The Project Gutenberg eBook of Old-Time Gardens, Newly Set Forth
Title: Old-Time Gardens, Newly Set Forth
Author: Alice Morse Earle
Release date: March 4, 2012 [eBook #39049]
Most recently updated: January 8, 2021
Language: English
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Old Time Gardens
OLD-TIME GARDENS
Newly set forth
by
A L I C E M O R S E E A R L E
A BOOK OF
T H E S W E E T O' T H E Y E A R
"Life is sweet, brother! There's day and night, brother! both sweet things: sun, moon and stars, brother! all sweet things: There is likewise a wind on the heath."
NEW YORK
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
LONDON MACMILLAN & CO ltd
MCMII
All rights reserved
Copyright, 1901,
By THE MACMILLAN COMPANY.
Set up and electrotyped November, 1901. Reprinted December, 1901; January, 1902.
Norwood Press
J. S. Cushing & Co.—Berwick & Smith
Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.
Contents
| CHAPTER | PAGE | |
| I. | Colonial Garden-making | 1 |
| II. | Front Dooryards | 38 |
| III. | Varied Gardens Fair | 54 |
| IV. | Box Edgings | 91 |
| V. | The Herb Garden | 107 |
| VI. | In Lilac Tide | 132 |
| VII. | Old Flower Favorites | 161 |
| VIII. | Comfort Me with Apples | 192 |
| IX. | Gardens of the Poets | 215 |
| X. | The Charm of Color | 233 |
| XI. | The Blue Flower Border | 252 |
| XII. | Plant Names | 280 |
| XIII. | Tussy-mussies | 296 |
| XIV. | Joan Silver-pin | 309 |
| XV. | Childhood in a Garden | 326 |
| XVI. | Meetin' Seed and Sabbath Day Posies | 341 |
| XVII. | Sun-dials | 353 |
| XVIII. | Garden Furnishings | 383 |
| XIX. | Garden Boundaries | 399 |
| XX. | A Moonlight Garden | 415 |
| XXI. | Flowers of Mystery | 433 |
| XXII. | Roses of Yesterday | 459 |
| Index | 479 |
List of Illustrations
The end papers of this book bear a design of the flower Ambrosia.
The vignette on the title-page is re-drawn from one in The Compleat Body of Husbandry, Thomas Hale, 1756. It represents "Love laying out the surface of the earth in a garden."
The device of the dedication is an ancient garden-knot for flowers, from A New Orchard and Garden, William Lawson, 1608.
The chapter initials are from old wood-cut initials in the English Herbals of Gerarde, Parkinson, and Cole.
PAGE
Garden of Johnson Mansion, Germantown. Photographed by Henry Troth facing 4
Garden at Grumblethorp, Home of Charles J. Wister, Esq., Germantown, Pennsylvania 7
Garden of Bartram House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 9
Garden of Abigail Adams, Quincy, Massachusetts 10
Garden at Mount Vernon-on-the-Potomac, Virginia. Home of George Washington facing 12
Gate and Hedge of Preston Garden, Columbia, South Carolina 15
Fountain Path in Preston Garden, Columbia, South Carolina 18
Door in Wall of Kitchen Garden at Van Cortlandt Manor. Croton-on-Hudson, New York. Photographed by J. Horace McFarland facing 20
Garden of Van Cortlandt Manor. Photographed by J. Horace McFarland facing 24
Garden at Prince Homestead, Flushing, Long Island 28
Old Dutch Garden of Bergen Homestead, Bay Ridge, Long Island facing 32
Garden at Duck Cove, Narragansett, Rhode Island 35
The Flowering Almond under the Window. Photographed by Eva E. Newell 39
Peter's Wreath. Photographed by Eva E. Newell 41
Peonies[Pg x] in Garden of John Robinson, Esq., Salem, Massachusetts. Photographed by Herschel F. Davis facing 42
White Peonies. Photographed by Mary F. C. Paschall 42
Yellow Day Lilies. Photographed by Clifton Johnson facing 48
Orange Lilies. Photographed by Eva E. Newell 50
Preston Garden, Columbia, South Carolina facing 54
Box-edged Parterre at Hampton, County Baltimore, Maryland. Home of Mrs. John Ridgely. Photographed by Elizabeth W. Trescot 57
Parterre and Clipped Box at Hampton, County Baltimore, Maryland. Home of Mrs. John Ridgely. Photographed by Elizabeth W. Trescot 60
Garden of Mrs. Mabel Osgood Wright, Waldstein, Fairfield, Connecticut. Photographed by Mabel Osgood Wright 63
A Shaded Walk. In the Garden of Miss Harriet P. F. Burnside, Worcester, Massachusetts. Photographed by Herschel F. Davis facing 64
Roses and Larkspur in the Garden of Miss Harriet P. F. Burnside, Worcester, Massachusetts. Photographed by Herschel F. Davis 65
The Homely Back Yard. Photographed by Henry Troth facing 66
Covered Well at Home of Bishop Berkeley, Whitehall, Newport, Rhode Island 68
Kitchen Doorway and Porch at The Hedges, New Hope, County Bucks, Pennsylvania 70
Greenwood, Thomasville, Georgia 73
Roses and Violets in Garden of Greenwood, Thomasville, Georgia facing 74
Water Garden at Sylvester Manor, Shelter Island, New York. Home of Miss Cornelia Horsford 75
Garden at Avonwood Court, Haverford, Pennsylvania. Country-seat of Charles E. Mather, Esq. Photographed by J. Horace McFarland facing 76
Terrace Wall at Drumthwacket, Princeton, New Jersey. Country-seat of M. Taylor Pyne, Esq. 76
Garden at Drumthwacket, Princeton, New Jersey. Country-seat of M. Taylor Pyne, Esq. 77
Sun-dial at Avonwood Court, Haverford, Pennsylvania. Country-seat of Charles E. Mather, Esq. Photographed by J. Horace McFarland facing 80
Entrance[Pg xi] Porch and Gate to the Rose Garden at Yaddo, Saratoga, New York. Country-seat of Spencer Trask, Esq. Photographed by Gustave Lorey 82
Pergola and Terrace Walk in Rose Garden at Yaddo, Saratoga, New York. Country-seat of Spencer Trask, Esq. Photographed by Gustave Lorey 83
Statue of Christalan in Rose Garden at Yaddo, Saratoga, New York. Country-seat of Spencer Trask, Esq. Photographed by Gustave Lorey 84
Sun-dial in Rose Garden at Yaddo, Saratoga, New York. Country-seat of Spencer Trask, Esq. Photographed by Gustave Lorey 86
Bronze Dial-face in Rose Garden at Yaddo, Saratoga, New York. Country-seat of Spencer Trask, Esq. Photographed by Gustave Lorey 87
Ancient Pine in Garden at Yaddo, Saratoga, New York. Country-seat of Spencer Trask, Esq. Photographed by Gustave Lorey 89
House and Garden at Napanock, County Ulster, New York. Photographed by Edward Lamson Henry, N. A. facing 92
Box Parterre at Hampton, County Baltimore, Maryland. Home of Mrs. John Ridgely. Photographed by Elizabeth W. Trescot 95
Sun-dial in Box at Broughton Castle, Banbury, England. Garden of Lady Lennox 98
Sun-dial in Box at Ascott, near Leighton Buzzard, England. Country-seat of Mr. Leopold Rothschild facing 100
Garden at Tudor Place, Georgetown, District of Columbia. Home of Mrs. Beverly Kennon. Photographed by Elizabeth W. Trescot 103
Anchor-shaped Flower Beds, Kingston, Rhode Island. Photographed by Sarah P. Marchant 104
Ancient Box at Tuckahoe, Virginia 105
Herb Garden at White Birches, Elmhurst, Illinois 108
Garden at White Birches, Elmhurst, Illinois 111
Garden of Manning Homestead, Salem, Massachusetts facing 112
Under the Garret Eaves of Ward Homestead, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts 116
A Gatherer of Simples. Photographed by Mary F. C. Paschall facing 120
Sage.[Pg xii] Photographed by Mary F. C. Paschall 126
Tansy. Photographed by Mary F. C. Paschall 129
Garden of Mrs. Abraham Lansing, Albany, New York. Photographed by Gustave Lorey facing 130
Ladies' Delights. Photographed by Eva E. Newell 133
Garden House and Long Walk in Garden of Hon. William H. Seward, Auburn, New York facing 134
Sun-dial in Garden of Hon. William H. Seward, Auburn, New York 136
Lilacs in Midsummer. In Garden of Mrs. Abraham Lansing, Albany, New York. Photographed by Gustave Lorey facing 138
Lilacs at Craigie House, Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Home of Longfellow. Photographed by Arthur N. Wilmarth 141
Box-edged Garden at Home of Longfellow, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Photographed by Arthur N. Wilmarth 142
Joepye-weed and Queen Anne's Laces. Photographed by Mary F. C. Paschall 145
Boneset. Photographed by Mary F. C. Paschall 146
Magnolias in Garden of William Brown, Esq., Flatbush, Long Island facing 148
Lilacs at Hopewell 149
Persian Lilacs and Peonies in Garden of Kimball Homestead, Portsmouth, New Hampshire 151
Opyn-tide, the Thought of Spring. Garden of Mrs. Abraham Lansing, Albany, New York. Photographed by Pirie MacDonald facing 154
A Thought of Winter's Snows. Garden of Frederick J. Kingsbury, Esq., Waterbury, Connecticut 157
Larkspur and Phlox. Garden of Miss Frances Clary Morse, Worcester, Massachusetts 162
Sweet William and Foxglove 163
Plume Poppy 164
Meadow Rue 167
Money-in-both-Pockets 171
Box Walk in Garden of Frederick J. Kingsbury, Esq., Waterbury, Connecticut 173
Lunaria in Garden of Mrs. Mabel Osgood Wright, Fairfield, Connecticut. Photographed by Mabel Osgood Wright facing 174
Dahlia[Pg xiii] Walk at Ravensworth, County Fairfax, Virginia. Home of Mrs. W. R. Fitzhugh Lee. Photographed by Elizabeth W. Trescot 177
Petunias 180
Virgin's Bower, in Garden of Miss Frances Clary Morse, Worcester, Massachusetts 184
Matrimony Vine at Van Cortlandt Manor. Photographed by J. Horace McFarland 186
White Chinese Wistaria, in Garden of Mortimer Howell, Esq., West Hampton Beach, Long Island 188
Spiræa Van Houtteii. Photographed by J. Horace McFarland facing 190
Old Apple Tree at Whitehall. Home of Bishop Berkeley, near Newport, Rhode Island 194
"The valley stretching below
Is white with blossoming Apple trees,
As if touched with lightest snow."
Photographed by T. E. M. and G. F. White
197
Old Hand-power Cider Mill. Photographed by Mary F. C. Paschall 198
Pressing out the Cider in Old Hand Mill 200
Old Cider Mill with Horse Power. Photographed by T. E. M. and G. F. White 203
Straining off the Cider into Barrels 204
Drying Apples. Photographed by T. E. M. and G. F. White facing 208
Ancient Apple Picker, Apple Racks, Apple Parers, Apple Butter Kettle, Apple Butter Paddle, Apple Butter Stirrer, Apple Butter Crocks. Photographed by Mary F. C. Paschall 211
Making Apple Butter. Photographed by Mary F. C. Paschall facing 214
Shakespeare Border in Garden at Hillside, Menand's, near Albany, New York. Photographed by Gustave Lorey 216
Long Border at Hillside, Menand's, near Albany, New York. Photographed by Gustave Lorey facing 218
The Beauty of Winter Lilacs. In Garden of Mrs. Abraham Lansing, Albany, New York. Photographed by Pirie MacDonald 220
Garden of Mrs. Frank Robinson, Wakefield, Rhode Island 222
Garden of Mary Washington 228
Box and Phlox. Garden of Sylvester Manor, Shelter Island, New York 230
Within the Weeping Beech. Photographed by E. C. Nichols facing 232
Spring Snowflake, Garden of Miss Frances Clary Morse, Worcester, Massachusetts. Photographed by Herschel F. Davis 234
Star of Bethlehem, in Garden of Miss Frances Clary Morse, Worcester, Massachusetts. Photographed by Herschel F. Davis 237
"The Pearl" Achillæa 238
Pyrethrum. Photographed by Mary F. C. Paschall 242
Terraced Garden of the Misses Nichols, Salem, Massachusetts. Photographed by Herschel F. Davis 246
Arbor in a Salem Garden 250
Scilla in Garden of Miss Frances Clary Morse, Worcester, Massachusetts 254
Sweet Alyssum Edging of White Border at Indian Hill, Newburyport, Massachusetts 256
Bachelor's Buttons in a Salem Garden. Home of Mrs. Edward B. Peirson 258
A "Sweet Garden-side" in Salem, Massachusetts, Home of John Robinson, Esq. facing 260
Salpiglossis in Garden at Indian Hill, Newburyport, Massachusetts. Photographed by Herschel F. Davis 261
The Old Campanula, Garden of Miss Frances Clary Morse, Worcester, Massachusetts 263
Chinese Bellflower. Photographed by Herschel F. Davis 264
Garden at Tudor Place, Georgetown, District of Columbia. Home of Mrs. Beverly Kennon. Photographed by Elizabeth W. Trescot facing 266
Light as a Loop of Larkspur, in Garden of Judge Oliver Wendell Holmes, Beverly, Massachusetts 269
Viper's Bugloss. Photographed by Henry Troth 274
The Prim Precision of Leaf and Flower of Lupine. Photographed by Henry Troth 276
The Garden's Friend. Photographed by Clifton Johnson 281
Edging[Pg xv] of Striped Lilies in a Salem Garden. Photographed by Herschel F. Davis 283
Garden Seat at Avonwood Court. Photographed by J. Horace McFarland facing 286
Terraced Garden of the Misses Nichols, Salem, Massachusetts 288
"A Running Ribbon of Perfumed Snow which the Sun is melting rapidly." At Marchant Farm, Kingston, Rhode Island. Photographed by Sarah F. Marchant 292
Fountain Garden at Sylvester Manor, Shelter Island, New York facing 294
Hawthorn Arch at Holly House, Peace Dale, Rhode Island. Home of Rowland G. Hazard, Esq. 298
Thyme-covered Graves. Photographed by Mary F. C. Paschall 301
"White Umbrellas of Elder" 305
Lower Garden at Sylvester Manor, Shelter Island, New York facing 308
"Black-heart Amorous Poppies" 310
Valerian. Photographed by E. C. Nichols 314
Old War Office in Garden at Salem, New Jersey 319
Crown Imperial. Page from Gerarde's Herball facing 324
The Children's Garden facing 330
Foxgloves in a Narragansett Garden 333
Hollyhocks in Garden of Kimball Homestead, Portsmouth, New Hampshire facing 334
Autumn View of an Old Worcester Garden facing 338
Hollyhocks at Tudor Place, Georgetown, District of Columbia. Home of Mrs. Beverly Kennon 339
An Old Worcester Garden. Home of Edwin A. Fawcett, Esq. facing 340
Caraway 342
Sun-dial of Jonathan Fairbanks, Esq., Dedham, Massachusetts 344
Bronze Sun-dial on Dutch Reformed Church, West End Avenue, New York 346
Sun-dial mounted on Boulder, Swiftwater, Pennsylvania 347
Buckthorn Arch in Garden of Mrs. Edward B. Peirson, Salem, Massachusetts. Photographed by Herschel F. Davis facing 348
Sun-dial at Emery Place, Brightwood, District of Columbia. Photographed by William Van Zandt Cox 349
Sun-dial[Pg xvi] at Travellers' Rest, Virginia. Home of Mrs. Bowie Gray. Photographed by Elizabeth W. Trescot 350
Two Old Cronies; the Sun-dial and Bee skepe. Photographed by Eva E. Newell 354
Portable Sun-dial from Collection of the Author 356
Sun-dial in Garden of Frederick J. Kingsbury, Esq., Waterbury, Connecticut 358
Sun-dial at Morristown, New Jersey. Designed by W. Gedney Beatty, Esq. 359
"Yes, Toby, it's Three o'clock." Judge Daly and his Sun-dial at Sag Harbor, Long Island. Drawn by Edward Lamson Henry, N.A. 361
Face of Dial at Sag Harbor, Long Island 362
Sun-dial in Garden of Grace Church Rectory, New York. Photographed by J. W. Dow 364
Fugio Bank-note 365
Sun-dial at "Washington House," Little Brington, England 367
Dial-face from Mount Vernon. Owned by William F. Havemeyer, Jr. 368
Sun-dial from Home of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, Virginia. Photographed by Elizabeth W. Trescot 369
Kenmore, the Home of Betty Washington Lewis, Fredericksburg, Virginia. Photographed by Elizabeth W. Trescot 371
Sun-dial in Garden of Charles T. Jenkins, Esq., Germantown, Pennsylvania 373
Sun-dial at Ophir Farm, White Plains, New York. Country-seat of Hon. Whitelaw Reid 375
Sun-dial at Hillside, Menand's, near Albany, New York 378
Old Brass and Pewter Dial-faces from Collection of Author 379
Beata Beatrix facing 380
The Faithful Gardener 381
A Garden Lyre at Waterford, Virginia facing 384
A Virginia Lyre with Vines 386
Old Iron Gates at Westover-on-James, Virginia. Photographed by George S. Cook 388
Ironwork in Court of Colt Mansion, Bristol, Rhode Island. Photographed by J. W. Dow 390
Sharpening the Old Dutch Scythe. Photographed by Mary F. C. Paschall facing 392
Summer-house[Pg xvii] at Ravensworth, County Fairfax, Virginia. Home of Mrs. W. H. Fitzhugh Lee. Photographed by Elizabeth W. Trescot 392
Beehives at Waterford, Virginia. Photographed by Henry Troth facing 394
Beehives under the Trees. Photographed by Henry Troth 395
Spring House at Johnson Homestead, Germantown, Pennsylvania. Photographed by Henry Troth facing 396
Dovecote at Shirley-on-James, Virginia. From Some Colonial Mansions and Those who lived in Them. Published by Henry T. Coates & Co., Philadelphia 397
The Peacock in his Pride 398
The Guardian of the Garden 400
Brick Terrace Wall at Van Cortlandt Manor. Photographed by J. Horace McFarland facing 402
Rail Fence Corner 403
Topiary Work at Levens Hall 404
Oval Pergola at Arlington, Virginia. Photographed by Elizabeth W. Trescot facing 406
French Homestead, Kingston, Rhode Island, with Old Stone Terrace Wall. Photographed by Sarah F. Marchant 407
Italian Garden at Wellesley, Massachusetts. Country-seat of Hollis H. Hunnewell, Esq. facing 408
Marble Steps in Italian Garden at Wellesley, Massachusetts 410
Topiary Work in California 412
Serpentine Brick Wall at University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. Photographed by Elizabeth W. Trescot 413
Chestnut Path in Garden at Indian Hill, Newburyport, Massachusetts. Photographed by Herschel F. Davis facing 418
Foxgloves in Lower Garden at Indian Hill, Newburyport, Massachusetts. Photographed by Herschel F. Davis 421
Dame's Rocket. Photographed by Mary F. C. Paschall 424
Snakeroot. Photographed by Mary F. C Paschall 426
Title-page of Parkinson's Paradisi in Solis, etc. facing 428
Yuccas, like White Marble against the Evergreens 430
Fraxinella in Garden of Miss Frances Clary Morse, Worcester, Massachusetts facing 432
Love-in-a-Mist. Photographed by Henry Troth 436
Spiderwort in an Old Worcester Garden. Photographed by Herschel F. Davis facing 438
Gardener's[Pg xviii] Garters at Van Cortlandt Manor. Photographed by J. Horace McFarland 440
Garden Walk at The Manse, Deerfield, Massachusetts. Photographed by Clifton Johnson facing 442
London Pride. Photographed by Eva E. Newell 445
White Fritillaria in Garden of Miss Frances Clary Morse, Worcester, Massachusetts 448
Bouncing Bet 451
Overgrown Garden at Llanerck, Pennsylvania. Photographed by Henry Troth facing 454
Fountain at Yaddo, Saratoga, New York. Country-seat of Spencer Trask, Esq. 455
Avenue of White Pines at Wellesley, Massachusetts. Country-seat of Hollis H. Hunnewell, Esq. 456
Violets in Silver Double Coaster 461
York and Lancaster Rose at Van Cortlandt Manor. Photographed by J. Horace McFarland facing 462
Cinnamon Roses. Photographed by Mabel Osgood Wright 465
Cottage Garden with Roses. Photographed by Mary F. C. Paschall facing 468
Madame Plantier Rose. Photographed by Mabel Osgood Wright 474
Sun-dial and Roses at Van Cortlandt Manor. Photographed by J. Horace McFarland facing 476
Old Time Gardens
CHAPTER I
COLONIAL GARDEN-MAKING
"There is not a softer trait to be found in the character of those stern men than that they should have been sensible of these flower-roots clinging among the fibres of their rugged hearts, and felt the necessity of bringing them over sea, and making them hereditary in the new land."
—American Note-book, Nathaniel Hawthorne.