We often mention our horticultural mentor, the late Dr. J.C. Raulston, but sadly, most young, and even middle age gardeners, are not familiar with his life story, despite his influence still strongly being felt throughout the horticultural world. To commemorate the 30th anniversary of his death in 2026, UNC Press is reprinting Bobby Ward’s original self-published biography of J.C., titled Chlorophyll in his Veins, J.C. Raulston, Horticultural Ambassador. Other than a new forward and afterward, the book is mostly unchanged from the original, but it’s great to see it getting a much wider distribution than the original. For those who don’t know the author, Bobby Ward is a retired PhD environmental scientist, living in Raleigh, NC. He has written two other garden related books, and is currently Executive Secretary or the North American Rock Garden Society.
UNC Press writes: “Chlorophyll in His Veins chronicles Raulston’s life from his Oklahoma boyhood, through his horticultural education, army service in Vietnam, research and teaching, and his experiences as a gay man. It also includes his greatest achievements: the establishment of the arboretum at North Carolina State University in Raleigh (now bearing his name), the creation of a free plant distribution system for the nursery industry, and the mentoring of some of today’s most prominent
horticulturists. The fraught personal life revealed in Raulston’s journals and letters contrasts with his outgoing public persona, reflecting the influences and pressures that produced his triumphs and heartbreaks. This book includes lists of Raulston’s honors and excerpts from his lectures, plant introductions, and personal writings that illuminate the care, passion, and dedication that Raulston brought to his mantra:” “Plan—and plant—for a better world.”
J. C. Raulston, described by the New York Times upon his untimely death as “a generous-spirited giant among horticulturists,” changed the availability of plants in North Carolina, the South, and beyond. Bobby J. Ward, the foremost authority on Raulston’s life, offers a portrait of the legendary figure that will captivate general readers, amateur gardeners, and horticulturists alike. The scheduled release date is March 2026. UNC press is offering a 30% pre-order discount to all blog readers, when you enter the code 01UNCP30 at checkout.
2026
Approx. 328 pp., 15 color plates., 23 halftones, notes, index
$30.00 paperback ISBN 978-1-4696-9507-5
Was interested in purchasing till I saw the “…. experiences as a gay man….” reference.
A section on his experiences as a straight man, would be equally inappropriate in such a book. If I wanted to read a treatise on pop culture social hot buttons, I’d select an appropriate volume.
Hard pass .
A delightful must read for any avid gardener, or anyone in, or thinking of entering the horticultural trade.