Women and Gardens

“‘Women hold up half the sky’—so the saying goes. But they have almost certainly done more than half the weeding, watering, and digging. This book will certainly help set the record straight, revealing and documenting the contributions of countless women throughout garden history.”—Noel Kingsbury, author of Garden Flora: The Natural and Cultural History of the Plants in Your Garden

“‘Women hold up half the sky’—so the saying goes. But they have almost certainly done more than half the weeding, watering, and digging. This book will certainly help set the record straight, revealing and documenting the contributions of countless women throughout garden history.”—Noel Kingsbury

“Judith M. Taylor is, without doubt, recognized internationally as today’s foremost horticultural historian. Her body of work ranges across a wide spectrum of horticultural facets. In all her work Judith is relentless in seeking information, irrespective of the language in which it is recorded. Her latest book, Women and Gardens, is especially timely as long-term gender bias, in all fields of endeavor, is being challenged throughout the Western world. Judith demonstrates and records conclusively that despite earlier bias, many women have indeed made significant and lasting contributions to ornamental horticulture worldwide for a long time.”—Keith Hammett, past president of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture

“Judith M. Taylor is, without doubt, recognized internationally as today’s foremost horticultural historian. Her body of work ranges across a wide spectrum of horticultural facets. In all her work Judith is relentless in seeking information, irrespective of the language in which it is recorded. H

“As in her previous books, Judith M. Taylor expertly sheds light on the historical framework of the horticultural sector, addressing the socioeconomic aspects that influenced its development. The book focuses on how women, throughout the centuries, have been been penalized by male hegemony, which has relegated them to humanistic cultural activity and kept them away from the ambit of science. Horticulture has ancient roots, and the relationship between horticulture and women began with the care of the home and the health of relatives and then evolved into the figurative arts and writing. Only recently have women made forays into science and technological applications of the horticultural sector. Through a significant gallery of women who have worked in horticulture over the centuries in the shadow of men, Taylor highlights the problem of the poor access that women have historically had to the sciences.”—Margherita Beruto, chair of the International Society for Horticulture Science

“As in her previous books, Judith M. Taylor expertly sheds light on the historical framework of the horticultural sector, addressing the socioeconomic aspects that influenced its development. The book focuses on how women, throughout the centuries, have been been penalized by male hegemony, which

“Judith Taylor’s book yields a bountiful harvest of stories illustrating the interdependence of gender and gardening. Starting with the history of how women became displaced from their traditional roles as growers of food and medicine, Taylor unearths inspiring and surprising tales of women who overcame obstacles as planters, scientists, landscape designers, and gardening artists and through their work often produced the wider foundations of women’s liberty.”—Laura C. Nelson, author of Measured Excess: Status, Gender, and Consumer Nationalism in South Korea “Judith Taylor’s book yields a bountiful harvest of stories illustrating the interdependence of gender and gardening. Starting with the history of how women became displaced from their traditional roles as growers of food and medicine, Taylor unearths inspiring and surprising tales of women who over

“Here is a book that brings to our attention the mostly untold story of women who played prominent roles in the development of many aspects of horticulture throughout history. From research to writing, propagation, cultivation, experimentation, design, education, landscape architecture, and so much more, Judith M. Taylor has brought together a cast of characters who helped shape gardens and gardening around the world and through the centuries.”—Wesley Brittenham, former director of horticulture at Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm “Here is a book that brings to our attention the mostly untold story of women who played prominent roles in the development of many aspects of horticulture throughout history. From research to writing, propagation, cultivation, experimentation, design, education, landscape architecture, and so much

“Although the influence of women on gardens is deep and persistent, the role of women in gardening across the centuries has been largely undocumented, except by women themselves in letters and very infrequently in books written by women. This sampling of the history of women in gardens brings together wonderful stories of the effort, skill, and intelligence women have brought to the discipline.”—Judith Phillips, author of The Gardens of Los Poblanos “Although the influence of women on gardens is deep and persistent, the role of women in gardening across the centuries has been largely undocumented, except by women themselves in letters and very infrequently in books written by women. This sampling of the history of women in gardens brings togeth