Shakespeare garden

**Shakespeare Gardens:**

– The concept of Shakespeare gardens originated from Sir Thomas Temple’s interest in flowers from Shakespeare’s plays.
– Various literary works have attempted to identify Shakespeare’s floral references.
– Shakespeare’s upbringing in a garden-rich environment influenced his accurate botanical references.
– Shakespeare gardens typically draw inspiration from English cottage garden traditions.
– The gardens often feature plants like rosemary, pansies, and rue for symbolic purposes.
– Central Park and Cleveland have notable Shakespeare gardens with specific features and plantings.

**Historical Development of Shakespeare Gardens:**

– Ernest Law reconstructed a Shakespeare garden at New Place in the 1920s, influencing many gardens of that period.
– The National Trust led historical plantings in knot gardens in the 1970s.
– Shakespeare Gardens conventions were well-known in the 1920s and continue to evolve with changing designs and plantings.
– E.F. Benson’s ‘Mapp and Lucia’ depicted a Shakespeare Garden at Riseholme with specific flowers mentioned in Shakespeare’s works.
– The design and plantings of Shakespeare gardens change with the seasons, enhancing their appeal and relevance.

**Shakespearean Flora and Symbolism:**

– Shakespeare’s works contain symbolic meanings attributed to plants, enhancing character and setting descriptions.
– Plant imagery in Shakespeare’s History plays symbolizes the Wars of the Roses.
– His accurate botanical references are influenced by his garden-rich upbringing.
– Symbolic plants like rosemary, pansies, and rue are used for specific purposes in his works.
– The use of plants, gardens, and landscapes in Shakespeare’s works adds depth and richness to his writing.

**Specific Shakespeare Gardens:**

– The Colorado Shakespeare Garden, founded in 1991 by herbalist Marlene Cowdrey, features eight gardens on the University of Colorado campus.
– Cleveland, Ohio, has a Shakespeare Garden with unique features like herb-bordered paths and trees planted by notable figures.
– Other Shakespeare Gardens are located in Daphne High School in Alabama, Dunedin Botanic Garden in New Zealand, Stanley Park in Vancouver, and Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens in Australia.
– Gardens in public parks or botanical gardens worldwide feature elements inspired by Shakespeare’s works.

**Notable Shakespeare Gardens Locations:**

– Central Park in New York features a Shakespeare Garden designated as one of eight Quiet Zones in honor of literature.
– Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in Stratford-on-Avon has an arboretum with trees mentioned by Shakespeare.
– The New Place in Stratford-on-Avon has a reconstructed Shakespeare garden inspired by Thomas Hill’s ‘The Gardiners Labyrinth.’
– The Cleveland Shakespeare Garden features herb-bordered paths and trees planted by famous personalities.
– The Colorado Shakespeare Garden near the Mary Rippon Theatre showcases various themed gardens maintained by volunteers.