The genius behind the lawn at Chatsworth was Capability Brown (1716-1783). In the course of…
Early American Gardening Centered on Vegetables

Early American gardening centered on vegetables –
In the first half of the nineteenth century gardeners focused on growing vegetables rather than cultivating a flower garden.
Perhaps the emphasis on vegetable growing may have been related to the simple need to survive.
Vegetable growing and farming consumed the early decades of the country. Once we had food on the table, we could worry about a flower garden.
In his book The Victorian Garden Tom Carter writes, “Until the middle of the century gardening writers dismissed flowers in favour of useful vegetable products.”
By the 1860s and 1870s seed company owners like Rochester, New York’s James Vick (1818-1882) still featured the importance of growing vegetables.
Here is an illustration from Vick’s catalog. Vegetables surround almost the entire house. [below]
In the catalog Vick wrote, “There is almost as much pleasure in growing a choice vegetable well, in bringing it to the highest possible state of perfection, as there is in producing a beautiful flower.”
Then Vick mentioned the lowly cauliflower, pictured in the left of the illustration. [above]
He wrote, “Indeed, some think with Dr. Johnson, that a Cauliflower is the handsomest flower that grows.”
Vick’s advice became important to his customers, so I am sure they followed his guidance in growing vegetables.
By that time gardeners were also enjoying their many flowers as well.
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