About me
My name is David Bedford.
This site is currently predominantly about the genus Xanthorrhoea and my research on the genus. It may in time also become partly about me and partially about my life.
I grew up with a great interest in the flora and fauna of Australia and a love of the Australian countryside. That lead to undergraduate study at the University of Queensland, St Lucia, where I studied both botany and zoology. I soon discovered that zoology was not for me but found botany extremely interesting. I qualified as a botanist with a BSc Honours (1st Class) from the University of Queensland. After my honours year I decided to relocate to Sydney and gained a PhD from the University of Sydney. I worked full-time at the National Herbarium of NSW (the scientific division of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney) as a botanist and scientific executive officer, so much of the PhD was completed part-time. My PhD thesis title was The Taxonomy and Evolution of Xanthorrhoea.
My family and I relocated to Hobart in the 1990s where I was the Director of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens for six years.
As well as my passion for nature, plants and botanic gardens, during my life I have enjoyed learning skills as a photographer, woodworker (furniture designer/maker) and woodturner. I also have a strong interest in Australiana (researching, preserving and collecting Australia's heritage) and I am currently writing articles for the Australiana Society journal Australiana.
This site is currently predominantly about the genus Xanthorrhoea and my research on the genus. It may in time also become partly about me and partially about my life.
I grew up with a great interest in the flora and fauna of Australia and a love of the Australian countryside. That lead to undergraduate study at the University of Queensland, St Lucia, where I studied both botany and zoology. I soon discovered that zoology was not for me but found botany extremely interesting. I qualified as a botanist with a BSc Honours (1st Class) from the University of Queensland. After my honours year I decided to relocate to Sydney and gained a PhD from the University of Sydney. I worked full-time at the National Herbarium of NSW (the scientific division of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney) as a botanist and scientific executive officer, so much of the PhD was completed part-time. My PhD thesis title was The Taxonomy and Evolution of Xanthorrhoea.
My family and I relocated to Hobart in the 1990s where I was the Director of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens for six years.
As well as my passion for nature, plants and botanic gardens, during my life I have enjoyed learning skills as a photographer, woodworker (furniture designer/maker) and woodturner. I also have a strong interest in Australiana (researching, preserving and collecting Australia's heritage) and I am currently writing articles for the Australiana Society journal Australiana.
This is a very basic website. It will be developed gradually over the next couple of years as time and enthusiasm allow.
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet adult and chick in our front yard