Judith M. Taylor is the author of The Olive in California: History of an Immigrant Tree; Tangible Memories: Californians and Their Gardens, 1800 to 1950; The Global Migrations of Ornamental Plants: How the World Got into Your Garden, and Visions of Loveliness: Great Flower Breeders of the Past. She lives in San Francisco.

"A well-researched volume for those who are deeply interested in the history of plant breeding and past plant breeders, the development of horticulture as a profession, and the flowers featured." (Library Journal) "In this volume, Taylor succeeds once again in bringing the stories of diligent flower breeders of the past to the gardeners who benefit from their efforts today." (The American Gardener) "We are grateful to authors, such as Judith Taylor, who continue to search archives, historical societies and publications and interview family members to unearth information about, and bring attention to, those figures in the plant sciences whose accomplishments have been buried with time. As the author writes in her endnote, 'the knowledge increases the pleasure' of these plants." (Huntia: A Journal of Botanical History) "After reading Taylor, I will embark with new eyes on the glorious weeks which are now beginning, the season of lilacs and rhododendrons, lupins, delphiniums, roses and sweet peas." "Judith M. Taylor brings to life the 'creators' of these ornamental plants and many others in a way that will give you new appreciation for flowers of all kinds." "Although her anecdotes are blessedly breezy, her encyclopedia is exhaustive."

Judith M. Taylor is the author of The Olive in California: History of an Immigrant Tree; Tangible Memories: Californians and Their Gardens, 1800 to 1950; The Global Migrations of Ornamental Plants: How the World Got into Your Garden, and Visions of Loveliness: Great Flower Breeders of the Past. She lives in San Francisco.

"A well-researched volume for those who are deeply interested in the history of plant breeding and past plant breeders, the development of horticulture as a profession, and the flowers featured." (Library Journal) "In this volume, Taylor succeeds once again in bringing the stories of diligent flower breeders of the past to the gardeners who benefit from their efforts today." (The American Gardener) "We are grateful to authors, such as Judith Taylor, who continue to search archives, historical societies and publications and interview family members to unearth information about, and bring attention to, those figures in the plant sciences whose accomplishments have been buried with time. As the author writes in her endnote, 'the knowledge increases the pleasure' of these plants." (Huntia: A Journal of Botanical History) "After reading Taylor, I will embark with new eyes on the glorious weeks which are now beginning, the season of lilacs and rhododendrons, lupins, delphiniums, roses and sweet peas." "Judith M. Taylor brings to life the 'creators' of these ornamental plants and many others in a way that will give you new appreciation for flowers of all kinds." "Although her anecdotes are blessedly breezy, her encyclopedia is exhaustive."