THRALL: TRUE STORIES OF PLANT HUNTERS

The idea for this series began in 2011 when I lived in the Netherlands for 3 years.  Ten miles outside of Amsterdam exists the world's largest flower auction. Every day over 20 million flowering plants arrive in Aalsmeer from around the planet, are sold in minutes, then are shipped back out across the globe. This dramatic example of human-plant mutualism led me to the progenitors of this modern day trade: the natural philosophers and botanical explorers during the Age of Discovery.  

My research is focused on, but not limited to 18th and 19th century plant hunters (men and women) held in "thrall" by certain species of flora. Lured across oceans and to the ends of the earth, the adventures of plant collectors often ended in their rather tragic demise. I am interested in the role desire and conquest plays for not only the human characters, but also the plant actors in these stories.