Gardening history

27 November3 December

27 November 1897

Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius was born. His temperature (or ‘centigrade’) scale defines 0°C as the point at which water freezes, and 100°C as the point at which water boils.

27 November 1925

Ernie Wise, half of the Morecambe & Wise comedy duo, was born in Bramley, Yorkshire. After the death of Eric in 1984, Ernie wrote a gardening column in the News of the World; he had always been a keen gardener.

28 November 1666

The first spirit level was invented on this day by Robert Hooke, City Surveyor of London, after the Great Fire.

29 November 1843

Gertrude Jekyll, garden designer, plantswoman and artist, was born in London. She created more than 400 gardens in the UK, US and Europe. She died in 1932.

1 December 1925

Self-taught amateur gardener William Dykes died at the age of 48. In his 20s he became infatuated with irises, and over 20 years rose to become a world authority, author and breeder of them.

2 December 1920

Anthony Huxley was born. Son of evolutionary biologist Julian Huxley, and nephew of writer and philosopher Aldous Huxley, Anthony was a plant-lover, botanist and author. He also edited AG from 196771. He died in 1992.