Long serving RBG staff

The Royal Botanical Gardens is especially proud of one of it’s staff members this year. James Pringle has worked at the Gardens for fifty years. And in that time he’s seen a lot of changes, including having a tree named after him. Friday, a garden at the RBG was named after him to honour his exemplary service. Cindy Csordas reports.

James Pringle, or Jim as many call him, is taking time to reflect. He’s relecting on fifty years of service here at the Royal Botanical Gardens: “Oh I’m pleased about it.”

James Pringle began his career here at the RBG in 1963. Originally from Michigan, he visited the RBG and was looking for a job where he could do something he loved to do; work with plants and share his findings with community: “To interest people in biodiversity that exists out there so they’re more appreciative of it or better able to enjoy it and see how the environment is doing.”

And he’s commanded the respect of researchers around the world.

Natalie Iwanycki is a co-worker: “He’s incredibly respected in the International botanical community even when I travel about they all know Dr. Pringle by name and by his research.”

After writing more than 400 pieces of literature about his studies Mr. Pringle has even had a plant named after him.

David Galbraith is the head of the science department at the RBG: A brand new tree in South America was named after him. Macrocarpepringliana, a scientific named tree in the Andes named after Dr. Pringle.”

But praising Mr. Pringle has sprouted a new honour. The RBG honoured him by naming a part of a garden after the researcher. The Dr. James Pringle Gentian Garden. The name includes one of the species he loves to study: “I’m delighted with that.”

When does he plan to retire?: “When I wake up in the morning and feel a bit tired, when I consider the alternative, I don’t want to lose contact with both the subjects of my research and the friends I have on staff here.”

So there you have it, Mr. Pringle says he’ll keep working as long as he’s able. He looks forward to working on new projects that include DNA studies and the role DNA is taking in botany.