Historical Gardening

By Stevie Martin

The cultivation of gardens dates back to prehistoric times (roughly 10,000 BCE), when the enclosing of outdoor spaces began.  In West Asia, gardens were designed and planted within these spaces. This practice then spread westward into Europe. While time and effort were put into designing these early gardens, their primary purpose was to provide a food supply that would not be ravaged by animals or thieves.

As civilizations began to emerge, gardening took on a new purpose.  The wealthy families of ancient Egypt, Persia, and Babylon created gardens that existed purely for their aesthetic.  Due to surpluses of food supplies that could be purchased daily in town and city markets, it was unnecessary for wealthy families to grow their own produce.  As a result, the people of the upper class turned to creating beatific gardens as a way to further distinguish themselves from those of the lower classes.

It was during medieval times that gardens were first split into sections for their growers multiple needs.  The majority of gardens during this time period were Monastic gardens. These gardens were typically divided into kitchen gardens, infirmary gardens, cemetery orchards, and vineyards.  Some also incorporated a cloister garth, which was used as a peaceful retreat within the garden. When the Spanish Empire emerged nearly one thousand years later, it would build upon these techniques after bringing them to the New World.

By the early sixteenth century, Spain and France had colonized much of the Americas.  With them came the gardening styles that had remained largely unchanged since the medieval times.  This style would continue as one of the most prevalent in the Americas until the early 1800s. Then, the new movement of gardening, that of “picturesque gardens”, would take hold.

By the time of Walt Whitman’s birth and early childhood in the 1820s, the picturesque garden movement had come to the Americas.  As this style evolved, it encouraged gardening in response to the natural landscape, creating a harmony between all plants while still incorporating more uncommon and exotic types.  The plants that would have been found in these gardens can with slight overlap be split into three categories: food plants, medicinal plants, and ornamental plants.

Every home garden during Whitman’s childhood contained a variety of food plants.  These plants would be harvested, cooked, preserved, and eaten by the members of the household.  Some of the most common food plants include spinach, onion, and tomato. Mint was also widely grown at this time.  Crops like corn and wheat would also have been grown in varying amounts, depending on the space available. Most yards also contained fruit-bearing trees of some kind, such as beach plum trees, black cherry trees, or large cranberry bushes.  Others had sugar maple trees, from which maple syrup could be gained, and tea made from steeping the bark.

Some plants were grown instead for their medicinal uses.  Herbs such as rue, sage, lavender, and thyme were some of the most widely used medicinal garden plants.  Rue was used to fight inflammation and parasites, sage helped to treat digestive issues, lavender was a common disinfectant, and thyme aided in pain relief.  Several other, less commonly known herbs were also widely grown for their medicinal benefits. Black snakeroot, also known as black cohosh, was originally used to treat snakebite poisonings, internal hemorrhaging, and stomach ulcers.  However, it became popular during the 1800s to treat women’s health issues and to remove warts and acne. St. John’s wort, a bush sometimes grown for its bright yellow flowers, was used to treat various nervous disorders, such as anxiety and depression.

In addition to food and medicinal plants, many home gardens also contained a variety of ornamental plants.  The tulip poplar was one of the most common choices, due to their ability to attract butterflies and hummingbirds.  They were also cultivated for bees, to encourage greater production of honey. The nectar from each individual tulip flower could also be collected and used as a substitute for honey in any food or drink.

Other plants that were grown for their ornamental beauty ended up having additional value.  Carnations, honeysuckle, and hawthorns were all grown in home gardens to add a touch of elegance and charm.  However, all of these plants proved to have other uses. Carnations, grown for their brightly colored flowers, eventually became a highly effective treatment for fevers and coronary diseases.  Honeysuckle, planted for its ground cover in gardens and its use in scenting perfumes and soaps, was also used to treat respiratory infections like influenza. Hawthorns could treat heart and blood diseases, as well as preserve fruits in jams and jellies for longer periods.

Plants like the oxeye daisy and the hyssop plant were grown for food, medicinal, and ornamental purposes.  The oxeye daisy spread to gardens due to the appeal of its small flowers. It became a common ingredient in salads, or cooked into hot meals.  It was later used as a treatment for asthma and whooping cough. The hyssop plant was also grown for its ornamental value, due to the bright purple flowers that cover the plant.  Its fresh flowers and leaves could be used as seasoning in cooking. The plant was later listed as a treatment to reduce fevers and bruising, as well as reduce pain of the liver or kidney.

The garden was an essential part of the home during the early nineteenth century.  Different plants were grown for their value as foods, medicines, or ornamentals. This organization was a result of centuries of development of new gardening techniques and practices.  It gave a common framework to many home gardens, ensuring a level of similarity in the plants grown for food and medicine. These gardens provided for their growers on multiple levels, and were a crucial part of nineteenth century life.