Nisbet weaves a fascinating tale of how Miss Drake, a governess-turned-artist, transformed David Douglas' new world flora into enduring horticultural art that is still relevant locally today.
In the early years of the 19th century, a young woman named Sarah Ann Drake served as household governess for the secretary of the London Horticultural Society. Miss Drake’s role evolved into that of an accomplished artist, chosen to depict some of the key floral collections of naturalist David Douglas as he traveled through the Columbia country.
Join writer Jack Nisbet to explore how Drake’s botanical illustrations relate both to the current natural history of the Spokane area and to the ongoing cultural plant usage of Plateau tribal families.
Nisbet bio
Jack Nisbet has published several collections of essays that explore the human and natural history of the Intermountain West as well as biographies of fur agent David Thompson and naturalist David Douglas. The paperback edition of David Douglas: A Naturalist at Work will appear in the spring of 2024.
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