Celebrating Women's History Month with Helen Fowler Library
Women’s History Month presents us with the opportunity to recognize the contributions women have made to history, culture and society. At the Gardens, we use this chance to draw attention to some of the contributions women have made to the fields of gardening, horticulture and botany.
Some of the pioneering women in these fields include:
Jane Colden (1724-1766) was the first woman naturalist working in the United States. Colden greatly furthered the study of plants through her empirical observations and was an inspiration to taxonomist Carl Linnaeus.
Jeanne Baret (1740-1807) was the first woman to circumnavigate the globe while posing as a male assistant to another prominent botanist of the time. Baret assisted with the collection of over 6,000 plant specimens on the expedition, but her work as a botanist wasn’t fully recognized until over 200 years after her death.
Marianne North (1830-1890) traveled extensively around the world producing accurate paintings and drawings of botanical specimens. An early botanical illustrator, the importance of North’s work was acknowledged by contemporaries Joseph Hooker and Charles Darwin.
Take a look at some of the following books at the Helen Fowler Library to learn more about some of the important contributions women make to these fields, past and present:
The Earth in Her Hands by Jennifer Jewell
A comprehensive look at some of the contemporary women who are driving progress today. The women interviewed for this work include horticulturists, floral designers, microbiologists, landscape designers and more.
Rachel Carson and Her Sisters by Robert K. Musil
An in-depth look at environmentalist Rachel Carson’s work and the women who helped shape environmentalism and ecology. Includes information on the history of women environmentalists who inspired Carson, her contemporaries, and those that would follow.
Women of Flowers by Jack Kramer
A thoroughly illustrated look at the work of women in botanical illustration, including images created from the 1800s through the 1990s. Admire the work of women botanical illustrators of the past, and be inspired to create your own!
The Virago Book of Women Gardeners edited by Deborah Kellaway
A delightful compilation of gardening anecdotes and advice collected from women gardeners. Overflowing with insight and charm.
We invite you to explore the Helen Fowler Library and learn more about the important role women have played in the advancement of horticulture and botany!
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