Renowned Writers – Judith Taylor

Every month, as we celebrate the breadth of our alumnae community, we highlight former pupils who have become published authors.

Dr Judith Taylor (Class of 1952) left South Hampstead to study at Somerville College and the Oxford University Medical School. She moved to the United States in 1959 and became a board-certified neurologist, practising neurology in New York. She held several academic positions at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and then retired to San Francisco with her husband, Irvin S. Taylor MD, in 1994.

Since retiring, she has written six acclaimed books on horticultural history as well as numerous articles and book reviews on the same subject. Her books include The Olive in California: history of an immigrant tree (2000), Tangible Memories: Californians and their gardens 1800 – 1950 (2003), The Global Migrations of Ornamental Plants: how the world got into your garden (Missouri Botanical Garden Press 2009), Visions of Loveliness: the work of forgotten flower breeders (Ohio University Press 2014), An Abundance of Flowers: more great flower breeders of the past (Ohio University Press  2018) and A Five Year Plan for Geraniums: growing flowers commercially in East Germany 1946 –1989.

Judith has kindly donated copies of her books to South Hampstead which can be found in our library; her website is: www.horthistoria.com.