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His name graces an Oregon school district, an iconic tree, a Vancouver park, and the scientific nomenclature of more than 80 local plants and animals, but most Northwesterners have only a cursory knowledge of the Scottish naturalist David Douglas.
Two decades after Lewis and Clark, Douglas was the first European visitor whose sole job was to investigate the natural history of the Northwest. Investigate he did: he ranged throughout the region — racking up 7,032 miles by foot, boat, and horse — collecting 650 species in Oregon alone that were diligently catalogued and sent back to England. These specimens transformed English gardening and landscaping, but what did Douglas's "discoveries" mean for the Northwest?
That's one of many questions Jack Nisbet tackles in his new biography of David Douglas. In Nisbet's telling, buttressed by Douglas's letters and journal entries, Douglas is a man of "self-effacing humor" and a "consuming interest in the world around him." He is a "practical naturalist" who, after blowing out a grouse egg for his collection, scrambled the contents for a meal. (The scramble was added to a "comfortable supper" of dried buffalo and fresh grouse.) But Douglas wasn't just focused on plants and trees. He mingled and traded freely with tribal members, sampling their cultures and soaking up their languages.
Nisbet fleshed out his narrative by following Douglas's itinerary throughout the region, visiting each site in the appropriate season.
What questions do you have about the land that first Douglas saw? Or that Nisbet traveled with Douglas's observations in hand?
Where do you see the lasting effects of this collector on the land and landscape that he so diligently catalogued?
NOTE: This show will be taped in advance — on Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 10am — for broadcast during the holiday season.
Tagged as: david douglas · forest · natural history
Photo credit: Clonny / Creative Commons
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This was a great book! Amazingly detailed. I missed the show, will it be rebroadcast or can I download a podcast?
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I believe that they'll make it available in a couple of days. If you look at other shows, they make them available.
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This was a great listening way to started a relaxed Christmas day. I spent the first 15 minutes calling friends to tune it. As a long time board member of an Arboretum, David Douglas is of deep interest to me. This show (and Nesbits' new book) adds renewed appreciation for the early biologists and botanists that explored the Pacific Northwest; this wonderful place that we live.
I (like others) hope you will turn this into a podcast so many more people can share this understanding (and buy Mr. Nesbits' latest book).
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Sorry for the delay! The file will be ready by Monday morning.
Dave
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David Douglas is an extaordinary man..I will definitely be reading more about his biography.
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Jack Nisbet is an incredibly interesting person. He knows his subject. It sounds like a great book.
Good show TOL!