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yellowrose10

what flowers would be in a 1890 midwest garden

yellowrose10
13 years ago

what kinds of flowers and shrubs, fruit trees would be planted in a 1890 midwest garden?

Comments (2)

  • oath5
    13 years ago

    probably native prairie flowers, and maybe heirloom old fashioned favorites like a lilac bush, mockorange, and peonies that they would bring with them from the east coast. I would pick up the book "Restoring America's Gardens'

    http://www.amazon.com/Restoring-American-Gardens-Encyclopedia-Ornamental/dp/0881926191/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1296588735&sr=8-1

    It's a great book and it lists everything by year and what was available and popular in your area.

    There are some pictures of people in the midwest in small little houses and really, only the simplest of pleasures. There's a picture I remember of a family who strung string down the front of their small little house for morning glory to climb up.

    Hope that helps some. I'm sure there is a ton out there.

  • Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
    12 years ago

    daffodils
    alcea (hollyhocks)
    phlox paniculata
    many herbs
    Aquilegia vulgaris (columbine)
    Asclepias tuberosa (milkweed, butterfly weed)
    echinacea (coneflower)
    larkspur
    delphinium
    eupatorium (joe pye)
    vernonia (ironweed)
    solidago (goldenrod)
    digitalis (foxglove)
    lobelia siphilitica (blue lobelia)
    lunaria (money plant)
    taraxacum officinale (dandelion)
    cichorium intybus (chicory)
    violets
    borage
    alternanthera (calico plants)
    sunflowers
    platycodon (balloon flower)

    Writing that list made me miss zone 5, especially today. It's 99 degrees already. Are you trying to make the whole yard more authentic or just a flower garden?

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