Early American Gardens: For Meate or Medicine

By Ann Leighton

Book Overview

Early American Gardens, published in 1970, was the first of three authoritative volumes of garden history by Ann Leighton. The 464-page masterwork of garden history was reissued in this paperback edition by University of Massachusetts Press in 1986. Concentrating on the gardens of the early settlers of New England, this volume deals with gardeners as well as the plants they depended upon for household aids, flavorings, drinks, and medicines. The well-illustrated, thorough, and scholarly volume is a book for history buffs as well as avid and inquisitive gardeners.

Companion volumes by Ann Leighton

American Gardens in the Eighteenth Century "For Use or for Delight"
American Gardens of the Nineteenth Century "For Comfort and Affluence"

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0870235303
• ISBN13: 9780870235306
• Release Date: August 1986
• Publisher: University of Massachusetts Press
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 1.43 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

a comprehensive history of american gardens

I have been researching the history of gardening in America and have not found a better rescource than Ann Leighton's books, specifically Early American Gardens: For Meate or Medicine. This book is full of good facts and is very readable. Covering the colonization of North America from its earliest years, this book goes into detail on primary sources as well as recent scholarly efforts. This book will be useful for anyone interrested in gardening (especially if making an historic garden on your own property) or in history (especially if you are bored reading about political history).