A Garden of Herbs

A Garden of Herbs by Eleanour Sinclair Rohde is a classic work on the history and use of herbs, first published in 1920.

Its essentially a love letter to the old English herb garden, combining history, literature, and practical knowledge. Heres what it covers:

The Heart of the Book:

• The history of herb gardens in England from medieval times through the 17th century
• How herbs were grown, harvested, and used in daily life across the centuries
• The role of herbs in cooking, medicine, and household management

What Makes It Distinctive: Rohde draws heavily on old herbals and manuscripts - she quotes extensively from Gerard, Culpeper, Tusser, and other historical sources, so the book reads as much as a literary and historical journey as a gardening guide. It has a deeply romantic, antiquarian quality.

Practical Content Includes:

• Historical recipes and remedies using herbs
• Herb garden design and plant lists drawn from period sources
• Notes on specific herbs - their names, lore, and uses through history

Its Legacy: Its considered one of the finest books ever written on the subject and helped revive serious interest in herb gardening in the early 20th century. Rohde went on to write many more books on garden history, but this remains her most celebrated work.

It appeals to gardeners, food historians, lovers of English country life, and anyone interested in the history of plant lore and domestic life. Whether you grow your own herbs or purchase them in stores, this practical handbook shows how to make hundreds of teas, syrups, conserves, pies, candied flowers and leaves, wines, sweet waters, and perfumes. Most of the recipes are taken from old English herbals while the author adds many of her own 20th century creations.