Experience the Life
: Gardening
: Letter from the Colonial Garden, Williamsburg
In the spirit of the 1734 to 1746 correspondence between
Williamsburg resident John Custis
and his "Brother of the Spade"
Peter Collinson in London, Colonial Williamsburg garden interpreter Terry
Yemm shares news of the Colonial Garden on Duke of Gloucester Street, where
gardeners use 18th-century gardening techniques and period tools.
Williamsburg
April 12, 1997
Dear Friend,
Spring is surely upon those of us who toil in the Colonial Garden, thus on
a rainy day I write to share with you the Fruits of our labours.
While I cannot send you the Flowers, Vegetables or other
Products from our cultivation of the Plants, it is my hope to
interest you with some of the Knowledge we have gleaned.
I have again had a lesson of the importance not to defer one task in
favor of another. Wesley Greene worked mightily through January
and dunged the upper vegetable bed in a timely manner. I began
the lower bed in March, exhausted our supply of Dung and now must
finish the bed with leaf Mold while trying to plant spring seeds.
Next year I must complete the spading of the vegetable beds in
January and February.
Despite my procrastination we are
posssessed of Peas planted from March first, along with Onions
begun from bulblets and transplanted Brassicas nurtured under
glass. Tender Seedlings of Broad Windsor Beans and Salsify
planted on March 17th stretch heavenward. Of course we still
impress visitors to our garden by sharing a taste of the Peas and
Lettuce planted in the Hotframe at the start of last December.
The second hotframe is currently occupied with seedling Melons
and Cucumbers growing in Pots or Baskets for transplanting to the
garden in a few days.
We are near the middle of the Spring
flowers. The Crocuses, Daffodils, and Narcissus have nearly left
us for this year, but the Tulips are near their peak. Many of
the smaller bulbs still reveal their glory, such as the Spanish
Squill, the Anemone and the Grape Hyacinth. The early perennials
such as the Cowslip, Candytuft, along with natives such as Green-
and-Gold, Spring Beauty, and Foamflower are spreading carpets of
color.
The Flower Stall vendors find it easy to interest
visitors in their goods when the plants are busy displaying their
qualities. A Dogwood, Lilac, or Redbud is worthwhile to buy as a
young whip when its more mature brother or sister is grandly
draped across the fence. Further, I impress upon you Friend, the
flower merchants have expanded their wares this year with many
new plants to sell, along with Seeds, dried flowers, and an
assortment of garden Utensils.
Wesley and I renewed
acquaintance with a family from the Upper Chesapeake this week.
They had visited our garden last September and returned to share
the culmination of that encounter. While they were here we had
given the children a Chrysalis attached to one of the plants.
They took it home, kept it warm until the Butterfly emerged, and
brought it back to release it in the garden. 'Tis a wonder
indeed how such a small act on our part can encourage others to
admire Nature.
I hope to be able to inform you of the progress
of our oeconomy in the future. Much More I have to say but I
will tire you no Longer but only to assure you that I am Your
sincere Friend
Terrance Yemm, Gardener
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