Sara Plummer Lemmon: A Life of Science and Art

Sara Plummer Lemmon was an American botanist and artist who made significant contributions to the field of botany. She was the first woman to receive a doctorate in botany from the University of California, Berkeley, and she was instrumental in the founding of the California Botanical Society. Lemmon was also a talented artist, and her paintings and drawings of plants are highly prized by collectors.

The Forgotten Botanist: Sara Plummer Lemmon's Life of Science and Art

by Maria Mutch

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	21077 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	321 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

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Early Life and Education

Sara Plummer Lemmon was born on September 20, 1866, in Bucksport, Maine. Her parents were John Plummer, a sea captain, and Sarah Plummer. Lemmon showed an early interest in science and art, and she began taking drawing lessons at the age of 12. She attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied botany and art. In 1892, she became the first woman to receive a doctorate in botany from Berkeley.

Career in Botany

After graduating from Berkeley, Lemmon worked as a botanist for the California Academy of Sciences. She collected and identified plants from all over California, and she published numerous articles on the flora of the state. In 1898, she was one of the founders of the California Botanical Society, which is still active today.

Lemmon's research focused on the taxonomy and distribution of plants. She was particularly interested in the wildflowers of California, and she published a number of books and articles on the subject. She also collected and identified plants from other parts of the world, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Mexico.

Career in Art

In addition to her work in botany, Lemmon was also a talented artist. She began painting and drawing plants at a young age, and she continued to produce artwork throughout her life. Her paintings and drawings are highly detailed and realistic, and they capture the beauty and diversity of the plant world. Lemmon's artwork has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world, and it is held in the collections of many prestigious institutions.

Personal Life

Sara Plummer Lemmon married John Gill Lemmon, a fellow botanist, in 1890. The couple had one son, John Gill Lemmon Jr. The Lemmons lived in Berkeley, California, where they were active in the local community. Sara Plummer Lemmon died on December 27, 1923, at the age of 57. She is buried in the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California.

Legacy

Sara Plummer Lemmon was a pioneering botanist and artist. Her work helped to advance the field of botany, and her artwork continues to inspire and amaze people today. She is remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of California botany and art.

Image Attributions

• Portrait of Sara Plummer Lemmon by Unknown - Public Domain
• Calochortus amabilis by Calflora - CC BY-SA 3.0
• Clarkia speciosa by Calflora - CC BY-SA 3.0
• Penstemon heterophyllus by Calflora - CC BY-SA 3.0

The Forgotten Botanist: Sara Plummer Lemmon's Life of Science and Art

by Maria Mutch

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	21077 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	321 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE