Theodosia: The Flower Wizard of California

Written by her daughter Myrtle Shepherd Francis the biography of Theodosia Burr Shepherd chronicles the life of the brilliant feminist of the nineteenth century who was the first woman in America to hybridize flowers and own and operate a seed and bulb business which she established in 1881 in Ventura, California. Known as the “Flower Wizard of California”, Theodosia founded California’s seed industry. Revered by many as the “Female Luther Burbank”, she hybridized flowers in Ventura while Burbank created new vegetables and fruits in Santa Rosa. “Theodosia Burr Shepherd has blazed a trail for other women to follow.” Susan B. Anthony Suffragette Activist, 1896 “The Woman Flower Wizard, Mrs. Theodosia B. Shepherd, is to the world of flowers all that Luther Burbank is to the vegetable kingdom.” Pittsburgh Gazette, 1894 “The intelligent and energetic Theodosia occupies the proud position of the pioneer of floral horticulture and of the seed and bulb business.” Peter Henderson, Horticulturist, 1896