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Nathaniel Wards fern greenhouse, Clapham, London, 1851
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Nathaniel Wards fern greenhouse, Clapham, London, 1851
Interior of Nathaniel Wards fern greenhouse, Clapham, London, 1851. Inventor of the Wardian Case. Woodblock engraving from Louis van Houtte and Charles Lemaires Flowers of the Gardens and Hothouses of Europe, Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l Europe, Ghent, Belgium, 1851
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Media ID 23176852
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Case Clapham Fern Flore Greenhouse Hothouses Houtte Jardins Lemaire Leurope Nathaniel Serres Ward Woodblock Wardian
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This evocative woodblock engraving transports us back in time to the interior of Nathaniel Ward's renowned fern greenhouse in Clapham, London, as depicted in the seminal horticultural publication, "Flowers of the Gardens and Hothouses of Europe," published in Ghent, Belgium, in 1851. Ward, an English botanist and inventor, is best known for his invention of the Wardian case, a portable greenhouse that revolutionized the transportation and cultivation of exotic plants. The engraving reveals a lush, tropical oasis nestled within the confines of the glasshouse. Ferns of various sizes and shapes, their fronds unfurling in a riot of greens, dominate the scene. The delicate tendrils of climbing ferns weave their way up the glass panes, while other ferns cascade over stone ledges and wooden shelves. The atmosphere is humid and verdant, with the occasional orchid or palm adding splashes of color to the predominantly green palette. The Wardian case, a rectangular wooden box with glass sides and a removable lid, is visible in the background, testifying to Ward's groundbreaking innovation. The case allowed plants to be transported over long distances without dying, enabling the introduction of exotic species to European gardens and greenhouses. This image, a product of the collaboration between the Belgian horticulturists Louis van Houtte and Charles Lemaire, serves as a testament to the enduring allure of the natural world and the ingenuity of those who sought to bring it closer to home.
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