The Orchid Review, published quarterly by the Royal Horticultural Society, is a magazine 'dedicated to the celebration and deeper understanding of orchids'. [1] It is the world's oldest existing periodical devoted to orchids and each issue features articles by internationally acclaimed experts on subjects such as cultivation, in-depth plant profiles, historical investigation, orchid exploration and all the latest from the world of orchid growing and showing.
Its subject matter includes:
The Orchid Review was founded by Robert Allen Rolfe who single-handedly produced and edited 28 volumes. [2] The first monthly issue appeared on 1 January 1893. Rolfe worked in the orchid herbarium at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew [3] but there was no mention in the periodical of his position there and his name never appeared on the title page. The journal was devoted to orchid cultivation and the increasingly important hybridisation of orchids.
Each issue opened with news and gossip under the heading of ‘Notes’, and later called ‘Our Note Book’. Reports of visits to notable collections were a regular feature, the first was to Sir Trevor Lawrence at Burford Lodge, Dorking, Surrey. ‘The Calendar of Operations’ outlined the tasks for the month ahead and was for the first year written by Lawrence’s gardener, W.H. White. John Weathers contributed ‘Orchids at the RHS’ which described plants shown to the RHS Orchid Committee each month. From May 1897 the meetings of the Manchester and North of England Orchid Society were covered. Gradually, over the years, the number of illustrations increased.
In 1909 Rolfe, with Charles Hurst, published The Orchid Stud Book [4] as a companion volume to The Orchid Review. It listed all the hybrids recorded up to the end of 1907 with their parents, any synonyms and references, and numerous photographs.
World War I did not influence the frequency of publication, apart from the Nov/Dec 1917 issue. Then, from July 1918, it was published bimonthly, due to increases in cost of postage and paper. Following Rolfe’s sudden illness and subsequent death it ceased publication for the first six months of 1921. On 5 July 1921 a new company, The Orchid Review Ltd, was incorporated and a new editor, Alfred Gurney Wilson (1878–1957), was appointed. Starting in 1910 he had previously published and edited The Orchid World, [5] with similar content to The Orchid Review, but that periodical had only continued until 1916, when Wilson was called up for military service.
When The Orchid Review reappeared in July 1921 it had a similar format to before the war and was monthly once more. There were a few minor changes, including H.G. Alexander now writing the 'Cultural Notes', and the style was not as chatty but more factual and drier. It still only had a couple of photographs in each issue and, like Rolfe, Wilson did not sign his articles. During Wilson’s tenure strong links were developed with orchid enthusiasts in the United States.
Wilson retired in 1932 and the post was taken by Charles Curtis (1869–1958). [6] Curtis was already a well-known horticultural journalist although he had started out wanting to be a plant hunter like his uncle, also Charles Curtis, a collector for James Veitch & Sons. The new ‘Men, Matters & Memories’ column by Curtis contained reminiscences of people and places, or comments by Curtis on recent orchid-related events. Otherwise, the format remained the same. The periodical was bimonthly throughout World War II, with a reduced number of pages, but returned to monthly after the war.
In early 1958 Curtis was forced to rest more and John Blowers (1921–2009) was employed as his assistant, although Curtis still did most of the editing, producing it from his bedside. Blowers, who was orchid grower for the Honourable Nellie Ionides at Buxted Park, East Sussex, became editor after Curtis’s death and his first issue appeared in May 1958. Initially, there was little change. After a successful appeal for more articles, news and photographs the first ever redesign occurred in 1959. It resulted in a new green cover, updated fonts and layout, and additional photos. There were also new contributors, including more from overseas, and news from amateur orchid societies. [7] Within three years Blowers had trebled the subscribers. He resigned at the end of 1969 due to pressures of work and numerous other commitments.
Blowers was succeeded by David Sander (1911–1975), nurseryman and grandson of the ‘Orchid King’, [8] nurseryman Frederick Sander. In 1972 the format was briefly changed to a larger size, but this proved so unpopular it lasted just a year.
By 1973 increased printing and production costs meant the subscription price had been increased twice in three years. Publication deadlines were a constant challenge due to repeated postal strikes, power cuts and a three-day working week. Sander resigned at start of 1974 but remained as a director until his death.
The next editor was Brian Williams (1934–2015), orchid grower for Sir Robert Sainsbury and Lady Lisa Sainsbury at Bucklebury, Berkshire. A cover redesign in 1975 resulted in a silver background to enhance the colour photos. By reducing the amount of colour and increasing the number of subscribers the 1972 deficit was reduced. However, printing costs continued to rise and the subscription price had to be increased again. In November 1975 the number of pages was decreased by eight and a smaller font employed. The Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust agreed to support the colour reproduction and the directors, together with Eric Young and Lady Lisa Sainsbury, put up substantial amounts of personal cash to offset the continuing deficit.
In December 1978 Williams resigned and Wilma Rittershausen (1939–2011), the first female editor, took over. [9] She worked with her brother Brian in the family business, Burnham Nurseries, at Kingsteignton in Devon. Once appointed, she reduced her hours at the nursery and left the running of the business to Brian. She set about improving the periodical’s finances and by the end of 1979 the books were balanced. Initially, there were just two pages of colour and numerous black and white photographs. Gradually the amount of colour increased, until 1985 when it became full colour. One of her innovations was the publication of supplements, such as annual ones for RHS awards, one on the World Orchid Conference held in Durban, and one on the International Centenary Orchid Conference held at the Royal Horticultural Halls, London, in 1985. She resigned at the end of 1985 when Burnham Nurseries relocated to Newton Abbot in Devon. [10]
Her successor, Christopher Bailes (b. 1951), was manager of the Eric Young Orchid Foundation in Jersey. One major improvement during Bailes’s editorship was the significant increase of colour in each issue, partly financed by donations to a 'colour fund'. However, the financial position of the periodical remained precarious. In March 1988 an agreement was reached for the Royal Horticultural Society to hold a quarter of the shares and pay £4,000 annually towards the costs. [11] In autumn of the same year Bailes left the Eric Young Orchid Foundation and became curator of RHS Garden Rosemoor, but remained editor until the end of 1989.
John Blowers stepped in as editor for another couple of years [12] [13] until Phil Seaton (b. 1948) was appointed in 1992, [14] editing the centenary volume of 1993 which consisted of just 10 parts. At the end of 1992 the Royal Horticultural Society agreed to take on full responsibility for the technically insolvent publication. [15] The board of directors was dissolved, the company wound up and the Royal Horticultural Society selected Wilma Rittershausen to return as the new editor.
It was relaunched with more pages, more colour and issued bimonthly with new writers. The balance of the periodical was finely tuned to satisfy the needs of both new and more experienced growers. [16] Rittershausen retired at the end of 2000 and was followed by Dr Henry Oakeley (b. 1941) for the first three issues for 2001. Following a review by the Royal Horticultural Society, Isobyl la Croix (b. 1933) was put in charge. She would go on to edit the journal for the next eight years, overseeing the transition to digital publishing. Before 2005 colour could only be on every other double page until the Royal Horticultural Society's publications department in Peterborough undertook the design. It heralded a revamp with a new cover, text in three rather than two columns and the news section expanded to four pages. At the end of 2008 the periodical became quarterly. Sarah Forsyth (b. 1972), who had a background in horticultural journalism, took over as editor in January 2010. She was joined by an editorial panel of six people and the news section expanded to six pages. She continued until James Armitage (b. 1976), editor of The Plantsman and previously a botanist at RHS Garden Wisley, was appointed as editor in early 2020.
Robert Allen Rolfe 1893–1921
Alfred Gurney Wilson 1921–1932
Charles Curtis 1933–1958
John Blowers 1958–1969 & 1990–1991
David Sander 1970–1974
Brian Williams 1974–1978
Wilma Rittershausen 1978–1985 & 1993–2000
Christopher Bailes 1986–1989
Phil Seaton 1992–1993
Henry Oakeley Jan.–Mar. 2001
Isobyl la Croix Apr. 2001–2009
Sarah Forsyth (née Brooks) 2010–2020
James Armitage 2020–
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, formally known as the Great Spring Show, is a garden show held for five days in May by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea, London. Held at Chelsea since 1912, the show is attended by members of the British royal family.
The Hampton Court Garden Festival is an annual British flower show, held in early July of each year. The show is run by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) at Hampton Court Palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The show features show gardens, floral marquees and pavilions, talks, and demonstrations. Erected on the north and south sides of the Long Water in Hampton Court Park, it is the second major national show after the Chelsea Flower Show, but has a different character, focusing more on environmental issues, growing your own food, vegetables and cookery, as well as selling gardening accessories, plants and flowers.
RHS Garden Wisley is a garden run by the Royal Horticultural Society in Wisley, Surrey, south of London. It is one of five gardens run by the society, the others being Harlow Carr, Hyde Hall, Rosemoor, and Bridgewater. Wisley is the second most visited paid entry garden in the United Kingdom after the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, with 1,232,772 visitors in 2019.
× Phragmipaphium is an intergeneric hybrid of plants in the family Orchidaceae, between the genera Phragmipedium and Paphiopedilum. This hybrid is abbreviated Phrphm by orchid growers and hobbyists. A number of plants have been presented as successful hybrids.
A plantsman is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable gardener, nurseryman or nurserywoman. "Plantsman" can refer to a male or female person, though the terms plantswoman, or even plantsperson, are sometimes used. The word is sometimes said to be synonymous with "botanist" or "horticulturist", but that would indicate a professional involvement, whereas "plantsman" reflects an attitude to plants. A horticulturist may be a plantsman, but a plantsman is not necessarily a horticulturist.
The Plant Review, published quarterly by the Royal Horticultural Society, is a 68-page magazine containing "fascinating in-depth articles for everyone who loves plants". Its authoritative articles are written by acknowledged experts on plant-related subjects, and include plant profiles, horticulture, botany and the development of garden plants, focusing on ornamental plants grown in temperate gardens. It also reflects the scientific work of the RHS, as well as research conducted by other horticultural and botanical institutions and individuals. First published in 1979 as The Plantsman, it was renamed The Plant Review from September 2019.
The Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH) is awarded to British horticulturists resident in the United Kingdom whom the Royal Horticultural Society Council considers deserving of special honour by the Society.
Sir Harry James Veitch was an English horticulturist in the nineteenth century, who was the head of the family nursery business, James Veitch & Sons, based in Chelsea, London. He was instrumental in establishing the Chelsea Flower Show, which led to his being knighted for services to horticulture.
The Garden is the monthly magazine of the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), circulated to all the society's members as a benefit of membership; it is also sold to the public.
RHS Garden Rosemoor is a public display garden run by the Royal Horticultural Society in north Devon, England.
The American Orchid Society (AOS) is a horticultural society for education, conservation, and research of orchids. It was founded in 1921, and has an international membership. It is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. It has been called an "industry group". As of 2001 it was the largest special interest horticultural organization in the world. The AOS is the parent organization for local orchid societies in North and South America. It is affiliated with 600 orchid societies worldwide. A local commercial orchid grower, Robert Fuchs, said, "The American Orchid Society has the best orchid library in the Americas and orchid art work that is phenomenal." As of 2004 annual dues were $40.
Sir James John Trevor Lawrence, 2nd Baronet, was an English surgeon, horticulturalist, and art collector. He later became a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for 17 years, retiring to become treasurer of St Bartholomew's Hospital where he founded the Lawrence Scholarship and contributed to the King Edward's Hospital Fund.
The Veitch Memorial Medal is an international prize issued annually by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
The term grex, derived from the Latin noun grex, gregis, meaning 'flock', has been expanded in botanical nomenclature to describe hybrids of orchids, based solely on their parentage. Grex names are one of the three categories of plant names governed by the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants; within a grex the cultivar group category can be used to refer to plants by their shared characteristics, and individual orchid plants can be selected and named as cultivars.
Stuart Meeson is a physicist who having done research in Electrical Impedance Tomography and Mammography has been working in Computed Tomography (CT) with the Radiology Group of the University of Oxford. Areas of particular interest include imaging the cervical spine, abdominal sepsis and low contrast features in the abdomen and liver. His work in CT led to a collaborative study with the UK Health Protection Agency on the Third UK national CT dose survey.
Lilian Snelling (1879–1972) was "probably the most important British botanical artist of the first half of the 20th century". She was the principal artist and lithographer to Curtis's Botanical Magazine between 1921 and 1952 and "was considered one of the greatest botanical artists of her time" – "her paintings were both detailed and accurate and immensely beautiful". She was appointed MBE in 1954 and was awarded the Victoria Medal in 1955. The standard author abbreviation Snelling is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.
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