Pelargoniums in the Park
Did you know that Battersea Park’s famous Sub-Tropical Garden holds a hidden botanical history rooted in Africa? Pelargoniums from Africa were very popular in the Victorian era and had been misclassified as Geraniums.
In 1863, Battersea Park’s Sub-Tropical Gardens were opened to the public. John Gibson, the park’s first superintendent, designed the gardens, introducing "exotic" plants sourced through Britain's colonial empire. He integrated these specimens into a revolutionary new style that helped spark the Victorian craze for "bedding plants" - a term we still use today.
Gibson’s famous layouts incorporated African botany, including Calla lilies, the Abyssinian Banana tree, and Pelargoniums. The Pelargoniums - which were widely misidentified as "Geraniums" - were central to his celebrated 'carpet bedding’ schemes.
In our workshops, we will create beautiful oil-based perfumes and home scents that reconnect with this living history of African botany in British landscapes. This project brings together heritage, horticulture, and local people through the art of scent-making.
Part of Welcome to Wandsworth's Black History 365 programme.
Event Performance Details
Event Location
Battersea Park Library
Venue InfoLondon
SW11 4NF
