Rae Selling Berry

Background

Berry, the daughter of Ben Selling and Mathilda Hess, grew up in Portland, Oregon.

Career

In 1899, she went on a world tour. Reading about plant expeditions to Europe and Asia, she began to provide financial support for the expeditions and through them to obtain seeds. The property, Berry Botanic Garden, just north of Lake Oswego, included springs and creeks, a ravine, a meadow, and a cattail marsh, and was partly covered with second-growth Douglas fir.

In developing the garden, Berry focused on "exceptional plants", particularly rhododendrons, primulas, and alpines.

In 1964, the Garden Club of America awarded her the Florens de Bevoise Medal for her knowledge of plants. Berry continued to expand her collection past the age of 80, taking field trips in search of Oregon"s only primrose, Primula cusickiana (Cusick"s primrose).

At age 90, she was still planting seeds in the gardens, and died at home at age 96.

Achievements

• In 1965, she won the American Rhododendron Society"s first Award of Excellence given to a woman, and she was honored for her work by the American Rock Garden Society.