Hope Reborn

[Rob MacKillop]

John Hope (1725-86) started the first Edinburgh Botanic Garden. The current minders are trying to raise cash to rebuild his original cottage from illustrations, such as the one above. I saw this table spread inside a shed in the gardens...I don't think I should have been there, but, all in the name of art!

DM3M
SPP
Nik Silver for toning​

 

[Tom Dunne]

Interesting with a nice little story. Very nice tone added. I hope they get the money.

 

[Rense Haveman]

Nice one, Rob! It's the common story for almost all botanic gardens.... sadly..... It reflects our attitude towards taxonomy, and, more in general, towards species diversity, I guess..... Which makes it even sadder.....

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Sad, maybe, but we have a magnificent garden in Edinburgh, which, unlike Kew, is free to enter. I loved Kew when I visited a couple of years ago, but it was very expensive to enter. If that was the case in Edinburgh, I could only visit occasionally. As it is, I can enjoy it every day, and do manage to visit twice a week on average. So, they need to raise money somehow, and we try to help out with annual membership, using the cafe and shop. Our daughter did a Certificate in Botanical Art there, and they run many classes at all levels. Great place.

 

[Pete Askew]

Interesting Rob. And a fine illustration. You should leave a print lying on the table.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Good idea!