interpretation of john bartram's garden by - University of Delaware ...

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flower garden on the upper terrace, naturalized plantings of
herbaceous plants in the shrub borders are recommended.
These plantings should be designed to require only a low
level of maintenance, and care should be taken to avoid an
elaborate English border planting,
Bulbs should likewise be naturalized in the borders
and in grassy areas that can be left unmowed until the bulbs'
foliage dies down. In 1763 Bartram wrote to Collinson, "1
have thousands of ye common sorts (of bulbs) which may be
sent to ye utmost parts of ye earth with only nailing up in
a dry box.1' lo
Besides common bulbs, Bartram had many unusual
varieties which were sent to him by his many correspondents
(see Appendix 111). Thus, large numbers of naturalized bulbs
throughout the garden, creating a striking horticultural
display, would be historically authentic, Through the proper
publicity, the flowering bulbs could be an important element
in attracting visitors to Bartram's Garden during the early
spring months,
Pond Area
The 1758 drawing of the garden shows a "pond or spring
head" with a "convaid [pipe] under ground to a spring or
milk house .I1 The Reverend Manasseh Cutler noted this "arti-
ficial pond" and its llgood collection of aquatic plants.ll 11
This area should be left unplanted and undisturbed pending
an archeological investigation. The pond could then be