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The accompanying guidebook contains 15 essays from nine authors on those featured in the exhibition, including John Tradescant the Elder and the Younger, the Duchess of Beaufort, the Bauer Brothers and changemakers such as Chris Thorogood.
The exhibits date from the 17th century until today and include botanical drawings, models, drawings, paintings, rare prints, ceramics and photographs and feature plants stories for tulips, opium and roses and other plants.
The Oxford exhibition includes more than 100 exhibits and highlights how 40% of people consider themselves gardeners. This statistic anchors the historical weight of the book in the present day, connecting the "curiosity and ingenuity of early plant explorers" to the millions of modern individuals who find solace in the soil.
The new exhibition explores the global histories behind some of Britain’s most familiar plants, tracing stories of exploration, exchange and impact from Oxford to the wider world. Bloom explores the curiosity and ingenuity of early plant explorers and the networks that shaped global trade, showing how the pursuit of exotic plants transformed landscapes, economies and cultures, leaving a legacy that continues to influence the world today.
What makes this volume and the exhibition it documents so compelling is the sheer breadth of its timeline. The exhibits date from the 17th century until today, offering a panoramic view of botanical evolution. The multidisciplinary approach ensures that the "plant stories" are told not just through biological facts, but through the cultural and artistic lenses of their eras.
Ultimately, Bloom explores how the networks that shaped global trade transformed landscapes, economies, and cultures. By examining the pursuit of the exotic, the book reveals a legacy that continues to influence the world today. It is a calm, reflective, and essential read for any gardener who wishes to understand the deep roots of the flowers they tend.
