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Hidcote - pt. 1

I'm just now getting around to organizing the photos from my trip to England back in May. As I've said a million times, this was the trip of a lifetime, and I had an incredible time. This was a 3-week trip organized by the HPSO (Hardy Plant Society of Oregon) during which we visited 35 different locations. Most all of these were gardens but there were also a few castles and villages thrown in, as well as the icing on the trip - the Chelsea Flower Show. This tour focused on the southeast region of England, notably the Cotswolds and Cornwall. I've watched so many programs and read so many books about England and the gardens there that I was afraid it would tarnish the image I had built up in my head. I'm pleased to say that it not disappoint. The trek from London to Bath by train was not the best first impression. However, as we gained distance from the city, the rolling green countryside gave me glimpses of things to come. After arriving in Bath and finding my hotel, I m...

A Guide to Medieval Gardens - a book review

by Michael Brown
White Owl Books, c2022

I would imagine that working as a garden historian would be a wonderful job. European gardens during the last few centuries would offer plenty of resources, records and physical evidence to draw from.  However, going way back in time to the medieval period, presents many challenges. As author Michael Brown notes, there is just not a lot of sources to consult. There are precious few books and records that survive (and probably not that much written in the first place). Archeological excavations are rare and what is discovered basically reveals only the framework. 


The remains of the garden at Tintagel Castle
near the village of North Cornwall. (Photo by Michael Brown)

Most evidence of these gardens come from visual sources such as paintings and tapestries. And even then, only two survive that we painted in England.

The Virgin Mary, baby Jesus and various Saints in
"The Little Garden of Paradise" by an unknown artist referred
 to as "Upper Rhenish Master"(c.1410-20). The painting is an
important one as it is the earliest to depict flora and fauna
 that is recognizable.


In all probability, unless you were rich, most gardening was done as a means of survival. This is especially true in monasteries, where specific monks would grow food and herbs to feed their residents as well as to supply flowers for holy services.

A medieval vegetable garden (Photo by Michael Brown)



This well illustrated book provides a brief history of these gardens and their influence. Chapters focus on monastic and secular gardens, specific design characteristics (water, bedding, turf seats), plants and cultivation techniques. A concluding chapter gives tips for modern gardeners on how to create their own medieval garden.

Surprisingly, many of the gardening techniques are the same as we practice today. There is a fascinating chapter on garden tools that illustrate this fact but also some surprises.

A medieval wheelbarrow (reconstructed). Note there are no sides.
(Photo by Michael Brown)

I received this book as a Christmas present and I enjoyed it. It is not a scholarly book and is written in a very accessible style. This book was published in 2022 and the author mentions that he hoped to write a follow-up about the specific plants. And apparently he did so with  "Medieval Plants and Their Uses" published in December of 2022. 

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. This is fun information as I'm embarking on a garden tour to Cornwall this summer, and Tintagel Castle is on the itinerary!
    Chavli

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  2. This book would be right up my alley to read. I like to read Midieval romances (don't gag) and I am often wondering about those gardens they go into for their trysts. Sometimes the author will embellish somewhat about what flowers are in the garden. Then my mind takes over. It would be interesting to read his follow up book too. I am glad you wrote about this.

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  3. The Medieval wheelbarrow is really cool!

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