The Compleat Gardeners Practice, Directing the Exact Way of Gardening in three Parts. 1664

This engraving from around 1700 by Stephen Blake offers a glimpse into the world of early modern gardening. It is part of a practical guide, reflecting the growing interest in horticulture and the increasing availability of printed knowledge. The image meticulously catalogs different types of flowers, showcasing the period's fascination with natural history and the burgeoning science of botany. Made in England, this book hints at the social and economic changes underway. The rise of a merchant class and the gentry created a demand for refined gardens as status symbols. Manuals such as this played a crucial role in shaping gardening practices. They also reflected England’s colonial reach, as new plants were being introduced from the Americas and Asia. To truly understand this engraving, we can delve into the social history of gardening, examining trade records and botanical texts of the period. This will reveal the complex networks of knowledge and exchange that shaped our relationship with the natural world.