London tributes to Linnaeus

Abstract

One of the world's most famous flower shows played tribute last month to Carl Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist who laid the foundation for plant and animal classification, 300 years after his birth as part of an international set of events to mark the anniversary. The show garden at the Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show in London aimed to highlight Linnaeus' curiosity and passion for nature. The garden was commissioned by the Swedish government and coordinated by the National Tercentenary Committee in Stockholm.Traditional materials and simple plants were used to flag the Swede's love of nature and some plants were even obtained from Linnaeus' summer estate. The garden highlighted golden maidenhair, one of Linnaeus' favourite plants. Linnaeus's affection for it has been well documented: he used it as a mattress and cover when he slept in woods during his journeys across Sweden.Swedish feel: This show garden at last month's Chelsea Flower Show in London celebrated the 300th anniversary of the birth that week of the great Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus. (Photo: Royal Horticultural Society.)View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint SlideRich pickings: A new exhibition to celebrate Carl Linnaeus, at the Natural History Museum, includes work based on invertebrate animals collected at Highgate cemetery. (Photo: EMPICS.)View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint SlideThis month also sees the opening of a new exhibition to celebrate Linnaeus at the Natural History Museum, Systema Metropolis, exploring the unseen wildlife in London from a number of sites. Created by the US artist, Mark Dion, it reflects four different environments within the city. Dion collected soil, air and water samples, each containing its own microcosm of life, including specimens from the famous Highgate cemetery, a local haven for wildlife. The small organisms found in these samples are at the heart of four installations evoking scientific environments.As an introduction to the exhibition, Dion focuses on Linnaeus through an historic display of portraits, illustrations, specimens, collecting equipment and rare books, including a first edition of Linnaeus's key work, Systema naturae.