The evolution of horticulture in New England is traced from its earliest roots to a thriving garden culture.
This book surveys how gardens, orchards, and vineyards took hold among the colony settlers, how practical knowledge spread, and how evolving ideas shaped the region’s daily life.
Across chapters that move from ancient beginnings to post-Revolution progress, you’ll see how early settlers approached planting, tool use, and the transplantation of European ideas to American soil. The narrative threads together key figures, settlements, and the slow, steady advance of horticultural practice amid frontier conditions and changing institutions.
- How gardens and fruit trees formed early in New England’s towns and plantations
- The roles of notable pioneers and places in shaping horticultural practice
- The shift from subsistence farming to a more deliberate cultivation of fruit, vegetables, and ornamental plants
- Connections between education, science, and the growth of horticulture through institutions and experiments
Ideal for readers of colonial history, agricultural history, and anyone curious about how a regional garden tradition began and grew in challenging landscapes.