There are many books about heirloom gardening and flowers out there. I am an
heirloom gardener at home and I use heirloom plants in the museum
demonstration garden I maintain at work. Aside from a myriad of primary
sources out there, some in reprint form, a few books I like are Restoring
the American Garden: An Encyclopedia of Heirloom Ornamental Plants,
1640-1940 by Denise Wiles Adams (this books has some great illustrations of
early 20th century gardens), Heirloom Vegetable Gardening: A Master's Guide
to Planting, Seed Saving and Cultural History by William Woys Weaver, and
the classic triptych by Ann Leighton: American Gardens in the Eighteen
Century: For Use and Delight, American Gardens in the Nineteenth Century:
For Comfort and Affluence, and Early American Gardens: For Meate or
Medicine.
The USDA library and archives in Beltsville, Md. maintains a collection of
early American seed catalogs arranged by state that is terrifically useful.
There are various sources for heirloom plant material as well including
seeds, bulbs and starts.
Heidi Campbell-Shoaf, Curator
Historical Society of Frederick County
24 East Church Street
Frederick, Md. 21701
www.hsfcinfo.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Micki Ryan
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2006 8:22 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: 1910 "period" flowers
Sorry, I'm just picking up this horticultural thread. How is it possible
that only red geraniums were available in 1910, when gardens, garden tours,
garden follies, garden fantasies, garden everything was the absolute rage? I
have seen museum collection photos of residences showing acres of
staggeringly tall lilies, brilliant cannas, all kinds of oriental flowering
trees and shrubs, tropical flowers, orangeries, oh you name it. Go forth to
your local garden club or arboretum and do some research, look at their
scrapbooks, chat with their old-timers and you will be overwhelmed with
flowers, all of which were grown in some context, indoors or out in that
Edwardian period. Garden enthusiasts traveled the globe exchanging seeds and
kept up correspondence about it. A northwest source is the Edward Dunn
Historic Garden Trust in Seattle, also the Seattle Arboretum and Seattle
Garden Club.
Micki Ryan
Curator
Highline Historical Society
Behalf Of Laurel Spencer-Forsythe
Sent: Friday, June 09, 2006 8:11 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: 1910 "period" flowers
I'd like to tap the historic horticultural knowledge base of the list:
Is it true that only red geraniums were available in 1910?
Can you direct me to some sources for research on c. 1910 flowers?
If you want to reach me off list, I'm at [log in to unmask]
Many thanks,
Laurel
Laurel Spencer Forsythe
Executive Director
Ruthmere
Elkhart, IN 46514
(574)264-0330
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