Snowdrop "people"

[Maggi Young]

A new member to the Forum, another snowdrop enthusiast, also has an interest in the people "behind"  the  plants- in other words, those for whom the plants have been named.

She tells me :
 ".........at the moment I am doing some research on the people behind them, the names involved etc. I hope that someone can give me a few hints on 'Lady Elphinstone'. According the snowdrop book she was the daughter of  a Sir Graeme Elphinstone, but there were so many Elphinstone's, and I am not sure which one is involved here. I can't find anything further on these people. Someone may have a suggestion ?
Many thanks,
Béatrice"

I'm hoping there will be galanthophiles here who can shed some light on this?   

[Brian Ellis]

Sir Graeme Elphinstone Bt died in June 1900 and was the owner of extensive plantations in Ceylon. He was 4th Baronet Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone
In 1891 he is listed on the census as living in Heawood Hall, Nether Alderley as
Graeme H D H Elphinstone 49 Coffee and Tea Planter, Ceylon born in Aberdeenshire.  Now Maggi you should have known that
Wife Margaret A D H aged 38 from Ayrshire and twin daughters:
Mary Constance  and Esther Winifred  aged 15 born in Ceylon

I assume they were in Ceylon in 1881 although I have not had an extensive search.

Sir Graeme Hepburn Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone, 4th Bt. was born on 12 September 1841. The son of Sir James Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone of Horn and Westhall, 2nd Bt. and Mary Heron-Maxwell. His wife was Margaret Anne Alice Fairlie, daughter of James Ogilvie Fairlie,He died on 22 May 1900 at age 58 at Straits Settlement (made up of  Malacca, Dinding, Penang - also known as Prince of Wales Island and Singapore - with Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands).  Mary died in 1919 and Esther married Lt.-Col. Thomas Alexander Headlam and died in the 1960s there were no children.
     
Hope that helps.

[Maggi Young]

Thanks Brian -  as Béatrice had discovered, there are a lot of Elphinstones about - and Aberdeenshire is full of them!

One of  the most famous here is Bishop Elphinstone :  William Elphinstone (1431 – 25 October 1514) a Scottish statesman, Bishop of Aberdeen and founder of the University of Aberdeen.

[Beatrice]

To Brian , many thanks for your help. If you are right, and I presume you are, Sir Graeme Elphinstone (1844-1908) indeed had two daughters. Mary Constance who died in 1919, and Esther Winefrid who married in 1917 Lt. Thomas Alexander Headlam. In the book Snowdrops they mention W.Headlam - daughter of Sir Graeme Elphinstone. So I think I can conclude that the snowdrop that S. Arnott received in 1907 and that he suggested to name 'Lady Elphinstone' was named after the second daughter. Although this seems a little odd to me, but I think the dates of the naming are confusing. If this name was only given much later in 1958 it would make sense. Anyway, it isn't all that important, I just try to give the snowdrops a 'face'. It's my kind of snowdropmania.
Thanks again, it was a great help.
Beatrice

[Brian Ellis]

You are most welcome Beatrice.  It was basic research work with the advantage of having access to Census records and newspaper reports via the internet.  In the 'old' days it would have taken hours of research in a library.  As you say they are elusive, but it is mainly because he spent so much time on his estates in Ceylon.  I was pleased to do it and have the information myself.

[Brian Ellis]

This seemed a suitable thread to mention a book by Ursula Buchan entitled "Garden People - Valerie Finnis & the Golden Age of Gardening" published by Thames & Hudson in 2007. 

It was recommended to me by someone who thought I was interested in many of the people mentioned within, they were correct.  I grow many snowdrops named for them.  As it says on the cover Valerie Finnis 'knew most of the people who mattered in the gardening world and many of them were invited to the Dower House, where they would usually be photographed..'

This account of her life in gardening includes photographs of many alpinists and plants as well as snowdrop people - Gerard Parker, Margery Fish, Dick Trotter, Primrose Warburg, Amy Doncaster, Lady Moore, David Shackleton etc etc

It's delightful and Brent Elliot has added 'Garden Lives' paragraphs on those mentioned in the text at the end of the book.

[Maggi Young]

Funnily enough, Brian, I ordered this book last week- I'm awaiting delivery.

I have great regard  for Valerie Finnis, who was a good friend of our dear mentor, Harold Esslemont and I really don't know why I didn't buy this book when it was first issued. I'm very pleased to be getting it now.

[Lina Hesseling]

Brian,
Your post made me remember this book is in my gardenbook collection.
I never read it. A shame!
So now it is on the coffeetable and I am sure, I will love it.

Lina.

[Brian Ellis]

I am sure you will both enjoy it, not a weighty tome, but an interesting account and some hilarious photos of days gone by.

[mark smyth]

1p on Amazon 

[chasw]

Link please Mark

[Maggi Young]

Link please

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garden-People-Valerie-Finnis-Gardening/dp/0500513538

[chasw]

Thank you Maggi

[Maggi Young]

Cheers, Chas!

[Beatrice]

thanks for the information : I just bought myself a present, looking forward to read about this 'garden-people'