Overview

A detailed look at early American flowers and herbs, with expert advice on creating a garden with historically accurate plants Hounds-tongue. Ragged robin. Costmary. Pennyroyal. All-heal. These plants, whose very names conjure up a bygone world, were among the great variety of flowers and herbs grown in America’s colonial and early Federal gardens. In this sumptuously illustrated book, a leading historic plant expert brings this botanical heritage back to life. Drawing on years of archival research and field trials in Colonial Williamsburg’s gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia, Lawrence Griffith documents fifty-six species of flowers and herbs and provides details on how they were cultivated and used. For each plant, an elegant period hand-colored engraving, watercolor, or woodcut is presented along with glorious new photographs by Barbara Temple Lombardi. This book is a dazzling treat for armchair gardeners and for those who have visited and admired the famous gardens of Colonial Williamsburg. It is also an invaluable companion for twenty-first-century gardeners who will appreciate the specific advice of a master gardener on how to plan, choose appropriate species for, and maintain a beautiful, historic flower and herb garden. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a not-for-profit educational institution that operates the world’s largest living history museum. Published in association with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Full Product Details

9780300164541

Table of Contents

Reviews

Mr. Griffith''s knowledge is both scholarly and as practical as that of any gardener who has spent hours weeding on his hands and knees. --Anne Raver, New York Times --Anne Raver New York Times (03/26/2009)

Gorgeous photos, interesting plant discussions, practical cultivation advice, medical uses, and glimpses into plant history . . . a luxurious gift for a gardener. . . . The photos are magical even for non-gardeners and the text is a joy to read . . . -- Cheval Force Opp Washington Gardener

This book is a dazzling treat for armchair gardeners and for those who have visited and admired the famous gardens of Colonial Williamsburg. It is also an invaluable companion for 21st century gardeners who will appreciate the specific advice of a master gardener on how to plan, choose appropriate species for, and maintain a beautiful, historic flower and herb garden. -The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles Gardeners enamored with heirloom seed collecting and what it tells us about our ancestors'' gardens might enjoy Flowers and Herbs of Early America. . . . The book is a beautiful compendium of cottage garden flowers, many of which have medicinal properties and are easy to grow. -- Anne Raver New York Times (12/11/2008) Basically cottage garden plants from the New and Old worlds, they all have a humble honesty about them, drawn out in the lovely photographic portraits by Barbara Temple Lombardi. Some will be as familiar to us as our forebears . . . others remain delightfully novel. I can''t wait to get seed of some of them to try myself. -- Adrian Higgins Washington Post (12/11/2008) Georgeous photos, interesting plant discussions, practical cultivation advice, medical uses, and glimpses into plant history are all part of this coffee table book. . . . Looking for a luxurious gift for a gardener? This is my first choice. The photos are magical even for non-gardeners and the text is a joy to read. . . . All this and it looks good on the coffee table! -- Cheval Force Opp Washington Gardener (01/01/2009) As curator of plants at Colonial Williamsburg, Lawrence Griffith draws on years of archival research and field trials to inform the content of this magnificent book. The multilayers of information-inspirational gardening quotations, details on habit, tips for growing and period engravings, watercolors and woodcuts-provide provocative visual counterparts to the stunning photography by Barbara Temple Lombardi. -- Patty Craft Horticulture Magazine (01/01/2009) Any gardener would love to have this book on his or her library shelf. . . . Early America never looked or read so first-class. -Anne K. Moore, GardenSMART -- Anne K. Moore GardenSMART (03/27/2009) The multilayers of information--inspirational gardening quotations, details on habit, tips for growing and period engravings, watercolors and woodcuts--provide provocative visual counterparts to the stunning photography by Barbara Temple Lombardi. --Patty Craft, Horticulture Magazine --Patty Craft Horticulture Magazine (01/01/2009) Mr. Griffith''s knowledge is both scholarly and as practical as that of any gardener who has spent hours weeding on his hands and knees. --Anne Raver, New York Times --Anne Raver New York Times (03/26/2009) Mr. Griffith's knowledge is both scholarly and as practical as that of any gardener who has spent hours weeding on his hands and knees. --Anne Raver, New York Times --Anne Raver New York Times (03/26/2009) Gorgeous photos, interesting plant discussions, practical cultivation advice, medical uses, and glimpses into plant history . . . a luxurious gift for a gardener. . . . The photos are magical even for non-gardeners and the text is a joy to read . . . --Cheval Force Opp, Washington Gardener --Cheval Force Opp Washington Gardener

Mr. Griffith's knowledge is both scholarly and as practical as that of any gardener who has spent hours weeding on his hands and knees. --Anne Raver, New York Times --Anne Raver New York Times (03/26/2009)

Author Information

Lawrence Griffith is curator of plants for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and former garden columnist for the Daily Press, Newport News, VA. He lives on the Middle Peninsula of Virginia. Barbara Temple Lombardi is a photographer for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. She lives in Williamsburg, VA.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available