Daniel J. Hinkley
Encyclopedia
Daniel John Hinkley is an American plantsman
, garden writer, horticulturist and nurseryman. He is best known for establishing Heronswood Nursery
, in Kingston, Washington
; and Windcliff, on the Kitsap Peninsula near Indianola, WA; and for collecting, propagating, and naming varieties of plants new to the North American nursery trade.
and gardening
from childhood, Dan Hinkley earned his Bachelor of Science in Ornamental Horticulture
, and Horticulture Education, from Michigan State University
in 1976. He went on to graduate school
at the University of Washington
, where he accomplished a Master of Science degree in Urban Horticulture
in 1985.
Hinkley was an instructor of horticulture at Edmonds Community College
, in Edmonds, Washington
, from 1987 to 1996.
In 1987 Hinkley began gardening on the land that would become Heronswood with his partner, the architect
Robert L. Jones. By the mid-1990s Heronswood Nursery was doing a thriving mail-order business, and the display garden tours gained international acclaim. Hinkley became a regular speaker at seminars offered during the Northwest Flower and Garden Show
.
In 2000, Hinkley and Jones sold the business, and display gardens, to Burpee Seeds
, but continued to run the nursery. Hinkley and Jones moved to a residence separate from the nursery in Indianola, Washington
.
By 2001 the Heronswood catalog included over 2,400 plants, and the gardens at Heronswood had 10,000 species. Many had been raised from seed collected by Hinckley during expeditions in Asia, and other remote exploratory travels. Within the Heronswood catalog, Hinkley would often write detailed essays about the people and places where he first encountered the plants, his adventures abroad, and also the desirable benefits the plants offered to the plant enthusiast. Considerable effort was given to the responsible collection of seeds, and also to evaluating prospective plants for risk of bio-invasion if offered into cultivation.
In May 2006, George Ball, President of Burpee and Company, closed the Kingston location.
Mr. Hinkley is continuing in his work at his new estate, Windcliff.
Plantsman
A plantsman is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable gardener , nurseryman or nurserywoman. "Plantsman" can refer to a male or female person, though the terms plantswoman, or even plantsperson, are sometimes used....
, garden writer, horticulturist and nurseryman. He is best known for establishing Heronswood Nursery
Heronswood (botanical garden)
Heronswood is a botanical garden in Kingston, Washington, the United States, that was established by Dan Hinkley and Robert Jones in 1987. Heronswood exhibits plant varieties that are collected and propagated for introduction into the North American nursery trade...
, in Kingston, Washington
Kingston, Washington
-External links:* *...
; and Windcliff, on the Kitsap Peninsula near Indianola, WA; and for collecting, propagating, and naming varieties of plants new to the North American nursery trade.
Biography
Having had an interest in botanyBotany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and gardening
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
from childhood, Dan Hinkley earned his Bachelor of Science in Ornamental Horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
, and Horticulture Education, from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in 1976. He went on to graduate school
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, where he accomplished a Master of Science degree in Urban Horticulture
Urban horticulture
Urban and peri-urban horticulture includes all horticultural crops grown for human consumption and ornamental use within and in the immediate surroundings of cities. Although crops have always been grown inside the city, the practice is expanding and gaining more attention...
in 1985.
Hinkley was an instructor of horticulture at Edmonds Community College
Edmonds Community College
Edmonds Community College is a college in the metropolitan area of Seattle. More than 20,000 students annually take courses for credit toward a certificate or degree at the college in Snohomish County, Washington.-History and governance:...
, in Edmonds, Washington
Edmonds, Washington
Edmonds is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Edmonds has a view of Puget Sound and both the Olympic Mountains and Cascade Range. The third most populous city in Snohomish County after Everett and Marysville, the population was 39,709 according to the 2010 census...
, from 1987 to 1996.
In 1987 Hinkley began gardening on the land that would become Heronswood with his partner, the architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Robert L. Jones. By the mid-1990s Heronswood Nursery was doing a thriving mail-order business, and the display garden tours gained international acclaim. Hinkley became a regular speaker at seminars offered during the Northwest Flower and Garden Show
Northwest Flower and Garden Show
The Northwest Flower & Garden Show is an annual exhibition of horticulture held in Seattle, USA, for one week each February. It is the largest garden show west of Philadelphia. It is held inside the Washington State Convention and Trade Center...
.
In 2000, Hinkley and Jones sold the business, and display gardens, to Burpee Seeds
Burpee Seeds
Burpee Seeds, officially W. Atlee Burpee & Co., is a seed company that was founded by Washington Atlee Burpee in 1876.-History:The company first sold garden seeds, farm supplies, tools, poultry and hogs. The direction of the company began to change with the death of its founder in 1915 when his...
, but continued to run the nursery. Hinkley and Jones moved to a residence separate from the nursery in Indianola, Washington
Indianola, Washington
Indianola is a census-designated place in Kitsap County, Washington, United States, located on the north shore of Port Madison on the Port Madison Indian Reservation, home of the Suquamish Indian Tribe. The population was 3,500 at the 2010 census...
.
By 2001 the Heronswood catalog included over 2,400 plants, and the gardens at Heronswood had 10,000 species. Many had been raised from seed collected by Hinckley during expeditions in Asia, and other remote exploratory travels. Within the Heronswood catalog, Hinkley would often write detailed essays about the people and places where he first encountered the plants, his adventures abroad, and also the desirable benefits the plants offered to the plant enthusiast. Considerable effort was given to the responsible collection of seeds, and also to evaluating prospective plants for risk of bio-invasion if offered into cultivation.
In May 2006, George Ball, President of Burpee and Company, closed the Kingston location.
Mr. Hinkley is continuing in his work at his new estate, Windcliff.
Periodical articles
- Heronswood Nursery annual catalog, 25 to 250 pages, 1991–2005
- Open Spaces, Adventures in the Plant Trade, volume 4, issue 4, 2002
- Also articles in: American Gardener, Garden Design, Horticulture Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Pacific Horticulture, Seattle Times Pacific Magazine, Gardens Illustrated, Northwest Garden News, Garden Showcase
Awards and honors
- Veitch Memorial Medal (V.M.M.), Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain, 2007, "for outstanding contribution to advancing the science and practice of horticulture".
- George Robert White Medal of Honor, Massachusetts Horticultural Society, 2007, "for one who has done the most to advance interest in horticulture in the broadest sense".
- Liberty Hyde Bailey Award, American Horticultural Society, 2006
- Medal of Honor, Garden Club of America, 2004
- Marcel Le Piniac Award, North American Rock Garden Society, 2004
- Scott Arboretum Gold Medal, lifetime achievement award, Swarthmore College, 2002
- Garden Communicator of the Year, American Nursery and Landscape Association, 2001
- White Gold Medal, Cleveland Horticultural Society, 2000
- American Horticulture Society Book of the Year Award for The ExplorersGarden, 1999