James Henry Comley
James Henry Comley (1835-1902) was a pioneer in horticultural science. Comley's studies of agricultural, horticultural, and floricultural methods of potting, irrigation techniques, and soil research in cultivating plants year-round in hothouses and greenhouses are documented in over 200 journals for the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Comley was born in England and apprenticed at Bowood House in Derry Hill, England, before moving to Boston, MA, in 1854.
Personal
James Henry Comley married Harriet Elizabeth Ridgway, and they had seven children. His four sons all trained and became successful in floricultural professions in New England, opening their own florist, landscaping, plant nursery, and/or gardening businesses. His children were James Henry Ridgway Comley, aka Henry R. Comley, Antoinette Jane Comley, Joseph John Comley, aka J.J. Comley, Harriet Elizabeth Comley, Eliza Grenville Comley, John Ridgway Comley, Norris Fines Comley, and George Arthur Comley was stillborn.
Education
1849 to 1854 (age 14 to 19) Apprentice to the Horticulturist, John Spencer, at Bowood House in Derry Hill, Wiltshire, England. Bowood House was the home of Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, the 4th Marquess of Lansdowne.
Bowood House sits within 100 acres of beautifully landscaped ‘Capability’ Brown Parkland and has been home to the Lansdowne family since 1754. Bowood is currently home to the 9th Marquess and Lady of Lansdowne.
Career
1854, Comley immigrated to Boston, Massachusetts, and began working as a flower merchant. His knowledge of horticultural science and flower farming, with his keen artistry of floral aesthetics, attracted the attention of many hospitality establishments in Boston. He co-founded the florist company Evers & Comley with Gustav Evers in 1855. Evers & Comley was an award-winning florist company and had the honor of decorating many hotels, estates, parades, and special events, including the floral designs for the Paul Revere House when Edward VII, Prince of Wales, visited Boston's North End in 1860 as part of his Royal Visit.
Comley's work in the year-round cultivation of plants and vegetation in hothouses and greenhouses and his soil study research, various methods for potting and irrigation combined with his success in producing distinguished seedling roses, rhododendrons, and other plants, added to his reputation as an ardent horticulturist scientist. Comley was a frequent exhibitor at the shows of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and his exhibits of rare and curious flowers and plants won numerous awards.
In 1870, Comley was hired by Francis B. Hayes as the Grounds Superintendent for the Hayes Estate, known as Oakmount Castle. The rhododendrons Comley planted for Hayes in 1878 were imported from Asia. The particular imported strains were called R. Fortunei and R. Catawbiense. What remains of the original garden is a 40-foot swath of purples, whites, and pinks that rises more than 20 feet in the air for nearly 200 feet up a hillside. Their endurance over 120 years is partly attributable to Comley's early care. The plants had taken hold within a year and thrived almost immediately. In 1879, one horticulturist called the collection "probably the best in the country." In 1884, Comley’s work was recognized with several citations and 41 prizes from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society Rhododendron Show.
In 1892, Comley took a trip to Japan and, on his return, brought back with him many rare plants and seeds. The Transactions of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society featured his essay on his trip to Japan and his Tokyo Imperial Palace Garden entry. His admittance to the private palace grounds is the earliest known mention of a Westerner's visit to the Imperial Gardens.
Comley’s other writings of his work in the study of horticulture and floriculture appeared in journals, florist magazines, and other news outlets. American Florist Magazine recognized him with the Pioneer Award in the fields of Horticultural Science and Floriculture. He was a noted expert in cultivating flowering plants and shrubs in the cold weather climate of the Northeast. His last exhibition was at the Massachusetts Horticultural Chrysanthemum Show in the fall of 1901, when he was awarded a silver medal.
James Henry Comley died at work in one of his rhododendron greenhouses on February 1, 1902, in Lexington, Massachusetts. His career spanned five decades.
Achievements
Comley was recognized as a pioneer Horticulturist for his work in the year-round cultivation of plants and vegetation in hothouses and greenhouses and his soil study research, various methods for potting and irrigation combined with his success in producing distinguished seedling roses, rhododendrons, and other plants, added to his reputation as a dedicated horticulturist scientist. Comley was a frequent exhibitor at the shows of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and his exhibits of rare and curious flowers and plants won numerous awards.
Comley was an award-winning florist and had the honor of decorating many hotels, estates, parades, and special events, including the floral designs for the Paul Revere House when Edward VII, Prince of Wales, visited Boston's North End in 1860. Comley successfully produced some fine seedling roses, rhododendrons, and other plants, which added to his reputation as an ardent horticulturist.
Comley was the first recorded Western visitor to the Tokyo Imperial Gardens in 1892. His research on the bonsai trees, rhododendrons, chrysanthemums, and others was featured in numerous horticultural journals.
References
Massachusetts Horticultural Society Transactions Book listing James H. Comley Horticultural Awards 1873 to 1875
1873 Massachusetts Horticultural Society Transactions Book Listing James Henry Comley's Horticultural Awards for 1876
1876 Massachusetts Horticultural Society Transactions Book Listing James Henry Comley's Horticultural awards for the year 1869 to 1872
1869 Massachusetts Horticultural Society Transactions Book listing the awards of James Henry Comley for the years 1874 to 1875
1874 Massachusetts Horticultural Society Transactions Book Listing the horticultural awards of James Henry Comley for the years 1867 - 1871
1867 American Florist American Florist, Volume 18 - article about the Historical Rhododendron Shows on the grounds of Oakmount Castle, the estate of Francis B. Hayes that was designed and maintained by James Henry Comley
1902 American Florist Obituary for Horticultural & Floricultural Pioneer, James Henry Comley
1902 American Gardening Magazine Obituary for Horticultural & Floricultural Pioneer, James Henry Comley 1902
1902 Massachusetts Horticultural Society Transactions Book listing awards of James Henry Comley for the years 1869 to 1870
1870 Massachusetts Horticultural Society Book listing James Henry Comley Awards and research in soil study for the year 1871
1871 Horticultural Society Book listing James Henry Comley awards and contributions for the years 1874 to 1875
1874 Massachusetts Horticultural Society Book listing awards and horticultural contributions by James H. Comley from 1876 to 1878
1878 Massachusetts Horticultural Society Transactions Book listing the contributions to horticulture by James H. Comley for the year 1872 to 1873
1872 Massachusetts Horticultural Society Transactions contributions and research from James H. Comley to the horticultural sciences for the years 1868 to 1869
1868 Massachusetts Horticultural Society Transactions Book listing the contributions of James Henry Comley to horticultural science from 1896 to 1897
1896 Massachusetts Horticultural Society Transactions Book listing contributions and awards by James Henry Comley for the years 1899 to 1901
1899
Schedule of Prizes From the Massachusetts Horticultural Society Book listing the prizes won by James Henry Comley for Horticulture in the years 1867 to 1869
1867 Burlington Retro blog - “J.H. Comley was born in England and had the advantage of an apprenticeship under John Spencer on the estate of the Marquis of Lansdowne in England. He trained his son Norris, who took over for him in 1892 when J.H. Comley accompanied F.B. Hayes to Japan, where they imported much Japanese flora. They brought back the first Japanese cut-leaf red maple, iris, many varieties of chrysanthemums, many varieties of rhododendrons, etc.”
1980 Merriam Hill Modernist Property – ModernMass.com | The Janovitz + Tse Team | ModernMASS Francis B. Hayes, a railroad official, lawyer, state senator, and U.S. congressman, was Lexington’s most prosperous resident in the late 19th century. Over time, he acquired additional property extending over Merriam Hill and to the east of Grant Street, encompassing nearly 400 acres and hired James H. Comley to do landscape design and work as Grounds Supervisor.
2020 James H. Comley in American Florist Magazine, THE LATE JAMES COMLEY IN THE MIDST OF HIS FAMOUS RHODODENDRONS. 1902
Born May 29, 1835 Derry Hill, Chippenham, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Died February 1, 1902 (aged 66) Lexington, Massachusetts, United States
Career
1849 - 1850 Apprentice to John Spencer, Bowood House and Gardens Calne, Wiltshire, United Kingdom 1851 - 1902
Horticulturalist, Floriculturist, Author, various Massachusetts, United States 1855 - 1870
Flower Merchant, Evers & Comley Floral Boston, Massachusetts, United States 1870 - 1895
Grounds Superintendent, Oakmount Castle: The Francis B. Hayes Estate Lexington, Massachusetts, United States
