Author: Charlotte McDonald

Students of 1809 and 1859

This Black History Month, we explore our links with Dr William Fergusson (1796 – 1846) and Surgeon-Major James ‘Africanus’ Beale Horton (1835 – 1883). 

A Snowdrop Tour with a Difference – Galanthus nivalis poculiformis

One of the highlights for the Garden Guides early in the flowering year is to take a group of visitors on a Snowdrop Tour.   Early signs of Spring…

The Life and Achievements of Dr Archibald Hewan

In the spirit of Black History Month, we are sharing the story, otherwise untold, of Dr Archibald Hewan, a 19th century Black doctor and naturalist. Born in Jamaica…

Magnolia sargentiana

Tucked away in the upper woodland garden and easily missed is Magnolia sargentiana. Not as prolific a flowerer as Magnolia ‘Charles Raffill’, the flowers it does produce are…

Gesneriaceae Research in Indonesia – Celebrating our science and horticulture throughout March for International Women’ s Day

In order ‘to explore, conserve and explain the world of plants’ we need to build up our collections, both of living plants and herbarium specimens, especially from under-collected…

First report from Indonesia

A team of five staff from RBGE (three scientists and two horticulturists) have set out on an expedition to Indonesia; Phase 1 of a project which aims to…

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to mark Centenary of First World War with Poppy Field

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) will mark the centenary of the start of the First World War by creating a poppy field at the centre of its…