Plant hunters

Uncovering some of the secrets of ‘The Whispering River’ - a new dual timeline mystery novel

Greetings mystery lovers! Today, I’ll bring you into the world of The Whispering River, my new dual timeline novel that takes the reader on a journey through the late Victorian era and also into the present. This book, with the stunning backdrop of Ireland's Wicklow mountains, tells the tale of two steadfast women from different eras, both determined to build a better future for themselves.

Victorian-era plant hunters were an intrepid lot

Would you have applied for a job as a plant hunter in the 19th century? The first skill you would have needed was an adventurous spirit. Plant hunting botanists had to survive shipwreck, pirates, numerous accidents and foreign diseases, such as dysentery and yellow fever. Some never came home. I’ve been doing some research on medicinal plants and popular Victorian garden trees and, in this month’s blog, I take a look at a few of the specimens these brave, intrepid men brought back with them that still adorn our gardens today…