Purpose: The gardens that visitors are familiar with are those meant for enjoyment and beautification of their homes. Likewise those who visit historic sites observe the beauty of gardens but often overlook the practicality and usefulness that the plants provided to people in the past. Selected for everything from flavoring food that may be bland or even spoiled to providing remedy for common illnesses, the plants in the garden served specific purposes for everyday life as well as beauty. Visitors to the garden area will discover information about the plants that goes beyond the attractiveness of flowers. After examining the information posted in the garden and listening to additional information from the docents, visitors will be able to:
Explain the usefulness of gardens in the 18th and 19th centuries
Identify specific flowers and herbs and explain their usefulness in cooking or for medicines and remedies
Explain the importance of the garden and supportive outbuildings to life in the Robert Long era
Procedure: The docent should have the following materials available when implementing this learning experience:
A copy of Visitor Resource Sheet, "The Robert Long Garden," for each visitor (or one copy for each group of two)
Signs that identify plants and their uses placed in the garden and easily readable by visitors
Locations of outbuildings identified on the ground (chalk, lime, or an outline of bricks)
Pencils
To introduce this learning experience ask:
Why do people have gardens?
Responses will vary, but generally visitors will relate information about flower gardens or vegetable gardens that they care for at their homes. After brief discussion, explain that gardens of the 18th and 19th centuries were planted for beauty, but they also served other purposes. Demonstrate this using mint or another herb. Take a leaf from the plant, crush it and pass it around to be smelled. Describe its uses from flavoring to medicinal purposes. Distribute the Visitor Resource Sheet, "The Robert Long Garden," and give the following directions:Read the signs on the plants to help you complete the chart. When you have examined a number of plants and completed your chart, meet me near the bench in the back of the yard (point out the location).
Allow sufficient time for visitors to complete this activity (10 to 15 minutes). Walk among them to see if they need assistance or have any questions. During this time, you may want to describe other herbs to them and explain how they were used.
Summary: When visitors are together in the back of the yard ask:
What are some interesting facts you have learned about the plants in the garden?
Get several responses. If no one responds at first, stimulate discussion by asking:
"Did you find any plant that could be used if you had a cold or cough?" This will encourage some visitors to speak out.Point out the locations of outbuildings and explain their uses. Ask: Why do you think these outbuildings were important to life in the 18th century?
Have someone read the question at the bottom of the Visitor Resource Sheet, and ask for responses. The question is: Why were gardens like this one so important to people who lived in the past?
(Visitors should leave the garden area with the understanding that the garden and its outbuildings were integral parts of 18th century life in Fell's Point.)