A Garden Flora: Trees and Flowers Grown in the Gardens at Nymans

A Sussex garden inventory of Ludwig Messel's planting, with notes by his daughter Muriel

Author

Publisher

Printing Details

First edition. Hardback, quarter buckram with marbled paper covered boards*. 23 × 15cm, ix + 196pp. *I think a previous owner has added the marbled paper covering, it is starting to peel off revealing the original grey card covered boards below.

Ludwig was a passionate plant collector who introduced rare and tender species to Nymans, testing their hardiness in the English climate. This book is a comprehensive inventory of the exotic and native trees, shrubs, and flowers cultivated at Nymans over a 25-year period (1890–1915), which alongside listing plant names, his daughter Muriel included notes on propagation, hardiness, glasshouse care, and outdoor performance.

The winter of 1916/1917 was harsh, and the final two pages are a record of plant losses. In a nod to the Great War, it is a roll of honour as the plants are listed as having been killed, damaged, or severely damaged.

Muriel Messel completed the manuscript in memory of her father's work, but she passed away from influenza in December 1917, just months before the book was published.

Condition

A fair copy. As mentioned above, the marbled paper covering is detaching from the boards though I don't think this was original. Corners a bit bumped, tanning to the page edges, handmade paper a little wrinkled as is normal. The inner binding is pulled a bit throughout the book but remains secure. Otherwise the book remains in good readable condition.