New Book on J.C. Raulston

December, 03, 2009

text by Todd Morman

A new book about J.C. Raulston, Chlorophyll In His Veins: J. C. Raulston, Horticultural Ambassador,” launches tonight at 7:30 with a lecture and signing by local author Bobby J. Ward at the JC Raulston Arboretum. Look for interesting tidbits about the obstacles Raulston faced in starting the Arboretum, his complex personal life (including being a gay man at a time when that was something of a problem), and the strange irony of his Vietnam War service, during which he experimented with herbicides similar to Agent Orange for use against the Viet Cong.

Bobby Ward has written a number of well-reviewed gardening books, including an edited collection of influential NC gardener Elizabeth Lawrence’s works, but decided to self-publish the Raulston biography through Lulu.com after his usual publishers rejected the idea as too localized.