late bloomer, n.
1. An adult whose talent or genius in a particular field only appears later in life than is normal—in some cases only in old age. [Wikipedia]
2. A person who doesn’t give a pomegranate about what’s normal and blooms in their own time; see LaterBloomer.com. [Debra Eve]
Ernestine Shepherd became a professional bodybuilder at 71
Welcome to Later Bloomer
A Captivating Archive of Lives Well-Lived
You’re Not a Late Bloomer. You’re A Technical Wonder.
If you were born before 1965 and you’re reading this—lean back, stare at your monitor, and congratulate yourself. You’re a technical wonder.
Mary Granville Delany: She Invented the Art of Mixed Media Collage at Age 71
At age 17, Mary Granville Delany was married off to a ogre who died and left her penniless seven years later. Yet at 43, she completely reinvented her life.
What’s Wrong With the Term “Late Bloomer”?
“Late bloomer” began as a gardening phrase, one without stigma. It speaks of witnessing something beautiful on an autumn day.
Ben Franklin: The Septuagenarian Who Helped Birth a Nation
He was a printer, statesman, activist, inventor, and diplomat. By 26, he was a best-selling author. Yet it didn’t pursue his true passion until his 70s when he helped found the United States.
Julia Margaret Cameron: She Received a Camera at 48 and Transformed the Art of Portrait Photography
At age 48, Julia Margaret Cameron taught herself to use a new invention, the camera. She produced over 900 luminous images in her lifetime.
Charles Darwin: He Published His Masterwork at Age 50 but Scholars Still Call Him a Procrastinator
Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species at age 50, after waiting more than two decades. Biographers have called this his “great procrastination.” Was it really?
Later Bloomer is currently on hiatus. Please enjoy the archives!
There is nothing in the caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly.
—Buckminster Fuller,
who patented the Geodesic Dome at age 50