“A fascinating account of formal gardens during the middle ages,” including plants and their uses, features, tools, cultivation techniques, and more (Books Monthly). Medieval gardens usually rate very few pages in the garden history books. The general perception is still of small gardens in the corner of a castle. Recent research has shown that the gardens were larger than we previously believed. This book contains information and pictures that have not been generally available before, including the theory and practice of medieval horticulture. Many features of later gardens were already a part of medieval gardens. The number of plants was limited, but was still no less than many modern gardeners use in their own gardens today. Yet medieval gardens were imbued with meaning. Whether secular or religious, the additional dimension of symbolism, gave a greater depth to medieval gardens, which is lacking in most modern ones. This book will be of interest to those who know little about medieval gardens and to those with more knowledge. It contains some of the vast amount of research that the author carried out to create the medieval gardens at the Prebendal Manor, Nassington, Northamptonshire. The author has tried to use previously unused sources and included his own practical experience of medieval gardening methods that he carried out to maintain the gardens. “Beautifully illustrated . . . a fascinating read for the armchair gardener as well as the more practical variety . . . The author draws on a wide range of sources: herbals, animal management, medieval manuals, illuminated manuscripts, account books, poems, paintings, and tapestries.” —The Ricardian Bulletin

Illustrated survey of gardening lore from the Norman Conquest to the Renaissance reveals wealth of ancient secrets drawn from obscure sources, chronicling cultivation of pleasure gardens as well as herbariums, orchards, and vineyards.

Combining her historical knowledge with practical experience of recreating medieval gardens in various sites in England, Landsberg explains how she designed Queen Eleanor's garden at Winchester and Brother Cadfael's physic garden at Shrewsbury.

From the medieval period through to the outbreak of the First World War. Beautifully illustrated in full colour, these attractive volumes provide an insight into the garden fashions of different periods and how garden design was influenced by the social and economic developments of the time. The focus is on the outdoor spaces of the common people as well as those of the well-to-do, and an informative section covers popular plants, new botanical introductions, developments in garden equipment and furniture, and influential gardeners of each period. This is followed by a simple guide to recreating particular features for yourself, to evoke the feel of a particular period. Medieval Gardens charts the evolution of our earliest gardens, from the rows of culinary and medicinal herbs tended by monks, to the earliest secular pleasure gardens, enclosed within castle walls. These were spaces for private conversations and outdoor games, often with raised beds and turf seats and perhaps a mound for surveying the countryside beyond. Still enclosed within wall were the 'pleasure parks' that covered many acres of land.

“A mouthwatering picture book.” —Toronto Tasting Notes No longer content with separating the plants they grow to eat and the plants they grow for beauty, gardeners are discovering the pleasures of incorporating both edibles and ornamentals into their home landscapes. The Kitchen Gardener's Handbook makes it easy. Whether she's sharing tips on planting radishes in spring, harvesting tomatoes in summer, or pruning perennials in winter, Bartley's friendly advice gives gardeners the tools they need to build and maintain a kitchen garden. Readers will learn how to plant, grow, and harvest the best vegetables, fruits, greens, and herbs for every season. They'll also find seasonal recipes that celebrate the best of the harvest, monthly garden chores, eight sample garden designs, and information on using cut flowers for decoration. The Kitchen Gardener's Handbook is a guide for gardeners who want it all—the freshness of fruits and vegetables and the beauty and simplicity of hand-picked bouquets.

From peony to poppy, and Solomon's seal and columbine to lily and iris, this illustrated book draws together those species of flowers - pure in colour and beautifully scented - that grew in medieval times and still grow today. Passing through the seasons, the book features gardens in Britain and elsewhere in Europe that can be traced back to medieval times. It details the purpose of gardens in those times, the types of plants grown, and the medicinal aspects, and also has a chapter on how to grow the individual flowers today. Garden plans and plant sources complete the book.