrey, here I share some of my favourite books on botany, botanical exploration, and the often extraordinary lives of the plant hunter. Think more Indiana Jones than shy retiring pansies, as these men and women travelled the world in search of plants, valuable for their beauty, medicines, timber, smell, and any number of other benefits.Continue Reading

Jeffrey pine painting in progress by Nicola Macartney

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In: art, books, Green Gold

A new Green Gold subscriber reward  has been released: a special, limited edition, botanical print of the Jeffrey Pine. Thanks to a collaboration with botanical artist Nicola Macartney, with links to Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, we are able to offer 100 readers the chance to own a print of Nicola’sContinue Reading

Jeffrey pine painting in progress by Nicola Macartney

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In: book development, books, Green Gold

No.9 of my occasional newsletter is now available, featuring stories linked to the creation of my  historical novel: GREEN GOLD – the lost journals of John Jeffrey. In this issue, a new extract from the book, more stunning botanical art by Nicola Macartney, how to gift a book patronage thisContinue Reading

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In: art, book development, books, feature

Following visits to Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) and Benmore Botanic Garden, botanical artist Nicola Macartney (collaborating in my GREEN GOLD book project) has started work painting sketches of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) including foliage, cones and a section of bark. These elements will be included in the final paintingContinue Reading

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In: book development, feature, Green Gold, news

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.Continue Reading

An interactive Google Map showing the journey of John Jeffrey (1850-1854)

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In: books, feature, film, Green Gold, nature

John Jeffrey, the main character in my latest book Green Gold, walked, paddled and rode at least 10,000 miles across North America while hunting for plants from 1850-4. During the two years I spent researching and writing the book I plotted his travels in detail and can now publish the route in full for the first time.Continue Reading