Virgin Earth by Philippa Gregory
Sequel to the outstanding historical novel Earthly Joys. Earthly Joys followed the history of John Tradescant the great gardener, botanist and adventurer of the Seventeenth Century, and left the story at his death, with his son poised to continue the family traditions, by voyaging in search of land and new plants in America. Virgin Earth is the story of John, the son, in every way as fascinating and wilful a character as his father, and a man who lived through even more extraordinary times, with the expansion of the colony in America, the execution of one king and the restoration of another in England.