Unearthing Horticultural History: The Story of Plant Records at Bartram’s Garden
The year is 1728; John Bartram stands in his garden beneath the dappled sunlight filtering through the tree canopy, carefully examining the leaf of a plant. He runs his fingers along the leaf’s glossy surface and serrated edges, jotting down his observations of shape and texture to identify the species. He keeps a trowel and a magnifying glass close at hand, ready to examine smaller specimens on the forest floor. Around him, pressed flowers are set to dry between sheets of paper weighed with stones. His ink-stained fingers flip through his weathered field journal, filled with sketches and Latin names of plants. Every once in a while, he pauses, not just to observe a plant, but to revel in the beauty of the ecosystem surrounding him.
Nearly three hundred years later, I walk the same garden paths, cataloging plants, identifying species, and marveling at the life each one supports. Instead of quill and parchment, I roam the garden paths with a laptop in one hand and a GPS receiver in the other, but the spirit is the same. Though our tools may have changed, the sense of purpose and curiosity in recording the plants that inhabit this site has remained steadfast across three centuries.
From Lake Michigan to the Schuylkill River: What Led Me to Bartram’s Garden? I’m originally from Chicago, Illinois. Growing up across the street from Lake Michigan, I developed a deep appreciation for the natural world early on. But it was a high school biology class field trip that truly changed my trajectory. We donned waterproof waders and ventured into a pond to collect water samples. It was messy, immersive, and it was real-life science. I loved every second. That experience sparked a desire to pursue environmental science as a career.
When I began looking at colleges, I found Drexel University, which stood out for its unique co-op program. This program allows students to gain real-world experience through a six-month, full-time job in their field, built directly into the academic curriculum. For two terms, instead of attending classes, you work in your chosen field. Not only does it strengthen your resume, but it also creates meaningful connections with local organizations.
For my third and final co-op, I became the Plant Recorder at Bartram’s Garden, a role I’ve proudly continued beyond the six-month term. The partnership between Bartram’s Garden and Drexel is a natural one. It bridges community-based science with academic and technical expertise, like GIS mapping, and offers both the Garden and Drexel students unique opportunities for growth.
What Are Plant Records? At its core, a plant record is a living file: a set of data we keep about a specific plant in the Garden. The very first plant records here were created by John Bartram himself and sustained by his children, including the family’s 1783 Plant Catalog, which is still referenced today to guide plantings in the historic section of the Garden. Every accessioned plant in the Garden has a unique identifier called an accession number. This is the plant’s personal ID number. Linked to that number is a wealth of information: scientific and common names, planting location, source or provenance, care and conservation notes, and more. As of June 2025, Bartram’s Garden has 1,280 accessioned plant records.
Why Plant Records Matter Gardens, arboreta, and other living landscapes sometimes talk about their “living collections,” meaning all the plants in their care. The mission of the living collections at Bartram’s Garden is to “acquire and display plant material”—specifically species documented in historical Bartram manuscripts, catalogs, letters, and illustrations—and to “document and interpret the historic Bartram botanic garden.” Maintaining an accession system is essential to this mission. It allows us to track and preserve both historic and current plantings with accuracy.
But documentation alone isn’t enough. Without proper organization, valuable information gets lost. By storing records in a centralized system, we can quickly find, compare, and analyze plant data as needed. This kind of organized system is standard at world-class botanical institutions such as the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University and the Missouri Botanical Garden. These institutions use accession records not just for plant care and internal tracking but also to meet accreditation standards. Organizations like the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) require rigorous documentation for certification. Accreditation opens doors to grants, collaborations, and institutional credibility—benefits we hope to secure for Bartram’s Garden in the future.
On a more immediate level, proper documentation and organization of plant records allow us to more easily create tree labels, which help visitors connect with the Garden. These bronze-colored labels invite curiosity and learning, telling the stories of the plants and their history.
Learning from the Past: Historic Trees and Their Stories Our accession system isn’t just about logistics—it tells stories. Here are a few standout examples from our collection:
Accession #1983-045 — Ginkgo biloba
This is the oldest tree in the Garden—and likely the oldest ginkgo in North America. Believed to have been planted in 1785, this ginkgo may be one of three sent to the U.S. from England, with this one taking root here at Bartram’s Garden. In 1992, a fallen limb was sent to the Arnold Arboretum, where 120 rings were counted—a testament to its age and resilience.
Accession #2003-003 — Pyrus communis ‘Lady Petre’
This heirloom pear tree carries deep Bartram lineage. It traces back to seeds sent to John Bartram in 1739. In 1823, William Bartram died sitting beneath its branches. In a letter written by Thomas L. McKenney to Dolley Madison, dated July 28, 1835, McKenney wrote, “The old man, then in his 86th year, rose from the Table, taking with him a bit of bread & cheese, saying – ‘I will do as the boys do.’ In going out, he reached the pear tree, where he was shortly after discovered throwing up blood from his lungs.” The current tree was grafted from a line of cuttings passed through generations of gardeners, most recently from the Harris family’s garden in Germantown.
Accession #1983-005 — Acer nigrum (Black Maple)
Identified in a 1961 photograph, this maple once stood near a downed white mulberry. In the 1980s and ’90s, it was one of the trees tapped for maple sugaring lessons—an example of how Bartram’s Garden continues to blend education with ecology.
Accession #1983-031B — Cladrastis kentukea (Yellowwood)
Though its exact planting date is unknown, this tree has been documented here since the 1830s. Likely introduced via famed French botanist André Michaux, it was described by Thomas Meehan in 1853 as standing 50 feet tall with a four-foot circumference. It was severely damaged in a windstorm in 2010; its current beautiful condition reflects the dedicated care of our horticulture staff.
A Living Legacy: The Evolution of Plant Records at Bartram’s Garden The first version of our modern accession system began in 1983—handwritten entries stored in thick binders. These were lovingly maintained by horticulture staff and dedicated volunteers until around 2011. When I began my role in 2024, one of my first big projects was to digitize those records. I spent weeks typing every detail from the binders into a master spreadsheet.
That digitized spreadsheet—now called the “Accession System Master Spreadsheet” or “ASMS”—houses every plant record, old and new. It’s searchable, sortable, and serves as the foundation for everything we do in plant records today.
Current Projects: Mapping, Labeling, and Expanding Access We’ve also created a GIS map that visually ties data to the location of plants, making it easy to see what’s growing where. Every accessioned plant is now a dot on the map. Click it, and you’ll see its accession number, species, and associated data. I’ve also outlined various sections of the Garden—like the orchard and various historic sections—so that staff and visitors can better understand the Garden’s layout and diversity.
Another big project has been creating and installing metal tree labels. After identifying and matching trees to their previous records, or creating a new plant record, I generate a list for embossing. I visited the Morris Arboretum to learn how to use their embossing machine and create our tree labels. The final tags display the plant’s accession number, scientific and common names, and family. Once tagged, these trees become part of the Garden’s visible story.
What’s Next for Plant Records at Bartram’s Garden? The future of plant records at Bartram’s Garden is bright and promising! We’re working on accessioning more herbaceous plants, as well as expanding into accessioning the riverfront and riparian zones in the future. The Plant Recorder co-op will continue to offer Drexel students hands-on experience, and I hope one day we can establish a full-time Plant Records Curator role in the horticulture department.
And What’s Next for Me? I’ve recently graduated from Drexel with a B.S. in Environmental Science, and I’m planning to return to Chicago this fall. I’m exploring opportunities at nature-based institutions in Chicago, such as the Chicago Botanic Garden, and other local nature centers and gardens in the city. Another dream of mine is to work with conservation detection dogs—specially trained canines that locate invasive species, endangered plants, or environmental threats through scent detection. That dream started during my first co-op at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center, where I helped train puppies to become world-class detection dogs. Paired with the data organization and GIS mapping skills that I’ve gained and strengthened here at Bartram’s Garden, I’m one step closer to pursuing my dream career at the intersection of environmental conservation and working dogs.
Come See for Yourself! There’s so much history and science living here at Bartram’s Garden—sometimes quietly, sometimes in full bloom. If you visit, take a moment to notice the bronze-colored tree tags scattered throughout the Garden. Each one is a story waiting to be uncovered. And if you want to go deeper, check out our public accessions map at this link: www.bartramsgarden.org/tree-map/
From the first catalogs penned by John Bartram to today’s digital records, our plant collection continues to grow— rooted in the past, but always looking to the future.
