The Providential Gardener is compiling a list of gardens that are models of 17th through 19th century gardening practices and that have some documentation, either in a brochure available at the garden or on the web. Here are a few in the list so far:
Hopkins House (Providence - 18th C)
Prescott Farm (Middletown - 18th C) - link is to a Learning Connection Tour 7/29
Rough Point (Newport - 19th C - Olmstead design)- link is a Learning Connection Tour 8/18
Slater Mill Gardens (Pawtucket - 18th-19th C)
Smith's Castle Gardens (Wickford - 18th C)
Varnum House (E. Greenwich – 1773)
Whitehall (Middletown – 18th C)
There may be a period garden outside the Betsey Williams Cottage at Roger Williams Park (near the wonderful Rose Garden created by the Rhode Island Rose Society). I'll have to go check. I want to list places that have descriptive info about the gardens either available on site or on the web - preferably both. I am not finding a lot of descriptive info on the web about the GARDENS at most of the websites listed above except for Smith's Castle 18th C Gardens, which is very informative. Info surfaces indirectly in tour sites and course descriptions. It would be great if Providential Gardeners could visit these places to see and study excellent examples of gardens as they would have been designed in earlier centuries. Maybe some of you could help write up descriptions of these and other ancient gardens, or participate with other Providential Gardeners in recreating the ancient gardens.
And I am looking for even earlier examples of native agricultural/gardening practices before the Europeans showed up here. Does anyone know of places where native American farming is practiced in Rhode Island? Add comments! Send email! Many thanks.
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