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Article written
for MeadNews by Dr. Elizabeth Camm, Spring 2006:
 Celebrated
natural botanist William Bartram read from his
1791 book, “Travels,” through glasses made by
his father’s friend, Ben Franklin. In 1796 he
was about to greet visitors in the much admired
Bartram botanical garden at Kingsessing, four
miles from Philadelphia. He and brother John Jr.
cared for one of America’s first commercial
gardens that John Bartram, their father, had
started. John was our first native born, world
renowned natural botanist, William the second,
and they still are frequently honored as major
contributors to upstart America’s early
development.
This accurate historical scene projects a little
fantasy, too, for the time actually was June 7,
2006 in Winter Park’s Mead Garden, and actor
J.D. Sutton interpreting William Bartram was
about to mingle with visitors to the dedication
of Florida’s 24th Bartram Trail marker. The
Winter Park Garden Club, its clubhouse centered
in the Garden, presented the impressive icon to
Mead Garden and the City of Winter Park. The
ceremony took place at a welcoming point along
the entrance drive, where the elegant marker
stands guarded by sentinel live oaks, sycamores,
and stately pines in a natural setting.
Joan Ochs, long time WPGC member and past
president of the Florida Federation of Garden
Clubs, also headquartered in Mead Garden,
described William Bartram’s travels through East
and West Florida in his incredible, 1773-77
journey. Winter Park Mayor David Strong accepted
the marker gift and cut its ribbon; Marcia Frey,
president of WPGC, presided. Guests drenched
from the heat then began a lively reception in
the cool WPGC clubhouse, and settled down for
Sutton’s delightful performance as William. He
is a Florida Humanities Council Road Scholar.
For this happy afternoon, Dexter Richardson,
FMG’s birding activity chairman, presented a
light supper from Dexter’s of Winter Park.
FFGC originated the Bartram marker program in
the late 1970’s through a former president who
designed the sign and spoke eloquently of
William’s extraordinary, perilous journey
through eight southern states. With approval of
National Garden Clubs and help from the Bartram
Trail Conference, the marker program expanded to
the other states. BTC members research William’s
many contributions, restore, and care for
remnants of his rugged trail.
In 18th and 19th century Europe, where proud
owners of botanical gardens sought “new” plants
from the New World, “Travels” became a classic
of science and literature. The bold explorer’s
poetic but scientific imagery of his 2,400 mile
trek directly influenced English poets. Bartram
also was a talented artist.
 A
surging interest in history and the natural
world is prompting seminars and more trail
markers. An impressive symposium will occur at
Alabama’s Auburn University on October 27 when
eight scholars discuss recent research about
William in art, art history, science and
writing, Travel’s literary bent, and empathy
with Indians. (See auburn.edu/cah). Seminoles,
realizing that he respected the land, named him
“Puc Puggy” (flower hunter), a passport that
protected him from hostile tribes.
In Florida, the crown of this sensational
journey, William is credited with discovering
much of the state’s unusual flora and fauna.
When Sara Johns was president, WPGC decided that
a handsome icon with a tempting statement of
science, adventure, and history about a famed
American who trod nearby would bring visitors to
MG and encourage children to learn more. Marcia
Frey continued. Now families travel to connect
and research the signs’ messages along the
trail.
John and William Bartram
reached their pinnacle when they saved an
elusive tree from extinction. In 1765 John, as
Royal Botanist to King George III, and protégé
William journeyed to the St. Johns River
headwaters. On the way, while traveling through
Georgia, John discovered “a curious shrub“
growing along the Altamaha River bank. In 1777,
when William returned to Kingsessing from his
second journey, he and his father coaxed seeds
of this “shrub” into two trees that eventually
bloomed gorgeously. But the wild small tree
disappeared. Thus, the Bartrams saved Franklinia
alatamaha. The stamp printed here reproduces one
of William’s remarkable Franklinia paintings.
MG’s first memorial tree, a Franklinia, was
dedicated in 1939 as part of a Rollins College
celebration to honor William’s 200th birthday.
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