Quiet, modest, and retiring, although an active member of horticultural societies, he would never make a public speech.

[citation needed] In 1870, Downing traveled with Marshall P. Wilder, Patrick Barry, and George Ellwanger to California and published about their journey in Tilton's Journal.

[5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Their report transformed the horticultural landscape through the realization of the optimal growing conditions, vast acreage, large fruits, and exotic plants of California.

He never completely recovered from the injuries he received and died two years later[citation needed] on January 18, 1885.

[citation needed] Downing bequeathed his library of books and manuscripts to the Iowa Agricultural College Horticulture Department.