iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Botanist Francis Boott (1792-1863) spent most of his time towards the end of his life on detailed study of the genus Carex, or sedges. The manuscripts of this project, which was produced at his own expense, are fantastic in detail. #KewLA

11 red leatherbound volumes titled on the spine: 'Boott - Genus Carex'. The first four visible volumes from the left relate to 'Drawings & Proofs' and are arranged by number, indicated on the spine. A small volume is titled 'Distribution'. The remaining five volumes on the right relate to 'Dissections' and have volume numbers and alphabetical ranges on the spine.

A page of a bound volume. In the top right, there are nine small pencil sketches of 'Carex arctata'. Below are handwritten notes on 'Carex arctata' for each of the numbered figures above in French.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

This 1799 book by John Lettsom, requested by one of our readers, has some lovely illustrations of insects on the title page and starts off with a fitting quote: "He that enlarges his curiosity after the works of nature, [...] demonstrably multiplies the inlets to happiness." #KewLA

Book 'The Naturalist's and Traveller's companion; by John Coakley Lettsom, M.D.' open at the title page. Both pages have coloured illustrations of various insects.

Detail of an illustration of a jewel beetle in green and red.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The Library and Archives was delighted to participate in Open House over the weekend as part of the tours delivered by the Herbarium. We displayed a cross section of material to give visitors an idea of the scope of the collection, including early and more contemporary images of the Library #KewLA

A large Victorian wooden cabinet is shown from above; on top of which is an array of images and books from Kew's Library and Archives. Botanical illustrations of cacti and other plants can be seen as well as a number of blue prints of plant specimens captured by the cyanotype sun photography process.

Image showing a large wooden table of displayed objects from the side - old photographs and botanical illustrations can be seen in addition to a couple of modern books supported on stands. A red iron spiral staircase can be seen in the background ascending two flights of a large Victorian atrium. Red pillars run along the side of the room to support each floor and white cabinets of Herbarium specimens run floor to ceiling in the background and side.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Ever wondered what Kew's Spirit Collections are? For the next two weeks, the Spirit Collections are taking over the Library display case in Herbarium Reception. See the oldest and youngest specimens and compare Herbarium specimens with their spirit counterpart. Weekdays (10.00-4.00) until 24 Sept.

Photograph showing an interior view of a glass case with mysterious objects in jars of preservation fluid and the glimpse of photographs and illustrations on display. In the foreground a botanical illustration of a passion flower is mounted upright on a stand next to a plant specimen in a jar and detailed labels appear against all the objects.

Three jars of preserved plant specimens in fluid sit on a white tray. A small jar of ghostly white flowers sits in the foreground with two larger jars behind; the jar on the left looks to contain brown fruits, one of which has been sliced in half to reveal a segmented interior, and the jar on the right contains spiky white fruits. Labelled metal drawers can be seen on both sides of the image in the background.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Rheum nobile (the noble rhubarb), a species native to the Himalayas, is known for its size and this sepia photograph from the Library shows the ingenious use of an umbrella next to the plant to illustrate scale. #KewLA

A sepia photograph depicting a large living specimen of Rheum nobile (the noble rhubarb). An umbrella has been speared into the grown next to it in order to give an indication of scale and the plant reaches above this object. The specimen grows on clear ground while foliage can be seen behind it.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

One of our visitors requested to see this 18th century gardening manual by Richard Bradley. The three-volume work has an interesting striped fore-edge. #ForeEdgeFriday #KewLA

Book opened at the title page, titled "Nouvelles observations physiques et pratiques sur le jardinage et l'art de planter, avec le calendrier des jardiniers." on the opposite page a line drawing of a formal garden near a stately home.

Three books with worn edges stacked on top of each other. The book fore-edges are decorated with a black and white striped pattern.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Our Library holds a considerable number of nursery catalogues, like this 19th century one from Ghent, Belgium. Jean Jules Linden's nurseries were mostly known for orchids, but also cultivated other species like pitcher plants (Nepenthes). #KewLA

Nursery catalogue foldout with line drawings of various pitcher plants. At the centre of the image is a drawing of the nursery interior, with pitcher plants hanging from the glass ceiling.

Image 2: Title page of a nursery catalogue with a drawing of an Alocasia.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

In anticipation of Kew celebrating 175 years of the Herbarium & Library next year, here is a letter confirming the bequest of Dr William Bromfield’s collection from director William Hooker. Delivery was confirmed 174 years ago on 28th August, with Hooker writing this letter 3 days later #KewLA

Photograph of a page of a manuscript letter on light blue paper bound within the archives volume 'Kew Presentations and Purchases 1846-1898' from William Hooker dated 31st August 1852, confirming delivery of Dr Bromfield's collection at Kew

Photograph showing a bound open volume in which has been inserted a handwritten manuscript letter on light blue paper in brown ink.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

It's #InternationalDogDay today and we're marking the occasion with this painting by Marianne North (1830-1890). The 'View of House at Alderley' also features a furry friend in the foreground! #KewLA

Painting of a large house with a centred doorway and sash windows on either side. The bricks of the house are painted a light yellow and ivy and hanging plants climb up the middle and the right side of the house. The front of the house is fenced off and the central gate outside the doorway is open. To the left of the house is a road leadind away and the edge of a neighbouring house just in frame. In the foreground, in front of the driveway in front of the house, is a dog at the edge of a patch of green grass and shrubs, looking at a way marker.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Our Reading Room display ‘Female Figures and Fungi: A Foray into the Mycological Past’ has been extended until 3 September! Find out stories such as those of Kew mycologist Elsie Wakefield and many more. Accessible from 10am-4pm Tuesday to Thursday. #KewLA

Section of the front of a staff file, which is made of a brown paper material. The writing on the front, in black font, reads: Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, 1/Staff/59, Miss E M Wakefield Lady Assistant

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Kew lawns turning brown, high temperatures and a long period without rain, protecting the gardens from fire... It might sound like a description of Kew in 2026 but these familiar weather conditions come from a letter in the archives from July 1959! #KewLA

Image of a cross section of a letter, with some typescript faded. It reads 'The Kew lawns are as brown as they have ever been after such high temperatures and such a long period without rain. Kew Green was on fire last Saturday which warns us of the need to take still greater care in the Gardens against the spread of fire. The temperature in our preparers' hut was just on 100°F a few days ago when work for the ladies there became impossible. With many thanks, Yours very sincerely, C.E. Hubbard.'

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

To mark #NationalAllotmentsWeek we have this photograph from World War II made in front of Kew's Orangery. Cabbages and root vegetables once graced the lawn where visitors can now marvel at more colourful specimens. #KewLA

Image showing a black and white photograph of the Orangery building at Kew Gardens. In the foreground orderly lines of vegetables can be seen growing.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Before creating her world famous children's books, did you know that Beatrix Potter researched and drew fungi? To find out more about her visits to Kew, and the work of other female figures in fungi, visit our Reading Room display from 10-4, Tuesday-Thursday, open until 26th August. #KewLA

Signatures from Herbarium visitors, taken from Visitors Book 1892-1899. A cross section of a page, showing a list of names with that of Beatrix Potter in the middle. and a number 20 on the left hand side. Other names, listed in order are: C.B. Clarke, Henry E Roscoe, Beatrix Potter, [illegible],G D Haviland, F Kranslin.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Our Assistant Archivist has been busy at this year's Archives & Records Association conference #ARA2026 in Glasgow. Sessions spanned AI, digitisation, engagement and were all themed around authenticity. She also spoke with our Archives volunteer about the "Persia Reimagined" project. #KewLA

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Have you ever wondered what a working week as Director of Kew is like? This article from 1949 gives us an insight into life at Kew for Sir Edward Salisbury. His week ranged from answering correspondence and meeting staff across the Gardens to hosting visitors in the Herbarium. #KewLA

Image showing cross section of 'One Man's Week' article from Leader Magazine, 21 May 1949. Details of some days of the week are obscured but Tuesday and Wednesday can be seen in full.

“and quiet half-hour with The Times. Then back to the office to catch up with my absence.
TUESDAY. – The sun shines temptingly on cherry blossom and daffodils, but as soon as the heavy post is dealt with, across to the Jodrell Laboratory, to discuss with Dr. Metcalfe progress with a new book summarising the structural features that characterise the different groups of flowering plants. After lunch, Professor Hans Pettersen, the explorer, and Mme. Pettersen, who is a botanist, came to see the herbarium, where nearly six million dried specimens are housed, and also the specialised library of some 45,000 volumes. We looked at the orchids and after tea discussed scientific problems of mutual interest.
After dinner perusal of memoranda and papers for morrow’s activities till 11, followed by a Bach and Purcell broadcast, and so to bed.
WEDNESDAY. – Another heavy post, including enquiries from Africa, America, Australia, Ceylon and India, and administrative problems at home. Then plans for planting Imperial War Graves Cemetries to be examined. Most of the day taken up with interviewing applicants for posts in the Kew Constabulary.”

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

📜Anonymous archive alert: this notebook was compiled around 1905 and contains handwritten notes, journal cuttings, and beautifully coloured sketches of plants! We unfortunately don't know who this belonged to but our team thinks it may have been a student gardener or staff. #KewLA

An open notebook with handwriting in ink across both pages. The tops of both pages are obscured by attached coloured sketches: Sarracenia purpurea on the left and Darlingtonia Californica on the right. The visible text around the sketches reads: "into the diminishing cavity of the pitcher & rendering escape from it impossible. The secretion in the pitchers appears to hasten decomposition of the captured insects though so far as is known, its does not contian a digestive ferment. East Coast of America (North). Darlingtonia .. The pitcher differs from those .... a hoodlike lid provided with a fish... rain into the pitcher is prevented .... The plentiful fluid secretion ...properties & effectually detains....lip Cephalotus has a further ... SW Australia.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Meet Emma Amy Rea and Violet Astley-Cooper, the women behind over 2,800 incredible watercolour paintings in Kew’s Illustrations collection, in our latest blog post - www.kew.org/read-and-wat...

kew.org

The trailblazing mother and daughter who painted thousands of fungi

Meet Emma Amy Rea and Violet Astley-Cooper, the women behind over 2,800 incredible watercolour paintings in Kew’s Illustrations collection.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Our Library Camera Room is a hub of activity as we work on the Bentham-Moxon Trust funded project to digitise all 1300 + of Stella Ross Craig's original works for 'Drawings of British Plants'. These drawings exemplify the highest standards in botanical illustration and scientific rigour. #KewLA

Photograph showing a black and white line illustration set on a table beneath camera equipment. The illustration is being positioned against a colour chart and ruler by a pair of hands to the left of the picture. Camera equipment is set above the illustration and a camera light focuses on the object being photographed while the surrounding room has been shaded from daylight.

Photograph showing a section of the black and white line drawing being photographed. The botanical illustration is clearly delineated and the hairs on each leaf have been meticulously recorded and lines of shading used to indicate shape of form. The letter 'A' and 'x1' has been printed and adhered to the surface of the illustration for the scientific key.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

We are delighted that the Library and Archives was able to lend a Lucien Pissarro painting to the @Townergallery Eastbourne exhibition Comrades in Art: Artists Against Fascism (7 May to 18 October 2026) #KewLA

Section of painting of Richmond Bridge by Lucien Pissarro, produced in April 1935. The painting shows the distinct hallmarks of Impressionism with liberally applied brushstrokes of colour. Two winter trees with bare branches are in the foreground with some evergreen foliage in greens and browns behind them. A wooden fence can be seen to the left, behind which the arches of Richmond Bridge span the river. The sky captures the winter light in pale shades of blue and orange.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Exciting new accession alert: Our archives team recently received a collection of papers related to botanical artist Margaret Mee. It includes several folders of her expedition journals as well as line drawings and her diploma certificates, some of which you can see here. #KewLA

A diploma certificate on brown card laying across a pencil drawing of two plants (to the left) and another diploma certificate on white card (to the right). The first diploma reads 'Secretaria da Agricultura, Instituto de Botânica de São Paulo, Diploma mitorgado a Margaret Ursula Mee'; the bottom of dipoma is obscured. The diploma on white card is the National Diploma in Design awarded by the Ministry of Education to Mee.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

This month we are celebrating #EYAArchitecture and what a great way to highlight all the fascinating plans we hold in our Archive collection. It wouldn't be a Kew plan without a 'Pine and Strawberry House' or a 'Fruit Room'. #EYA @exploreyourarchive.bsky.social #KewLA

Cropped close-up of a building plan, showing three large rooms. Along the top of the plan is a narrow, long room, faintly labelled 'Hall'. Below this, from left to right, is the Fruit Room, the Gardeners Mess Room, which is separated by a thin partition from the Packing Room. Above the whole plan it says 'Pine and Strawberry House'.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

When you think of Kew's Library you don't imagine opening a box to find an armadillo! This one reputedly belonged to the botanical artist Marianne North. #KewLA

Photograph of a royal blue box with a taxidermy armadillo packed inside it. The armadillo is surrounded by white tissue paper for support and is shown lengthways standing in the box. The lid of the box can just be seen behind it with 'Armadillo' tooled in gold lettering on a black label with a gold border.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Happy #WorldChocolateDay! This illustration of the cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao) from the Janet Hutton Collection was presented to Kew in the 19th Century #KewLA

Image of a watercolour painting showing the pods, branch, and leaves of the cocoa tree. The large green leaves frame the illustration of two pods. The first pod is depicted intact while the second pod is shown in cross section revealing the soft pulpy flesh of the knobbly brown skin. To the left and right at the bottom of the image are shown small dissections of the flower and seed respectively. Handwritten text runs across the bottom of the image describing the origin of the painting and the botanical name of the plant.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Our fantastic Assistant Archivist Isabel has been nominated for the ‘New Professional of the Year Award’ in the Archives & Records Association (ARA) Excellence Awards. You can see Isabel’s nomination here and vote for her by 5pm on 16 July www.archives.org.uk/ara-awards

A composite image of archive material which shows some typed text on the left overlaid with a watercolour illustration of a yellow flowered plant and two black and white photographs of landscapes. On the right is an illustration of two yellow fruits and the drawing has been given a purple archives stamp. In the background on the right a file can just be seen with the word 'Ministry' printed across the top.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

This image, amongst the Library photographic collections, offers a novel solution to protect against the sun. The note on the back identifies the 'hats' as Ranunculus lyallii leaves. #KewLA

A sepia photograph depicting three women in a line. Their dress dates them to the early 20th Century. Each wears a large leaf on their head. The stalk of the leaf worn by the woman on the right sits upright making it appear like a pixie hat. The woman in the centre smiles while the two women either side look quite solemn as if taking their headwear seriously. A gravel terrain can be seen in the background with a steep hill of foliage rising behind them.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

We are sorry to learn about the demise of the Major Oak, Nottingham; www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... This oak features in the Kew Publishing title 'A Legacy of Ancient Oaks', which reproduces the awe inspiring drawings of artist Mark Frith. ©Mark Frith/ Heart of England Forest

Image 1: Photograph showing the book 'A Legacy of Ancient Oaks' which has a grey spine, with orange title, and white cover which features a finely detailed graphite drawing of an oak tree which has shed its leaves. The book belongs in Kew's Library and has stickers in the left hand corner which read 'Reference' and 'not to be removed from the library.' The book is set on a black background.

Photograph showing an open book set on to black book supports. The left hand page is nearly empty apart from a caption in the lower left which reads 'The Major Oak'. The right hand page features a monochrome illustration of an oak tree which has shed its leaves. The flyleaf of the book is just visible and an orange border runs both sides of the open volume.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

On #CleanAirDay, we’re celebrating the London Plane (Platanus x hispanica) which is particularly resistant to pollution and contributes to a better environment by absorbing toxins in the atmosphere. #KewLA

An image showing the page of a book featuring a line illustration of part of a Plane Tree leaf. At the top of the page is printed 'Platanus. Platane. No. 3. Page 174' and 'Tome (or volume 2) Plate 35.' is printed underneath the image. The image is taken from from 'Traité des arbres et arbustes qui se cultivent en France en pleine terre' by Duhamel du Monceau, represented in Kew's Library and Archives.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

A peek into the Library and Archives Conservation Studio reveals one of our colleagues demounting this beautiful Lilian Snelling illustration after exhibition. #KewLA

Photograph of the reverse of an artwork. Someone's arm can be seen holding a paintbrush to remove a paper fixing while their other arm holds the artwork in place with the addition of a small cotton bean bag to further secure the object.

Photograph of an illustration of white lilies shown upside down. The painting looks to be in gouache on blue paper and shows the heads of three lilies with a stalk of green leaves, a bulb and capsule

Image of a painting of three white lily flowers on a stalk of green leaves by Lilian Snelling, with a painting of a capsule and bulb in the lower right.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

🌈To celebrate Pride 2026 we have this section of a painting featuring an image of a rainbow over Niagara Falls by artist Marianne North, 1871! #PrideMonth #Pride2026 #HappyPride

Image shows a section of an oil painting by artist Marianne North. It shows the edge of a wooden railing in the foreground and waterfalls behind it, from the base of which rise a cloud of spray. A double rainbow can be seen arching to the left of the image and land can be seen in the background.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

The catalogue for the current exhibition in the Gardens - 'Henry Moore: Monumental Nature' has some excellent contributions by Kew staff including our very own Illustrations Curator - Lynn Parker, whose chapter on 'Drawing on nature' features items from the Library and Archives. #KewLA #HenryMoore

Photograph showing an open book set on book blocks on top of a black desk. The left hand page has text and the title 'Drawing on nature: Henry Moore and botanical forms' while the right hand page has an image of a scientific publication featuring flower and fruit dissections in pencil and watercolour.

Photograph showing three books on display against a black bookcase. On the left is a book with a green and brown cover titled 'Weaving Nature' and on the right is a book featuring a photograph of three pink flower heads with the title 'Broomrapes of the World'. In the centre is a larger book showing a section of a bronze Henry Moore sculpture set against a background of orange and yellow Autumn leaves with the title 'Henry Moore: Monumental Nature'

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Happy #InternationalArchivesDay! To celebrate, the team wanted to share some favourites from the collections, covering Eleanor Armitage's notebooks, William Burchell's colour charts, and John Fraser's poetry. The collections are always full of surprises. #IAD2026 #KewLA

An open notebook containing a handwritten list on the left page titled 'Special Observations'. The rest of the left page is covered by a loose sheet showing the end of a letter. The right page shows a dried iris specimen stuck to the page as well as a coloured greeting card featuring purple irises adhered to the bottom right of the page.

A volume opened to a multi-coloured palette of watercolours, arranged from dark-blue on the left to red and pink on the right. Around the palette are handwritten annotations in small handwriting.

A handwritten poem on a loose page, titled 'The Corn Poppy'.

The scarlet poppy reddens daily,
Amongst the cornfields blossoms gaily,
Makes comely neighbours wanton palely,
and dazzles all beneath the skies,
But beckons one with swarthing eyes.

Oh! Could I, like the gliding swallow,
explore the vale and uplaad fallow,
No more in smoky dens I'd wallo,
No longer breathe the air that palls
Midst crowded streets and staring walls.

There would I bid adieu to collow,
and scour the ? height and hollow
Or ? downs and blithely follow
Along the fields where bright corn rose
The glorious flaming poppy glows.

Today would have no room for sorrow
No boding thoughts to gloom tomorrow
And each day after pain would borrow
Another glide along the plain
To search amongst the bearded grain.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

The Archives team have been running a series of two-part workshops for participants to engage with collections being catalogued for the #ArchivesRevealed project. Participants have produced artistic responses to collections and discussions with help from arts facilitator Dr Anushka Tay. /1 #KewLA

A cropped photograph showing part of two figures. The person in the foreground is shown from the back and has long dark hair. The person in the background wears a black t-shirt and holds a page with some colourful images. It looks like they are gesturing to give an explanation of something. On the table can be seen scattered pieces of paper and a brown paper bag. Another table is just visible in the far background; it is covered in red and green cloth and appears to display more working material.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Celebrating our wonderful Library and Archive volunteers this week who are generous in sharing their expertise and offer invaluable help with our collections. Here one of our volunteers handles some of the South Asian illustrations. #VolunteersWeek #KewLA

Photograph of a large box with an open folder showing a stylised illustration of an orchid. The stem and green leaves of the plant are depicted alongside a couple of open flowers on another stem. These flowers have an almost striped pattern of pale green and brown. The illustration is mounted on light brown sugar paper. Two hands reach down to handle the artwork. In the background on the desk can be seen piles of books.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Our new Reading Room display ‘Female Figures and Fungi: A Foray into the Mycological Past’ opens today! Come and learn more about the lives and careers of pioneering women in fungi, with many materials on display for the first time. Accessible from 10am-4pm Tuesday to Thursday until 26 August.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

The Archives Graduate Trainee recently completed their cataloguing project, working on the papers of William Philip Hiern. Amongst his research papers on Central African plants, they discovered notes which also included a pressed plant specimen! #KewLA

A handwritten note, resting on top of other research papers. Along the top of the note, it reads ‘Br Mus’ (referring to the British Museum), the date 18 June 1881 and ‘of Sepa Pinto no 64’. Underneath, it notes the plant name cometes abyssinica. The remainder of the note gives reference to other plant collections, including specimen number and year. Halfway down the righthand side of the notes, is a small pressed specimen of the cometes abyssinica.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

This stunning illustration of Pajanelia longifolia, from Kew's Library and Archives, was painted around 1820 by the artist Vishnupersaud. You can see it on show at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, as part of 'In Bloom: How Plants Changed Our World' until 16 August 2026. #KewLA

An image of Pajanelia longifolia sensitively painted in watercolour on paper. The stem of the plant has been cut to show a tip of budding and open pink and white flowers. Stems of green leaves fan out underneath to frame the crowning flowers on the plant. A pale pencil sketch for part of the plant can be seen in the background with a couple of flower dissections that are partly coloured.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Restoration of Kew's Palm House is likely to begin in 2027. This image of the Palm House interior, from the Library and Archives, was published on this day in the Gardeners' Chronicle, 1886. Renovation will ensure that this structure and its important plants can be enjoyed for generations to come.

A sepia print showing a photograph of the interior of Kew's Palm House with the title 'View in the Palm House' printed underneath. A bed brimming with palms and other hothouse plants is shown reaching from floor to ceiling and the distinctive grating of the Palm House floor can be seen to the right of the image.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

It's always great to see our PhD placement students share their work. @alyssamyers.bsky.social has written a fascinating blog post about her placement and her findings relating to Kew Gardens' royal history. Read more below ⬇️ #EnvironmentalHumanities #Archives

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

There are only a few more days to see our small but perfectly formed display on the botanical illustrator Stella Ross Craig - a titan amongst scientific artists of the 20th Century. You can see some of the materials she used to produce her meticulous plant studies, such as this paint palette #KewLA

Photograph showing a paint palette including well used pans of watercolour and a spectrum of mixed colours ranging from reds to greens. A pencil and paintbrush are displayed alongside. In the background, part of a botanical illustration can be seen displayed on an easel.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

🚨VACANCY: The Library team is hiring a new Graduate Trainee for a 2-year role. This is a great opportunity for someone looking to go on to a postgraduate course in librarianship or information science! Deadline: 17 May 2026 Start date: 1 Sep 2026 Salary: £29,692 pa careers.kew.org/internal/vac...

careers.kew.org

Library Graduate Trainee - Careers | Kew Gardens

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

🚨VACANCY: The Archives team is hiring a new Graduate Trainee for a 2-year role. They will be working in the Archives and Records Management team, gaining valuable experience pre-qualification. Deadline: 17 May 2026 Start date: 1 Sep 2026 Salary: £29,692 pa careers.kew.org/vacancy/arch... #KewLA

careers.kew.org

Archives Graduate Trainee - Careers | Kew Gardens

The Archives and Records Management team forms part of the Library and Archives department. Archive staff manage Kew’s historic record of activities, as well as collections and other documents relatin...

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

An unusual find: botanical and automobile records in one item! This 'Register for Motorists' from N D Simpson's (1890-1974) collection records not only plant collecting trips through Sri Lanka (then Ceylon), but also how much petrol Simpson's Alvis car used and how much that cost. #KewLA #Archives

Brown cover of a bound notebook with the engraving: 'The Autocar Register for Motorists. A Diary for Recording the cost of the upkeep and the running costs of motor cars [… published by] Iliffe & Sons Ltd. Dorset House Tudor Street London EC4'. A handwritten note in ink reads 'Alvis 1930-1931'.

Handwritten entries in a table format. Entries are numbered 23 to 31 marking the date, and the handwriting reads place names visited, top to bottom: 'Kandy, Kandy & Labs, Office, Office, Kandy twice, Galaha Road & Office, Kuremayala Rd & Gallagidra, Labs & Kandy, Labs & back twice'. On the column to the right of the place names is the car's mileage, adding up to a total of 365.1 on the page. The next column records the gallons of petrol used, with the cost, adding up to a total of 24.6 gallons and £34 80s.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

While looking through our collection, the team came across a series of photographs capturing a Titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum) in bloom in 1901. Now, 125 years later, in the Princess of Wales Conservatory, another Titan arum in Kew is preparing to flower once again #KewLA

The image shows four side-by-side photographs displaying the same potted plant at different moments of its bloom. In each panel, the plant sits in a round pot with a small label at the front that reads "Amprohohphallus Titanum Sumatra". In the first panel, annotated "June 26", the flower is tightly closed, forming a tall, narrow cone. In the second and third panels, annotated "June 26" and "June 27", the outer structure begins to loosen and peel back slightly. By the fourth panel, annotated "June 28", the bloom is fully open, revealing a wide, ruffled, skirt-like structure around the central spike. At the bottom, there are handwritten notes - "Amorphophallus Titanum, 300/1900", "June 28.1901" and "R.G.K".

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Another week another find shared with the team by our 'Archives Revealed' cataloguer: Elisabeth de Gravers Watling kept this diary to document encounters with nature in India when she was 10. This Spider Lily is particularly impressive, although her governess only deemed it ‘fair’! #KewLA

Photograph of a double page spread of an A4 diary volume rests on foam book supports. The page on the left-hand side contains the latter half of a diary entry from August 16th, 1922. Watling writes that the family discovered two snakes and saw a grasshopper with striped legs. She also writes that the ‘Railway flower and yellow Arum Lily are out.’ Below is the first half of a diary entry from August 23rd, 1922. Watling writes about various insects the family saw and caught, including a yellow ladybird, a Sphinx Moth, a grasshopper and a beetle. On the right-hand page, Watling has painted a flowering white Spider Lily, with the upper stem, upper portion of the leaves and the flower all in view. The painting takes up the whole page, with one leaf spilling over into the bottom third of the left-hand page. Midway down the right-hand side of the page, Watling’s governess has annotated the painting with the word ‘fair’ in pencil. Watling has captioned the painting ‘Spider Lily’ in pen at the bottom-right of the page.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

One of the good things about visiting my folks in NE Scotland is enjoying another round of spring flowers!

Picture of daffodils growing at Brodie Castle, a National Trust for Scotland property near Nairn

Picture of primroses growing at Brodie Castle, a National Trust for Scotland property near Nairn

Picture of cherry blossom and daffodils in the background, growing at Brodie Castle, a National Trust for Scotland property near Nairn

Picture of a branch of flowering currant growing at Cromarty, Black Isle, Scotland

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Ahead of the bank holiday weekend, I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter and share some more blossoms from the Library and Archives, both inside and outside the building💐 #KewLA

Coloured illustrations of 12 tulips on a page from Emmanuel Sweerts' 1620 work 'Florilegium'. The tulips are annotated in handwriting underneath.
16. Tulipa purpurea Candidis oris.
17. Tulipa Carmosina
18. Tulipa alba rubro purpureo
19. Tulipa purpu. lineis Violaceis.
20. Tulipa luteis floribus lineis Rubris
21. Tulipa lutea oris Rubris
22. Tulipa Rubra fundo Vario
23. Tulipa luto hilari rubro confusa
24. Tulipa Cremosina

Several pink tulips photographed up close in the sunshine, showing green stems and other plants having been potted around them.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Call for participants of Asian, African and Caribbean heritage: join free creative workshops at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where we will be critically engaging with historical botanical records about fruit, forestry and plant collection - plus opportunity to co-curate a public exhibition. ⬇️

Hand coloured drawing of two green mangoes hanging from a stem. The illustration is on darkened paper with a small identification written in ink in the bottom right corner, noting the location of Madras.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

I don't always get a chance to see what is flowering in the Gardens during the working week so it was nice to see some of the spectacular blossoms near the Palm House recently. Of course we are lucky to have our own blossoms in the Library and Archives, but in botanical illustration form! #KewLA

A photograph of the back of Kew's Palm House with a tree of pale pink blossom in the foreground set against a sparkling blue sky.

A woodblock print of Prunus armeniaca from Honzō Zufu (illustrated manual of medicinal plants) from Kew's Library and Archives. It shows a sprig of 8 flowers in various stages of bloom rendered in graduated pinks to white. Japanese text runs down the side of the page.

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

An illuminating and fascinating workshop at the Imperial War Museum as part of the Resettling the Colonial Lens project led by University of Nottingham

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Fiona Ainsworth @fionaainsworth.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Hello! I thought this account would be a nice opportunity to share a bit more about the collections and work going on at Kew Gardens' Library and Archives. Here is a beautiful spring-like image of a Narcissus and a Fritillaria from a work by Sebastian Schedel known as the Calendarium

Page from Sebastian Schedel's Calendarium depicting a Narcissus and a Fritillaria

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