Key to Blakesley Hall Herb Garden

1. The Black Mulberry
This tree had been grown in England since Roman times. The fruit was used to make wine and leaves to protect against bites from snakes and worms. This tree can live a long time – one tree planted in London lived for 605 years!

 7. The Chamomile Lawn
Our Chamomile lawn is the wrong type for a Tudor garden, but it produces a lovely scent and it is very pretty. We do have a few problems with weeds and frogs though!
2. The Herbaceous Border
The idea of grouping plants together according to their flower or scent was becoming popular. They were brought to England from foreign countries and displayed where everyone could see them.		 8. The Fruiting Hedges were used to keep the garden private, shelter, hanging out the washing and for providing fruit and nuts to make medicine. In our hedge we have hazel, dog rose, blackthorn, hawthorn, elder and flowering currant.
3. The Flowery Mead
These wild meadow flowers were more common in Medieval gardens but would show off the skills of the gardener as they are very hard to grow. Ours includes 12 flowering plants and 7 types of grasses.		 9. The Fig Wall
Figs had been grown and eaten in England since Roman times. Growing figs need to be kept warm so the ones on this wall are facing the sun. The Tudors were very good at growing fruit on their walls.
4. The Medlar
This tree was introduced by the Romans. It grows a single white flower and fruit that the Tudors used to eat. It is still sometimes used to make jellies and jams, or to help cure stomach ache!		 10. The Yellow Buckeye
This tree comes from North America and belongs to the Horse-Chestnut family. It grows a small yellow flower and smooth, round fruit. It now stands right in the centre of our garden.
5. The Red Crab Apple
The fruit of this tree is very sour to eat but pretty to look at as it is pink. The apples would have been used for their juice to use in cooking or to make cider, jelly and jam.		 11. Apple Walk
Covered walkways (or allees) were popular in Elizabethan gardens. They would be covered in climbing plants, trees and bushes. Apples were very important to the Tudors as they were used to make cider.
6. The Herb Garden
Herbs were a very important part of the garden. They could be used in cooking, medicines, cosmetics and in other things around the house. Women had to look after the herbs in the garden as they did most of the cooking. There are 36 herbs in our garden but a Tudor garden would have had more than this. 		Back

created by Hannah Bonner