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This blog aims to glean some history — not only about gardening but also about gardens themselves — from books and other writings from the past 400 years, give or take.

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Garden History Looking back at backyard gardens

English - Gardening, Food Production, Horticulture

http://www.cheryl.dewolfe.bc.ca/gardenhistory/

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Garden History · 1Y ago

Food Story: Cucumber

“Few relishes are more appreciated than the Cucumber and those who like it generally contrive to have a long supply of tender fruits by sowing successionally in winter and spring.” — Wright Encyclopedia of Gardening Cucumbers come in an amazing variety of shapes and sizes, from the diminutive Gherki

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Garden History · 1Y ago

Garden History versus Garden Now

Just wanted to note that the garden outside my back deck has been winning in the battle for my attention! I’ll be back to regular posts soon. Got a topic in mind? Leave me a comment!

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Garden History · 1Y ago

Herb Story: Feverfew

My daughter taught me about feverfew after she learned about it in a summer camp program. I’d always thought of it as a weed (and it does have invasive qualities) but now know that it is cultivated for use in herbal supplements. Feverfew (Tanacetum partheneum or Chrysanthymum partheneum) a.k.a. Feth

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Garden History · 1Y ago

Slugs and Snails

Is there anything more heartbreaking than the sight of seedlings, stripped of their leaves overnight by slugs? In the Wright Encyclopedia of Gardening (1933), Walter P. Wright has this to say about slugs and snails, Gardeners are not yet satisfied of the useful part played by the slug in the economy

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Garden History · 1Y ago

Food Story: Plums

One of my favourite poems by William Carlos Williams features the plum: This is just to say I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold How can you not fall in love with a fruit [...]

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Garden History · 1Y ago

Saving Seeds

For many years, the best way for a gardener to ensure a good crop in following years was to save the seeds from the strongest plants. It’s still the best way but for years, few people practiced this as it was easier just to buy new seeds from suppliers. (Speaking of suppliers, if you want [...]

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Garden History · 2Y ago

Food story: rhubarb

One of my favourite things in the world is strawberry-rhubarb crumble and I was very excited on moving into our new home to find rhubarb growing in the back of the lot. According to the neighbours, the last owners had tried to eradicate it — I’m glad they were not successful. Now you know how I [...

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Garden History · 2Y ago

The Size of a Garden

“To determine the appropriate size of a kitchen garden is impossible.” – George W Johnson in The Kitchen Garden, 1836 With the current popularity of food gardening, a common question from beginners is “How much space do I need?” The answer is, as Johnson suggests, impossible to determine without co

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Garden History · 2Y ago

Tent Caterpillars Then and Now

Tent caterpillars (a term used to describe more than 20 species in the genus Malacosoma ) are easily recognized by their bright colours and the distinct spun-web tents that provide shelter when they aren’t defoliating trees. When I was little, I remember my Dad taking care to prune nests of tent ca

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Garden History · 2Y ago

The Victory Garden

USDA Victory Gardens (run-time 0:20:26) This 1942 film produced by the US Department of Agriculture discusses the importance of Victory Gardens and encourages the whole family to pitch in — and they’d need to with a garden that size! I don’t know of many families now who have quite as much room as t

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