Marika Irvine

It is with sadness that I write to inform you that Marika Irvine of the Gothenburg Botanic Gardens (GBG) has passed away. I was contacted by Hanna Tornevall, the Director of GBG with the sad news on Monday 24th February. I subsequently heard from Johan Nilsson, her long-time colleague at the gardens. From his understanding her death happened around 5 pm on the previous Friday. Marika came home from work as normal, then went for a walk, during which time she had a heart attack. Johan was not aware of any health issues prior to this so, as you can imagine, it came as a massive shock to all those who knew her. Marika was only 60 years old.

Marika was the Alpine Department Supervisor, having been in the post since 2004, and alongside overseeing all aspects of the Department’s management, was responsible for the famous Dionysia collection. Marika started looking after the collection at GBG in 2008 and always paid credit to her predecessors who started it in the mid 60’s, but it is certainly down to her that the collection increased in both content and interest, leading to it being the world’s most complete collection of the genus.

Marika recently received the AGS Kath Dryden Award, which I presented to her at the Gardens in November. To say she was surprised, delighted and overwhelmed would be an understatement, such was her modest approach to her abilities, never really accepting that she was one of the pre-eminent growers of the genus Dionysia in the world. I have reproduced the award acknowledgement here:

Gothenburg Botanic Gardens is often considered to be the epicentre of cultivation of some of the most intractable members of the genus Dionysia and it is widely accepted that Marika is responsible for the unrivalled results achieved there. She has been on several research and collecting expeditions, resulting in the raising of new and re-introduced species, some previously lost to cultivation. She has also been involved with creating, raising and propagating hybrids. She spends time disseminating the information and skills she has developed over a number of years, using social media, video recordings and personal contact with visitors to Gothenburg Botanic Gardens.

Apart from this, Marika was a personal friend, a totally genuine person, warm, funny (often with a touch of devilment) and always welcoming. Her passing will be a massive loss to not only her friends and family but also the Horticultural world.

Ray Drew