Oklahoma
Gardens - An Historical Vignette
In the
early days, Oklahoma, was a mass of prairie grass, but
the American Indians resourcefully found ways to live
on roots, herbs, wild berries, fruits, birds, bird eggs,
wild animals, and fresh fish from the crystalline streams.
One of the first plants the American Indians cultivated
was the Jerusalem artichoke with its edible roots. They
also found that the bruised leaves and stems of some soapwort
and the root of the yucca species formed a lather in water
- and could be used as soap.
The Indian knew only to eat the plants that could be safely
consumed by wild animals or bird. They divided plants
into into four classes: poisonous, for medicinal purposes,
for food at all times, and those that didn't taste good
but could be eaten in desperate times of famine.
The oily kernels
of the native nut trees, cones of the pine nut and the
ripened and roasted fruit of the chinquapin oak, formed
a staple part of their diet. Fruits of the huckleberry,
blackberry, strawberry, plum, pawpaw, mulberry, black
currant, persimmon - and the coffee bean were also enjoyed.
As the new colonists arrived, they transported seeds,
roots, and cuttings, of which many were herbs. The American
Indians showed the new colonists where to find the bee
balm, wild onions, garlic, and fruits. They also showed
them how to make teas from wild roots and leaves for medicine.
Soon the settlers built home, gardens were created and
the larders were stocked with preserves with the wild
fruits and the vegetables from the gardens. Herbs, vegetables,
and fruits were grown. Even in these hard times, a beautiful
garden prevailed. Many of the spaces around these early
homes were lovingly decorated with flowers carefully carried
in from the wild surrounding areas and were tended to
with water carried to them a quarter of a mile or more.
Bibliography
and Acknowledgments
Shown: Mistletoegnolia ( Phoradendron
serotinum )
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