A study of Elizabethan horticulture and the flowers evoked in Shakespeare's plays, this work traces the evolution of medieval enclosed gardens into the Tudor garden of delight, surveys herbalists and the introduction of foreign species, and catalogs the blossoms and folk lore Shakespeare references. It combines close readings of period sources with lists of historically accurate varieties and old common names, and concludes with practical, period-sensitive guidance for recreating an authentic garden layout, choosing appropriate plants, and arranging color and scent according to early modern gardening practices.