Colonial Williamsburg
Gardens

September 14, 2011

in Gardens, Visit & Events

Fall walking tour highlights area trees

Colonial Williamsburg’s new walking tour, “Tall Treasures,” focuses on the diversity of trees that grow in the Historic Area. Guides will identify trees of interest and discuss the tree’s characteristics and colonial uses. The tour begins at 9:30 a.m. at Chowning’s Tavern and is offered on Mondays and Fridays, Sept. 12-Nov. 7. A free reservation is required along with a Colonial Williamsburg annual pass, Hotel Guest pass or Good Neighbor pass.

Learn about other walking tours

Find this program and others in the daily calendar.

April 19, 2011

in Gardens, What's New

What’s Your Favorite Garden?

Spring is in full flower in Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area gardens. Vote for your favorite garden, then plan a visit to stroll these perfumed paths in person.

Download Gardens brochure and map
Spring Gardens programs

April 7, 2011

in Gardens, Visit & Events, What's New

Attend the Garden Symposium April 10-11

Colonial Williamsburg’s gardens have provided inspiration to generations of gardeners. During “Timeless Ideas for Today’s Gardens” at the 65th annual Garden Symposium, gardeners can glean ideas from the diversity of plants and functional designs that are part of the Historic Area’s charm. The symposium will be at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum on April 10-11.

Learn more.

October 27, 2010

in Gardens

Were there birdhouses in colonial Virginia?

It seems that wild birds were not deemed desirable to have around the colonial garden, unless they were good to eat or good at eating insects.

Pottery bird bottles as have been found in Williamsburg archaeological excavations, were intended mainly to attract martins, for insect control. These were made at the factory of William Rogers in Yorktown out of local clay.

Add a bird bottle to your garden.

August 4, 2010

in Gardens, What's New

Apples of Love

This summer we are making the experiment of the Apples of Love in the garden; I understand the Spanish call this most striking and unusual fruit the “tomato.” It has long been used by the Spanish, the Portuguese and the Italians, but has only recently been adopted by English cooks in soups and broths.

Learn more about these deadly nightshades.

The eminent Dr. John de Sequeyra, attending physician at the Lunatic Asylum in Williamsburg, has brought this fruit to our attention and has claimed if a person could eat enough of them that he should be rewarded with great health and a long life. This is remarkable as most Englishmen have considered it little better than poison until recently. Be that as it may, the cook at the Governor’s house has recommended it, and as he is known for his culinary expertise, we venture to make a try of it.

See a map of our gardens.

June 23, 2010

in Gardens, Visit & Events, What's New

Catch the new “Herbs in the Garden” tour

Colonial Williamsburg introduces a new garden program this summer: Herbs in the Garden. Participants will learn tips on growing herbs and ways in which they can be enjoyed today. The program runs each Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. through August 31st. Reservations are required for this event. Colonial Williamsburg has 26 gardens and countless informal plantings throughout the Historic Area.

The herbs discussed are those that would have been used by the colonists. Whereas some herbs were used for cooking and cleaning, others were used as medicines or dyes, and yet some were used for cosmetic or insecticidal purposes.

My favorite herbs are those valued by the colonists for their aromatic properties.

Lavender, violets and roses, along with common sage and pinks (Dianthus species), were used to scent perfumes, pomades, water, vinegar and ammonia. Lavender was also used when making sweet bags for linen because of its refreshing scent and insect repellent properties.

Herbs found in early recipes for sweet bags and potpourri include roses, sweet marjoram, lavender, rosemary, pinks, mint, myrtle, angelica root and orris root (the dried rhizome of the Florentine iris). Orris root was also an ingredient in a 1758 recipe for burning perfume. Steeped in rosewater, the sliced orris root was beaten and mixed with several ingredients, and then set out to dry.

The herbs mentioned above not only add fragrance to your garden, but beautiful flowers and decorative foliage. With a little planning, your own garden can provide you with a variety of aromatic herbs to enjoy.

Learn more about the Gardens of Colonial Williamsburg.

Plan a visit to explore them all.