The Plant Hunters

They traveled the wide world, searching for new flowers, shrubs, and other botanical wonders to bring back home -- and only because of the courage and passion of daring explorers can today's gardens boast of such a diverse array of plants. The nine plant hunters -- including Joseph Banks (1743-1820), Joseph Hooker (1817-1911), and George Forrest (1873-1922) -- featured in this handsomely illustrated and adventure-filled volume dedicated themselves to expanding our knowledge of botany and horticulture. From the shores of South America, New Zealand, and Australia to the top of the Himalayas, these men often risked their lives collecting tens of thousands of new species over a period of two centuries -- and every garden benefits from their legacy.