Dear Peter
Your children's garden sounds wonderful. I am sorry I don't know the 12
o'clock answer, but you could try Martha Turnbull's diaries at Rosedown in
Louisiana for reference? Also, in reading your email something did occur to
me that I thought was worthy of sharing.
When Historic Rock Castle worked with children in creating its kitchen
garden, an important GREEN shell-edge creamware shard was discovered as they
were digging. This tiny piece led to the curator's acquisition of creamware
porcelain for the keeping room dining table. A significant discovery to say
the least.
So, given this, I thought I would suggest that you tell the children to keep
their eyes open for objects in the soil. They may make their own
archaeological discovery!
Good luck with your project.
Ware
L.W.S. Petznick, Ph.D.
McFaddin-Ward House
Curator of Collections
725 Third St.
Beaumont, TX 77701
[log in to unmask]
www.mcfaddin-ward.org
409.832.1906 p
409.832.3483 f
The McFaddin-Ward House features three floors of original furnishings,
including a newly restored third floor. Learn how the First World War
affected the McFaddin family as we explore "Foxtrots and Foxholes"
throughout 2007. Call 409-832-2134 for tour information.
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Peter Lake
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 2:59 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Victorian Garden Questions
Dear List,
The museum for which I work, Strawbery Banke Museum, is creating a
children's garden this spring. It will be physically attached to both a
recreated high Victorian garden and a restored hothouse exhibit; therefore
we
are aiming to make this new garden as historically authentic as possible.
The current garden is based largely upon the writings of Sarah Parker Rice
Goodwin, wife of the Civil War era New Hampshire governor. Similarly,
elements within the children's garden will have roots within Goodwin's
writing.
One of these elements is the source of my question.
In her memoirs, Sarah Goodwin wrote a passage about a garden she
experimented in as a child. The bed's border was constructed with "alley
board." Beyond the assumption that the name refers to the boards' function
of creating "alleys" between multiple beds, Sarah Goodwin gives us no other
clues.
So my question to the list is: what type of wood and what dimensions would
in your experience fulfill the Victorian concept of "alley board"?
And if you've read this far, another question Sarah Goodwin has evoked is
her
reference to a plan called the 12 o'clock. It is unlikely she was confusing
the
plant with 4 o'clocks, but it's most likely a disused common name for a
midday
blooming plant. Any ideas?
Thank you in advance,
Peter Lake
Garden Interpreter
Strawbery Banke Museum
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