History books are full of men in gardens—plant hunters, breeders, designers—yet somehow women just “didn’t exist.” Which is odd, since we’ve been knee-deep in compost and seed trays all along.⁠ ⁠ Judith M. Taylor is here to fix that. In her new book Women & Gardens: A History From the Victorian Era to Today, she shines a light on the women history conveniently forgot—from the Tasmanian nun who crossed roses to the breeder of the beloved ‘Mlle. Cecile Brunner.’⁠ ⁠ Taylor admits she writes books on things she doesn’t know, because the thrill is in chasing down stories and people who’ve been left out. (Sounds a bit like gardening itself—half digging in the dark, half delight when something blooms.)⁠ ⁠ You can grab her book from the University of New Mexico Press, or read our full interview in the July/August issue of The American Gardener at ahsgardening.org. Not a member yet? connect.ahsgardening.org/join⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ Judith M. Taylor. University of New Mexico Press. 2025. 218 pages. $24.95 ⁠ ...