The intertwined history of botanical gardens around the globe

Botanical gardens are beautiful places filled with different kinds of plants and they offer a nice spot to unwind. They are like museums that tell stories connecting different places and times. Let's explore how these green spaces were created by looking back at their origins from old civilizations to the well-known places we have now.

Botanical gardens started in ancient Egypt where temples usually had nearby gardens for growing plants used in medicine. The idea of setting up botanical gardens is usually linked to the Renaissance period. The Orto Botanico di Pisa started in 1544 in Italy and is known as the first botanical garden linked to a university. When it was created it started a new chapter where plant studies became part of schools and set an example for other places to follow.

During the 16th and 17th centuries as people explored new lands and traded more they started wanting unusual plants. The Dutch were really good at sailing and they created an important garden called the Hortus Botanicus Leiden. This garden was filled with plants from all over the world. This garden was really important for bringing tulips to Western Europe and helped kick off the whole "tulip mania" thing that followed.

In Britain, places like the Oxford Botanic Garden and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew became important spots for studying plants and coming up with new ideas. Kew Gardens started in 1759 and played a big role in collecting plants for the British Empire. It helped with trade and brought in important plants such as rubber and tea from the colonies.

In the 18th and 19th centuries gardens began to appear in the New World and places like the New York Botanical Garden and Missouri Botanical Garden helped advance plant studies and teach the public in the United States. These gardens looked a lot like the ones in Europe but changed a bit to include local plants which helped show how important it is to have a variety of species around.

Botanical gardens started to appear around the same time that people began to focus more on science and new ways of thinking during the Enlightenment. These gardens played an important role in how we classify plants and the systems we use now. Names such as Carl Linnaeus and Joseph Banks stand out in the history of plants showing how gardens have played a role in advancing science.

Today’s botanical gardens carry on this tradition by mixing learning for the public with efforts to protect plants. A lot of attention is given to saving endangered animals and promoting sustainability while tackling big issues like climate change and the loss of habitats.

The connected stories of these botanical gardens show a common tale of discovery research and the beauty of plants. As these organizations change over time they keep their focus on helping people connect with nature and encouraging the appreciation and protection of plants around the globe. Botanical gardens are places filled with plants in both busy cities and quiet countryside. They bring together the past and what is to come in every leaf and flower.