A Brief History of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The former president of Arts Britannia, Ltd., Marjorie G. Rosen has helped to shape the global state of horticulture by participating in the work of numerous boards and committees in the U.S. and England. For many years, Marjorie G. Rosen held a position on the Friends and Foundation Board of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, also known as Kew Gardens.

Located in London, the gardens trace their roots to 1759, when Princess August, the mother of King George III, established a botanical garden in what is today the Kew grounds. Great explorers like Captain Cook and others reaching other worldwide destinations furnished rare seeds from distant places such as Jamaica, South Africa, and Tahiti.

In 1840, the gardens were opened to the public, and in 1853, the Herbarium, which today holds more than 7 million plant species, was built. In 1896, women joined the Kew workforce for the first time, and, in 1952, a breakthrough scientific discovery in DNA was made by Watson and Crick, its findings still utilized today.

More recently, Kew became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003 and celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2009. Today, the gardens continue as among the most popular tourist attractions in London.

Defining Features of English Gardens

Noted garden design enthusiast Marjorie G. Rosen has been a prominent figure in horticultural circles in New York and the UK as a longtime board member of the Royal Oak Foundation, the Royal Botanic Garden, and the New York Botanical Garden. Marjorie G. Rosen, who presided over the British company Arts Britannia, Ltd., for nearly 25 years, first fell in love with gardens while living in London in the 1970s and ‘80s. 

Beautiful traditional English-style gardens can be found across London and other cities in the UK. Some of the defining features of an English garden include:

-Man-made lakes: Larger English gardens planned in the naturalist style often include water features in the form of artificial small streams, ponds, and lakes. However, the water elements have organic borders and blend in naturally with the landscape. 
-Climbing plants: In the cottage-style English garden, climbing plants such as ivy, rose, and jasmine can be found growing on the side of a house or along structures made from wire or wood. Climbing plants can also be used to camouflage wear and tear on an exterior wall. 
-Herbs: During the Victorian Age, home gardens were the primary source of medicinal herbs. Today, culinary herbs, such as oregano, mint, and thyme, are commonly found in English gardens. Experts advise to grow these plants in separate pots or plant them along paved footpaths.

ICP Infinity Honoree Jess T. Dugan Explores Identity and Intimacy

As a philanthropist and supporter of the creative and visual arts, Marjorie G. Rosen has held several leadership positions with public service organizations based New York City, including the New York Botanical Garden and Friends of the Costume Institute. Marjorie G. Rosen is also deeply involved with the International Center of Photography (ICP) and has played a key role in the organization’s Infinity Awards Committee.

For more than three decades, ICP has held its annual Infinity Awards to celebrate artists and photographers in multiple areas of visual art, including fashion photography and photojournalism. The 2019 Honoree for the category Emerging Talent is 32-year-old photographer Jess T. Dugan, who is renowned for her raw and sensual portraits. 

In her 2015 exhibition, Every Breath We Drew, Dugan explored the overlapping experiences between deliberately constructed masculinity and seeking intimate connection with others. Her subjects are posed in normally personal settings, such as their bedrooms, conveying vulnerability and closeness. 

The collection also includes several self-portraits, which symbolize the artist’s own desire to internalize traits she associates with gentle masculinity. Every Breath We Drew will be shown at Truman State University from January 21 to February 28, 2020.

Munder-Skiles Furniture Company

Prior to becoming a vice chairperson of the New York Botanical Garden, Marjorie G. Rosen attended the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, where she earned a BA in liberal arts. Marjorie Rosen began her career in horticulture by designing hanging garden containers under her brand, Arts Britannia, Ltd. which were eventually sold through the Munder-Skiles Company.

Established in 1992, the Munder-Skiles Company started by producing quality garden furniture designed by John Danzer that has been showcased in Elle Décor and Architectural Digest Magazine. Danzer’s curiosity about garden furniture design began as just a recreational interest, but soon developed into a passion; he studied the best ideas and collections in outdoor furniture and began coming up with his own designs. 

In 1994, Danzer’s design for his Taconic Chair was named the “Best American Chair” and received the Roscoe Award. Danzer began adding outdoor furnishings and accessories to the Munder-Skiles line, including Ms. Rosen's hanging baskets.

The International Center of Photography's Annual Infinity Awards

Marjorie G. Rosen is the former president of Arts Brittania Ltd., a private company in London, United Kingdom. The organization was co-founded by Mrs. Rosen and provided private or group tours for the decorative and fine arts. Today, Marjorie G. Rosen lives in the United States and is a member of an array of professional organizations relating to her interests, such as the International Center of Photography.

The International Center of Photography (ICP) is a global institution dedicated to the art of photography and visual culture that is based in New York City, New York. The ICP was founded in 1974 in order to keep “Concerned Photography,” or photography concerning social activism or humanitarian documentation, alive in the arts. Today, the ICP has a school, museum, library, collection and media center, and a plethora of programs and community outreach in order to create awareness about the role of visual art in the contemporary world’s culture.

Along with continuous workshops, exhibits, and other programs, ICP also hosts an annual awards event, called the Infinity Awards. The Infinity Awards celebrates the outstanding artists each year who work in photography and the visual arts, while also serving as ICP’s premier fundraising event for its multitude of programs and educational outreaches. The awards were established not long after ICP itself, with the first ceremony in 1985, and has since recognized professionals across the visual arts, such as photojournalists, fashion photographers, publishers, and more. Notable past recipients include Anne Leibovitz, Sebastiao Salgado, and Berenice Abbott.

Chelsea Flower Show Combines New Varieties and Philanthropy

With a background as president of Arts Britannia, Ltd., Marjorie G. Rosen supervised the design and sales of hanging garden containers that were featured in publications such as Architectural Digest and Elle Decor. Currently active in volunteer capacities with a number of organizations, Marjorie G. Rosen has served as a Royal Oak Foundation board member and frequently attends opening night of London’s Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show.

As reported in Horticultural Week, the anticipated 2018 event, which will be held May 22-26, and will feature a number of new types of flowers in The Sun's Great Pavilion garden. These include the colorful Berberis thunbergii, known as “Orange Sunrise,” and a trio of Ball Colegrave delphinium creations in colors from light blue to lavender. 

Philanthropy is front and center at this year’s event. Frosts Garden Centres are sponsors of the artisan garden Laced with Hope. Designed by Laura Anstiss, the garden will present an empowering story of a child diagnosed with cancer and highlights the charitable work of Supershoes.

In addition, the RHS has bequeathed a Chelsea Flower Show garden to the National Health Services to provide support to those with mental health issues. The garden, designed by Matt Keightley, will be recreated within a mental health facility to fit the specific space at hand.

Research Initiatives at the New York Botanical Garden

A longtime horticulturalist based in London, Marjorie G. Rosen spent nearly 25 years as the president of Arts Britannia Ltd. Marjorie G. Rosen has also been a member of the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) since 2002 and has served as the vice chairman of the board since 2013. 

An international leader in plant research and conservation, the NYBG sponsors a broad range of research initiatives around the globe. Core research projects at the NYBG include New York City EcoFlora, which is dedicated to protecting the diversity of plants, animals, fungi, and ecosystems in the New York City metropolitan area. Drawing on data from natural history collections and institutions, the project attempts to shield the region’s biodiversity from the impact of development and climate change. 

On a broader scale, the NYBG sponsors conservation assessments of plants located throughout the Americas. Thanks to a streamlined assessment method for plant conservation, the NYBG hopes to complete initial assessments for all plant species in the Western Hemisphere. Using this data, international agencies such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature can prevent trafficking of protected species.

The ICP’s Infinity Awards

After having served as the president of her company Arts Britannia in both the UK and the US, Marjorie G. Rosen is now the vice chairman of the New York Botanical Garden and chair of its horticulture committee. She is also a co-chair of the International Center of Photography (ICP) acquisitions committee. In that role, Marjorie G. Rosen contributes to putting on the organization’s yearly Infinity Awards, which are held in New York City. 

Founded in 1974, the ICP works to promote and support photography and other visual media that engage with social issues. The Infinity Awards have been held every year since 1985 to highlight visual work in the fields of fashion photography, art, photojournalism, and publishing. 

Celebrities like models Naomi Campbell and Karlie Kloss attend the New York City awards, and past winners have included photographer Annie Leibovitz and National Geographic photojournalist Lynsey Addario. The proceeds from the event support the ICP, including its museum, library, and photography school.

Building Soil for Planters and Raised Garden Beds

During her time as a board member with New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), Marjorie G. Rosen has traveled to locations throughout Europe, Asia, and South America. Marjorie G. Rosen formerly hosted a radio show titled “The Weekend Gardener,” where she provided gardening advice to gardeners in eastern Long Island and the Hamptons. 

When it comes to building soil for planters and raised garden beds, there is no guarantee that store-bought soil will contain the organic matter necessary to sustain plant growth. Always ask sellers about where the soil came from and prepare to build up the soil with the necessary nutrients no matter what. Even if you find soil rich in organic matter, you will need to revitalize it on a yearly basis if you use it in planters. A common soil revitalization strategy involves planting a “green manure” cover crop, which can infuse organic matter and fix nitrogen when chopped up and placed in the soil.

When preparing soil for a planter, it is important to leave the soil light and fluffy, instead of densely packed. Fluffy soil enables plant roots to penetrate through the soil and absorb more nutrients. If you poke a finger into the soil, it should go all the way down to the third knuckle without much resistance. If it does not, you may need to redistribute the soil in your planter.

About Marjorie G. Rosen

Marjorie Rosen’s passion for gardening began in London more than 30 years ago, and she has since remained active in the international horticulture community. As a Royal Oak Foundation board member, she traveled to renowned private and public gardens around the United Kingdom, accompanied by experts in British horticulture. Marjorie Rosen has also attended nearly every opening night of the Royal Horticultural Society’s famous Chelsea Flower Show.

Throughout the years, Rosen has served in numerous horticulture-related roles. She became a New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) board member in 2002 and now serves as the board’s vice chairman. For more than 10 years, she was also a member of the Horticulture Committee and went on to become the committee chairman in 2007. She additionally acted as the co-chair of NYBG’s Plant Collectors’ Sale for many years. As a result of her role with the organization, Marjorie Rosen has travelled with NYBG to see gardens in places such as Japan, Brazil and Chile, Belize.