Elvin McDonald

Alvin McDonald

Years: 

unknown

Year Hutchinson Medal awarded:

1996

Over nearly 70 years, McDonald profoundly influenced gardening through thousands of newspaper columns and nearly 100 books, including his seminal works like Miniature Plants for Home and Greenhouse and The World Book of House Plants, which sparked a houseplant mania in the 1960s.

His career spans various roles as a garden editor, writer, and horticultural ambassador. Notably, he served as garden editor for House Beautiful magazine, director of special projects at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and garden editor for Traditional Home.

Key contributions:

  • McDonald authored nearly 100 books and thousands of newspaper columns over nearly 70 years, making horticultural knowledge widely accessible. His books, such as Miniature Plants for Home and Greenhouse and The World Book of House Plants, helped spark a houseplant craze in the 1960s and educated generations of gardeners on plant care and selection.
  • At a young age, McDonald founded The Gesneriad Society, promoting the cultivation and appreciation of gesneriads, a family of flowering plants. This contributed to the broader awareness and study of these plants.
  • Serving as garden editor for prominent publications like House Beautiful and Traditional Home, McDonald influenced garden design trends and brought expert advice to a national audience. He also engaged audiences through television and public presentations.
  • McDonald held key roles such as director of special projects at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and contributed to the American Horticultural Society, including overseeing editorial projects like the AHS Encyclopedia of Gardening, thereby supporting the preservation and dissemination of horticultural knowledge.
  • Later in life, McDonald played a pivotal role in revitalizing the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, enhancing its role as a community resource and place of horticultural learning.
  • The establishment of the Elvin McDonald Horticultural Library at Deep Cut Gardens preserves extensive plant knowledge and serves as a vibrant resource for gardeners, reflecting his lifelong dedication to horticultural education.