Illinois
Gardens - An Historical Vignette
Early settlement
of the Midwest took place along the waterways that includes
the majestic Illinois River. In 1818, Gersham Flagg travelled
from Vermont and in the very same year Illinois became
a state, planted the first recorded orchard. Flagg is
credited with introducing the New England ideas of fruit
culture.
Illinois is a mosaic of diverse horticulture. In the northern
and southern parts of Illinois, French settlers grew grapes
for their wine vats. The English imported ornamental shrubbery
and hedges. Germans settlers grew hops and barley required
for brewing.
After the end of the War Between the States a
group of traveling merchants came into the newly settled
country carrying packets of flower and garden seeds that
were often exchanged for feathers, rags, and other findings
of the farm home. Soon after came the fruit tree agents
in the spring. A common sight was the agent, with his
big wagon and four horses, carrying a stock of fruit and
shade trees, berry plants, grapevines, and seeds. These
trees still stand today majestic along the highway and
in the gardens of the century homes.
Bibliography
and Acknowledgments
Shown: Purple Violet (Viola)
