On Wednesday, 21 June 2000 (the Summer Solstice!) our group was treated to an entertaining and informative presentation on the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh (RBGE) by the remarkable Joe Lamont (at right). Mr. Lamont is the head of Academic Programs at Myerscough College and he trained at the RBGE. We were given one of the most lucid and engaging presentations on the role of botanic gardens today, the importance of plant taxonomy/nomenclature, some history of Scotland, and a clear explanation of why the British Isles, with a fairly poor native flora, has probably the most diverse range of horticultural plants anywhere in the world. The reason: climate, a culture of learning, and a history of colonization.
Mr. Lamont's presentation was sufficient to get some of us buying train tickets to Edinburgh on the spot! The RBGE is one of the five most important botanic gardens in the world (along with Kew Gardens in London, Missouri Botanic Gardens in St. Louis, the New York Botanic Gardens, and the gardens at Stellenbosch in South Africa). The garden plays a key role in taxonomic and conservation research as well as education and training. But very importantly for us horticulturists, it is a place of incredible beauty and richness. It seems no one can leave from a visit to RGBE without significantly expanding one's knowledge and appreciation of plants.
