John Evelyn (1620-1706) was one of the great diarists of 17th century England. His observations written over 65 years give historians keen insights to turbulent times that included a civil war, the execution of a king (Charles I), an outbreak of plague, and the Great Fire of London.
Evelyn also wrote several books, including one on forestry in Britain, but his passion was for gardening. Short publications, including a gardening calendar, and another on making salads (he was a vegetarian), were small expressions of this passion.
However, he hoped to produce a comprehensive gardening book. He wrote and illustrated a manuscript of nearly 400 pages, which he continued to update over many years. He was unable to bring it to publication, but the work and its many notes and additions were kept after his death, and eventually came to be owned by the British Library.
In 2001, under the editorship of John E. Ingram, this manuscript was finally published as
Elysium Britannicum or The Royal Gardens. This is a working manuscript, filled with crossed-out words and sentences, inserted notes, and other changes made by Evelyn. It is also a fascinating look at the horticulture of the time. Much is still applicable today.
"Since
Gardining is one of the noblest and most refined parts of
Agriculture, and hath, as all other
Arts and Professions certaine Instruments and tooles properly belonging to it, and without which we can hope for little Successe in our Labours."
This is followed by descriptions of the spade, the rake, the hoe (spelled “haues”), and the fork (“forke”) and many more tools, a total of 70, all illustrated. I recommend this book for a glimpse of gardening from over 300 years ago and to appreciate that many of today’s cultural practices date back centuries.
The Miller Library welcomes Rainer Waldman Adkins for his exhibit March 2-29. Rainer is an artist, art and cultural educator, and activist whose studio is in the Hillman City neighborhood of southeast Seattle. He describes his work for this exhibit:
This is an open call for submissions by local artists for a new mural for the Miller Library's Program Room. The theme is "Growing Community." Artists can submit concept sketches by 11:59pm on April 30. The chosen artist will install their mural in the library and will be awarded $5,000 thanks to a generous grant from the West Seattle Garden Tour. The project web page at
