Prunus Spinosa

The Tradescants were 17th century gardeners who introduced many new plants to England. More than 160 varieties of fruit were listed amongst the inventory of plants grown at the Tradescants nursery in Lambeth, many of which are illustrated in the Orchard. The Garden Museum invited 40 of the worlds leading botanical artists to paint watercolours of fruit in response to the Orchard.

Mary Ellen Taylor's appreciation of all things natural is a direct result of her upbringing amongst the wildlife of the Galapagos Islands. She left her home in Ecuador after two decades to pursue Botanical Painting at The English Gardening School. She is currently the Administrator of The Chelsea School of Botanical Art at the Chelsea Physic Garden, where she has been commissioned to paint a small series of Butterflies at Home. The ancient Blackthorn has always intrigued Mary Ellen, not only as a common hedgerow plant, but for its many uses such as a bird habitat, walking sticks and fruit used for liqueur, vinegar and fermented wine.