Wealthier medieval garden owners were very interested in providing structure to their gardens. Some of the especially popular ways to do this were to construct a tunnel arbor, have a focal tree, grow topiary in pots, have a water feature, grow a pure or flowered lawn or a flowery mead, and have a turf bench.
Tunnel Arbors
A tunnel arbor consisted of a pathway through an area that had vines or roses growing on an arched trellis or coppiced trees (usually willows) arching over it. Modern gardeners can adapt this to their yards by constructing a trellis that shades an outdoor dining area or a pathway connecting two areas of their yard. Grape vines are as practical to grow today as they were then.
Focal Trees
To create a focal tree, gardeners must adjust their thinking to medieval garden design. Many gardeners today try to avoid the area around trees, but medieval gardens were often designed with a tree as the centerpiece. A way to do this is to make pie-slice-shaped beds with the paths between them leading to the tree.
Topiary
Topiary was wildly popular in medieval gardens. At the time, the biggest craze was “estrade trees,” which used wires to form platforms of branches, a style which is difficult to create and maintain at home. Nowadays it is more realistic to create a more modern topiary, formed into a ball or other geometric shape. Topiaries were grown in pots in medieval gardens, but modern gardeners in cold-winter climates may prefer to grow them in the ground rather than having to protect the pots for winter or bring the plants indoors.
Water Features
Water features were also very popular, symbolizing the water of life. The two most popular types were fountains and ornamental pools. If gardeners carefully select a shallow feature and line it with pebbles, it will likely also attract birds.
Green Grass, Flowering Turf, and Flowery Meads
Many in medieval times shared the obsession gardeners have today with a weed-free robust lawn. Green was considered a spiritual color and the sight of a pure green close-cut lawn was said to be inspiring.
Flowering turf was the name for lawn that was scattered with tiny flowers such as violets, thyme, daisies, and wild strawberries, as well as other short flowers many might call “weeds” today. These robust plants are fine to mow, and the frequency of mowing determines which flowers will populate the lawn. Gardeners can further adapt this concept by adding small spring-blooming bulbs such as crocus and squill (Scilla spp.) to their lawn.
Where lawns were impractical or undesirable, a "flowery mead" was planted instead. An area of small flowers, it simply omitted the turf.
Turf Benches
Turf benches were extremely popular. Built of a material such as brick and covered with turf, they were popular sitting spots in wealthier gardens, and the word “banquet” originated from lunching at them. Many medieval portraits of the Virgin Mary show her sitting on a turf bench. While a turf bench would be more difficult to implement than other medieval structural features, it would be a unique addition to a modern garden.
Consider Materials
When creating the structure for a modern medieval garden, consider materials. Gravel and sand were popular for pathways as they were cheap and widely available. When wicker was introduced, its use became widespread for trellises, short fences around garden beds, and baskets. Those that could afford them utilized brick and stone. People generally favored local materials, a preference that is back in style today.
Sources
Medieval Gardens Workshop, taught by Priscilla Baumann, Lesley University Continuing Education Program, 2008.
Elizabeth Loveland - Elizabeth Loveland is a freelance writer, editor, and nature photographer. She received a degree in anthropology from Oberlin College and ...
