Editing Bartrams Garden (section)

== History ==

=== John Bartram ===

'''John Bartram''' (1699-1777) was a self-taught botanist and farmer who became one of the most important naturalists of the colonial era:
* Established his garden in '''1728'''
* Traveled extensively collecting plants
* Corresponded with scientists worldwide
* Named "Royal Botanist" by King George III (1765)
* Introduced hundreds of American plants to Europe

Linnaeus's famous praise—"the greatest natural botanist in the world"—reflected Bartram's remarkable contributions to science.

=== William Bartram ===

'''William Bartram''' (1739-1823), John's son, continued the botanical tradition:
* Explored the American Southeast extensively
* Published ''Travels'' (1791), a influential account of American nature
* Influenced Romantic poets including Coleridge and Wordsworth
* Continued operating the garden after his father's death

=== The Garden's Influence ===

Plants introduced by the Bartrams include:
* Franklin tree (''Franklinia alatamaha'')—now extinct in the wild
* Many native American species sent to European gardens
* Plants that influenced landscape design on both continents

=== Preservation ===

The garden has been preserved through:
* City of Philadelphia acquisition (1891)
* Continuous cultivation and care
* National Historic Landmark designation (1960)
* Current operation by nonprofit Bartram's Garden, Inc.