Pyrus communis ‘Olivier de Serres’

The Tradescants were 17th century gardeners who introduced many new plants to England. More than 160 varieties of fruit were listed amongst the inventory of plants grown at the Tradescants nursery in Lambeth, many of which are illustrated in the Orchard. The Garden Museum invited 40 of the worlds leading botanical artists to paint watercolours of fruit in response to the Orchard.

Pearl Bostock initially trained in Fine Art and was subsequently awarded the English Gardening School Botanical Painting Diploma. As a member of the botanical art group based at Brogdale National Fruit Collection, Pearl has access to an amazing collection of heritage fruit. Olivier de Serres, a French variety which first fruited in 1861, is a sweet and aromatic dessert pear formed in an unusual flat-round shape.