Have you ever wondered about the stories behind your favourite garden flowers? How and why, they came to be there or why some cultivars go in and out of favour?
In this talk, garden historian, TV and radio presenter, Advolly Richmond shares tales of exploration, unrequited but also enduring love, botanical piracy and excessive hybridisation bringing these beautiful flowers to life. From the flamboyant bougainvillea, collected in Rio de Janeiro by an 18th century female botanist in disguise to the deliciously scented stock which made a journey across France bearable for a 19th century traveller.
These flowers have played pivotal roles in our societies across the world, from boom to bust economies, the Fuchsia hedgerows of Ireland as well as making bold fashion statements, these unassuming blooms hold treasure troves of stories.
The lecture is based on Advolly’s upcoming book, A short history of flowers to be published in February 2024 with specially commissioned artworks from award-winning botanical illustrator Sarah Jane Humphrey.
About the speaker
Advolly Richmond is a garden historian, TV and radio presenter and independent researcher in gardens, landscapes, plants and social history. A regular contributor on BBC Gardeners' World as well as on BBC Gardeners' Question Time, she is also the presenter of The Garden History Podcast, an A-Z.
She lectures on a variety of subjects from the 16th through to 20th centuries. She is passionate about promoting garden history in all its branches and encourages people to value their garden and botanical heritage.
Booking for in-person attendance is required.
About Monday night lectures
-
Monday night lectures are open to Fellows and Members and are included in the cost of membership.
-
Monday night lectures are held in person in the Ondaatje Theatre and the bar will be open in the Map Room before and after the lecture. Please be advised all payments are card only.
-
All Fellows and Members wanting to attend in person must pre-book a free ticket.
-
All Monday night lectures are livestreamed via our website so you can watch them from wherever you are.
Venue information
This event will be held in the Ondaatje Lecture Theatre at Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), 1 Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AR.
Doors open at 5.30pm. The lecture will begin at 6.30pm.
- Lecture
The future of geography: how power and politics in space will change our world
Geopolitical expert Tim Marshall explores how politics and geography are as important in the skies as on the ground, covering great-power rivalry, technology, commerce, combat in space, and what it all means for us down on Earth.
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)Open to allMonday 9 December 2024 - Lecture
How we all became navigators
What is the story behind the development of the maps applications we use every day and how have they changed the way we think about the world around us?
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)Open to allMonday 6 January 2025 - Lecture
Haenyeo voices: merging tradition and science to monitor reef changes
This project explores the effects of environmental change on Jeju Island’s reefs by combining Haenyeo divers’ traditional ecological knowledge with scientific monitoring.
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)Open to allMonday 13 January 2025