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.