Passing of a plantsman

jimmyq · Mar 14, 2011

I received news that Mr Bruce Macdonald passed away this weekend, there is a memorial service set for the 18th March.
https://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#...8&set=a.211437761577.177015.556806577&theater

Daniel Mosquin · Mar 14, 2011

Yes, I imagine something similar to this will be elsewhere on the site soon, but for now this is a message that was put together as a send-out to UBC's Friends of the Garden:

Bruce was appointed Acting Director in 1985 and was Director from 1987 to 2002. During this time, Bruce was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's most prestigious international award, the Gold Veitch Memorial Medal. The award is given for outstanding contribution to the advancement of the science and practice of horticulture. Among his many achievements, Macdonald initiated the Botanical Garden's innovative Plant Introduction Scheme which selected and introduced new, lesser known and improved plants to nurseries. This was the first time the medal had been given to a Canadian since it was first presented in 1922.

The Plant Introduction Scheme involved the evaluation and selection of plants from the Garden’s collections, followed by propagation of short-listed specimens and distribution to test stations for long-term performance assessment under different climatic conditions. Each introduction was released to the industry and the stock plants offered for sale to participating nurseries. General release and marketing followed, with the garden receiving a royalty on sales. As a result, the Botanical Garden continues to have a major impact on the public and residential landscapes of North American and beyond. For more information: http://www.davidsonia.org/files/13_1-2_justice_plant_introduction.pdf.

Bruce was also author of “Practical Woody Plant Propagation” which was a widely acclaimed exhaustive exposition of propagating methods, from growing from seed to cuttings, grafting, layering, and tissue culture. It is based on the actual working methods of successful propagators worldwide and presents detailed explanations and illustrations of the procedures used.

Many of you will remember John Vaillant’s visit to us to talk about cutting down of “The Golden Spruce”. “Bruce Macdonald, the director of the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden in Vancouver, read about the crime in a local paper. He recalled two scrawny golden Sitka spruces that were growing in their collection at the arboretum. Checking the acquisition records, he made an important discovery. In 1977, Roy Taylor, Macdonald’s predecessor, went to the Queen Charlottes with a group of foresters to obtain cuttings from a golden Sitka spruce on land belonging to MacMillan Bloedel, Canada’s largest forestry company.

A number of cuttings were taken from this golden spruce on the Yakoun River. The cuttings were taken to a specialty nursery and propagated by grafting. Two of the trees produced in this manner were planted in a forested part of the botanical gardens in 1982 and then transplanted to a garden path area in 1995, when they were 5 feet tall.

Macdonald offered both trees to the Haida to replace the one they had lost. At first the Haida were upset that kiidk’yaas had been multiplied without their knowledge. They soon realized that the cuttings were taken when the tree was on ground leased to a forestry company, and that everything was done openly and properly. Then their only concern became one of whether or not the propagations were actually the same tree.

The Haida tribal council debated Macdonald’s offer and decided to accept one tree, which they planned to replant along the banks of the Yakoun River.” (Excerpted from: Gordon and the Haida by Robert L. Fincham, Coenosium Newsletter Vol I, # 1 Winter 1998).

Bruce loved the Botanical Garden and saw it through some very difficult times. He always had a smile, however, and his door was always open to the FOGs.

A memorial service for Bruce is scheduled for Friday 18 March at 1:00 pm at All Saints Anglican Church in Ladner (4755 Arthur Dr., Delta, BC).
Click to expand...

jimmyq · Mar 14, 2011

Thanks Daniel, sorry if I jumped the gun on the official announcement.

Daniel Mosquin · Mar 14, 2011

No concern on my part re: jumping the gun whatsoever, so no need to apologize.

Daniel Mosquin · Mar 17, 2011

Here's the link: Former Director Bruce Macdonald Passes Away

jimmyq · Mar 17, 2011

Thanks Daniel. Unfortunately I can't make it to the service tomorrow.

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Passing of a plantsman

jimmyq Well-Known Member 10 Years

Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

jimmyq Well-Known Member 10 Years

Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

jimmyq Well-Known Member 10 Years

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Passing of a plantsman

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