Eve Palmer facts for kids

Evelyn "Eve" Mary Palmer (born February 20, 1916 – died 1998) was a famous South African writer and botanist. A botanist is someone who studies plants. She was married to Geoffrey Jenkins, who was also a writer. Eve Palmer is best known for her book The Plains of Camdeboo, which was very popular.

Life and Career

Eve Palmer was born in the Karoo Desert in South Africa. Her father, Clifford George Palmer, was a rancher.

She studied journalism at University College London and earned a diploma in 1937. After finishing her studies, Eve traveled around the United States. She even wrote about the Grand Coulee Dam for a newspaper called Capetown News.

Eve also worked as a reporter for The Rhodesia Herald and Pretoria News. Later, she became an editor for Veldtrust. This was a magazine about protecting nature, and it was the official publication of the National Veld Trust. Eve was part of many important groups that focused on plants and wildlife.

After World War II, Eve met Geoffrey Jenkins. He was also a journalist and later became a novelist. They both worked for The Rhodesia Herald. Eve and Geoffrey got married on March 17, 1950. They had a son named David.

Her most famous book is The Plains of Camdeboo, published in 1966. This book is about Cranemere farm, where her family had lived for five generations. The book tells the story of the region, from ancient dinosaurs to early humans, and then to farmers. It also shares stories about her own life on the huge family ranch in the South African desert.

A journalist named Justin Fox said the book "captures the essence of the Camdeboo." The book quickly became a bestseller and is still available today.

Eve Palmer wrote many books about plants. Jeanette Eve, another writer, said that Eve Palmer could write like a novelist and a poet. She could also write like a scientist, making sure her facts were correct. Her descriptions of the Karoo landscapes are considered some of the best.

Eve Palmer and Geoffrey Jenkins lived in Pretoria for many years. Eve Palmer passed away in 1998.

Books and Writings

Eve Palmer wrote many books, especially about plants and nature. Here are some of her works:

• Our Land (around 1950), with Norah Massey
• Trees of South Africa (1961), with Norah Pitman
• The Plains of Camdeboo (1966)
• Trees of Southern Africa (1972), with Norah Pitman. This book had illustrations by Rhona Collett and photos by Geoffrey Jenkins. It was a new version of her 1961 book.
• A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa (1972, reissued in 1977), illustrated by Rhona Collett
• The Companion Guide to South Africa (1978), with Geoffrey Jenkins
• The South African Herbal (1985), illustrated by Brenda Clarke
• Under the Olive: A Book of Garden Pleasures (1989), illustrated by Brenda Clarke
• Return to Camdeboo: A Century's Karoo Foods and Flavours (1992), illustrated by Brenda Clarke
• A Gardener's Year (1995)

She also wrote a journalism piece:

• Journey to Pretoria in 1878: Diary of Mrs. Bousfield, wife of the City's first bishop (around 1975)

Awards and Recognition

Eve Palmer received special awards for her amazing work:

• 1978: The South African Botanical Society gave her the Bolus Medal. This was for her "outstanding" books about local trees.
• 1986: She won the Recht Malan Prize for her book The South African Herbal.