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Sad news: A plantsman lost to us - Jim Archibald has died
Maggi Young:
It is my sad duty to tell you of the death, this afternoon 9th August 2010, of the great plantsman Jim Archibald.
His wife and fellow plant hunter, Jenny has their family with her at this very sad time and I know you will all join with us in sending our condolences to them.
Jim had been ill for some time and in spite of early signs that treatment was succesfull, latterly his health had been failing.
There can scarcely be a single person with an interest in alpine plants and bulbs who is not growing plants derived from the world wide seed collections of the Archibalds , either directly from seed from Jim and Jenny's seed business JJA Seeds, or from that seed grown on by a multiplicity of nurseries across the world.
The extent of their travels and the scope of their seed introductions is quite enormous. Both with a great eye for a good plant and the determination to travel far and work hard to collect seed, Jim and Jenny made a formidable team.
Jim could court controversy with his forthright opinions,often expounded in their seed lists but this was to be expected of an opinionated Scotsman..... it's in the job description really!
From the 1960s Jim was sending seed and sometimes live material by airmail to that great Aberdeen grower, the late Harold Esslemont, who had tremendous respect for Jim's considered approach to planthunting and for the fine plants found and also for the teamwork displayed by Jenny.
An example of live plants sent to Harold is the Saxifraga named for his friend,another giant in the plant world, Per Wendelbo, Saxifraga wendelboi.
Another "Archibald plant" is Muscari mcbeathianum, named for another Scot, Ron McBeath...... the list could go on and on.
The Archibalds had Dionysia archibaldii named in their honour... befittingly it is one of the gems of that genus.
I can think of no better way to recall the contribution that Jim and Jenny have made as plantsfolk or to introduce them to anyone who knows nothing of them than to suggest that you read the chapter in Bobby Ward's book "The Plant Hunter's Garden: The New Explorers and Their Discoveries".
The chapter is titled " What are seeds but dreams in packets" and this could surely sum up the work of Jim and Jenny.
Many people will have had the pleasure of hearing Jim give talks on their work, inspiring the audience with tales of their exploits and it had been hoped that Jim would be well enough to give a talk at the Alpines 2011 Conference in April next year. Sadly this cannot be but still there are those thousands of plants growing around the world, giving joy to thousands of gardeners and Jim's legacy as the inspiration for so very many of the Plant Hunters that have followed in his footsteps to keep his name alive.
Jim and Jenny were a couple with firm friends and admirers in all corners of the world and all will feel Jim's loss and sorrow for Jenny at this time.
For Jenny and their daughter and son, of course, their loss is of a dearly loved husband and partner and a loving father : we can only hope that the family can take a little comfort in knowing the level of respect and admiration in which Jim is regarded by so many.
Jim will be sadly missed.
I take the liberty of posting this photo of Jim and Jenny , taken by Bobby Ward
and this photo is of Jim Archibald with Michael Kammerlander and Ian Young at an SRGC Discussion weekend a couple of years ago....
ashley:
What very sad news. My thoughts go to Jenny and family.
Thank you for this warm tribute to Jim on behalf of us all Maggi.
Hillview croconut:
Vale Jim, all my kind thoughts to Jenny, and end to a glorious era, the likes we will never see again, Marcus
Lesley Cox:
I'd like to put on record my own deep sorrow at Jim's passing. I was privileged to meet him and Jenny in New Zealand just a few years ago at an NZAGS Study weekend and remember vividly the wonderful lectures he gave, the advice and experiences shared with such generosity.
I and so many others who have rock-gardened for many years have perhaps been a part of a golden age when new plants were available quite freely and our gardens were enriched with treasures beyond price or monetary value. Many recent indications are that this age is ending or has already done so and Jim's death seems somehow, to confirm this.
I send all good wishes to Jenny and her family. I doubt if ant plant collector/introducer has been held in greater affection or respect by those whose lives he and his plants touched.
ArnoldT:
I didn't personally know Jim Archibald, but feel like I got to know through his seed list. I kept all of them. My condolences to all his family.
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