Francis Cabot
Encyclopedia
Francis Higginson Cabot, (August 6, 1925 – November 19, 2011) was an American gardener and horticulturist
.
A 1949 graduate of Harvard College
, Cabot was active in the Hasty Pudding Theatricals
and was one of the four founders of the a cappella
singing group, the Harvard Krokodiloes. After college he began constructing a garden on private property in Cold Spring, New York
, above the Hudson River
, beginning a life-long passion for horticulture
. Cabot was appointed Chairman of the New York Botanical Garden
in the Bronx from 1973 to 1976. In 1989, he founded the nonprofit Garden Conservancy
, after noting that two-thirds of America's great gardens had been destroyed by development. The Conservancy began with "four acres of giant cactuses, succulents and native species" in Walnut Creek, California
, the life's work of gardener Ruth Bancroft. The organization's Open Days program has opened more than three hundred private gardens to the public throughout the United States and has been active in the preservation of seventeen important private gardens for posterity, including the rehabilitation of the gardens at Alcatraz. Cabot has become renowned for his personal gardens around the world. His own garden in Cold Spring, known as Stonecrop, was opened to the public in 1992 and is now one of the premier public gardens in the United States, encompassing sixty-three acres. Its components were influenced and improved in the 1980s by horticulturist Caroline Burgess, who became the garden's director, having previously worked with legendary English gardener Rosemary Verey
. Cabot's private garden in the Charlevoix
region of Quebec
covers more than 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) and is called Les Quatre Vents. He is credited with introducing a number of plants and grasses to North America, including Japanese blood grass.
In 2005, he was made an honorary Member of the Order of Canada
. In 2000, he was made a Chevalier of the National Order of Quebec
.
In 2001, he wrote the book The Greater Perfection: The Story of the Gardens at Les Quatre Vents, which was the recipient of the 2003 Annual Literature Award of the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries
and which the Oxford Companion to Gardens referred to
as "one of the best books ever written about the making of a garden by its creator."
Cabot died at his summer home in La Malbaie on November 19, 2011.
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
.
A 1949 graduate of Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, Cabot was active in the Hasty Pudding Theatricals
Hasty Pudding Theatricals
The Hasty Pudding Theatricals, known informally simply as The Pudding, is a theatrical student society at Harvard University, known for its burlesque musicals and for its status as the oldest collegiate theatrical organization in the United States...
and was one of the four founders of the a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
singing group, the Harvard Krokodiloes. After college he began constructing a garden on private property in Cold Spring, New York
Cold Spring, New York
Cold Spring is a village located in the Town of Philipstown in Putnam County, New York. The population was 1,983 at the 2000 census. It borders the smaller village of Nelsonville...
, above the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
, beginning a life-long passion for horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
. Cabot was appointed Chairman of the New York Botanical Garden
New York Botanical Garden
- See also :* Education in New York City* List of botanical gardens in the United States* List of museums and cultural institutions in New York City- External links :* official website** blog*...
in the Bronx from 1973 to 1976. In 1989, he founded the nonprofit Garden Conservancy
Garden Conservancy
The Garden Conservancy is an American nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving exceptional gardens and landscapes.Founded in 1989 by Frank Cabot, the Conservancy has since helped a number of American gardens to develop preservation strategies, organizational structures, and funding plans...
, after noting that two-thirds of America's great gardens had been destroyed by development. The Conservancy began with "four acres of giant cactuses, succulents and native species" in Walnut Creek, California
Walnut Creek, California
Walnut Creek is an incorporated city located east of the city of Oakland. It lies in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. While not as large as neighboring Concord, Walnut Creek serves as the business and entertainment hub for the neighboring cities within central Contra Costa...
, the life's work of gardener Ruth Bancroft. The organization's Open Days program has opened more than three hundred private gardens to the public throughout the United States and has been active in the preservation of seventeen important private gardens for posterity, including the rehabilitation of the gardens at Alcatraz. Cabot has become renowned for his personal gardens around the world. His own garden in Cold Spring, known as Stonecrop, was opened to the public in 1992 and is now one of the premier public gardens in the United States, encompassing sixty-three acres. Its components were influenced and improved in the 1980s by horticulturist Caroline Burgess, who became the garden's director, having previously worked with legendary English gardener Rosemary Verey
Rosemary Verey
Rosemary Verey, OBE, VMH was an internationally known English garden designer, lecturer and prolific garden writer who designed the famous garden at Barnsley House, near Cirencester....
. Cabot's private garden in the Charlevoix
Charlevoix
The Charlevoix region, located in Quebec, includes parts of the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River and the Laurentian Mountains region of the Canadian Shield...
region of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
covers more than 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) and is called Les Quatre Vents. He is credited with introducing a number of plants and grasses to North America, including Japanese blood grass.
In 2005, he was made an honorary Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. In 2000, he was made a Chevalier of the National Order of Quebec
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
.
In 2001, he wrote the book The Greater Perfection: The Story of the Gardens at Les Quatre Vents, which was the recipient of the 2003 Annual Literature Award of the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries
Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries, Inc. (CBHL)
The Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries, Inc. is the leading professional organization in the field of botanical and horticultural information services....
and which the Oxford Companion to Gardens referred to
as "one of the best books ever written about the making of a garden by its creator."
Cabot died at his summer home in La Malbaie on November 19, 2011.