Helen Ballard

Grace Helen Ballard, also known as Grace Helen Wilson and born Grace Helen Ranken (11 January 1908 – 28 May 1995), was a British horticulturist known for her hellebore hybrids.

Helen Ballard
Born
Grace Helen Ranken

11 January 1908
Waldron, UK
Died28 May 1995(1995-05-28) (aged 87)
Worcester, UK
NationalityBritish
Other namesHellebore Queen
OccupationHorticulturist
Partner(s)Peter Cecil Wilson, Philip Ernest Ballard
Helleborus × ballardiae 'Cinnamon Snow'

Early life

Ballard was born in Waldron in 1908. Her parents were Sarah Kate (born Phillips) and Arthur William Ranken. Her father was an electrical engineer.[1]

Whilst she was in Hamburg, Ballard met her first husband, Peter Cecil Wilson, who was learning German there. He became a successful art auctioneer at Sotheby's. They had two children before her husband realised his latent homosexuality. They dissolved their marriage in 1951.[2]

She went on to marry Philip Ernest Ballard the same year. Her new father-in-law Ernest Ballard is credited with giving her four hellebore roots and she then became interested in horticulture and hellebores in particular.

Career

She bred new hybrids and went abroad to find new varieties. She discovered new colours and new forms.[1] She was called the "Queen of the Breeders".[3] Wilson died in Paris in 1984. He had risen to lead the auction house of Sotheby's and had become a difficult character. Despite this and the divorce they had kept in contact.[2] Her second husband died in 1987.[1]

Helen Ballard worked near Malvern and Elizabeth Strangman had similar interests in Kent. These two "hellibore horticulturalists" became so important that some felt that hellibores would go into decline when they were no longer around;[4] both shared the skills.[4] Ballard arranged for her stock to be given to Gisela Schmiemann in Cologne who established a mail order business based on these varieties.[5]

Death

Ballard died in Worcester in 1995. A book written by Gisela Schmiemann and titled Helen Ballard - The Hellebore Queen was published in 1997.[6][7]

References
  1. "Ballard, Stephen (1804–1890), civil engineer horticulturist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/96754. Retrieved 1 August 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. "Wilson, Peter Cecil (1913–1984), fine art auctioneer". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/31845. Retrieved 1 August 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. "Helleborus x hybridus 'Helen Ballards Strain'". Gardenista. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  4. "Hellebores: a heavenly flower for filling in early-spring gaps". www.ft.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  5. Terry, Bill (2015). The Carefree Garden: Letting Nature Play Her Part. TouchWood Editions. ISBN 978-1-77151-126-1.
  6. Schmiemann, Gisela (1997). Helen Ballard - The Hellebore Queen (in German). Ed. Art and Nature.
  7. "Helen Ballard, The Hellebore Queen - Gisela Schmiemann". Graham Rice. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
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