Q & A with Colonial Williamsburg Landscape Supervisor, Susan Dippre

Colonial Williamsburg's landscape duties are not a "put it up and forget about it" exercise. Meticulous attention to detail and 18th-century authenticity make Susan Dippre and her talented staff's job an exciting challenge. A native Virginian, Susan set roots in Williamsburg almost 30 years ago and her perennial passion continues to bloom throughout the Historic Area's more than 100 renowned gardens. We caught up with Susan to get a few answers to some of the more common questions about 18th century plants and gardening practices.



Q: Are the plants seen in the Historic Area gardens grown in the 18th century?

A: The plants you see in the Historic Area gardens are either native to this area of the country, or they were brought over by the colonists and documented as having been here prior to 1800. Information comes from a variety of documents including letters, diaries, and advertisements in the 18th-century newspaper Virginia Gazette.

Q: Did they cut the grass in the 18th century?

A: Grass was not grown in the 18th century like it is today and most people did not have lawns. Formal gardens with 'maintained turf' became fashionable among the nobility and landed gentry in 17th-century France and then in England. Wealthy colonists, such as Thomas Jefferson, brought this fashion of leveled turf areas to the colonies. In Williamsburg, lawns reflected status because only the gentry could afford to build lawns and hire the labor to mow them with a scythe, a long, curved, single-edged blade with a long bent handle.

Q: We purchased a bird bottle the last time we were visiting Williamsburg and haven't had any luck attracting birds to nest in it yet. Can you please provide some guidelines on where we might put it (tree? on the house or fence, the optimum height, etc.) to best attract the birds in our back yard?

A: We have many Bird Bottles in the Historic Area, and all of them are attached to buildings, usually close to the eaves. They usually attract small birds such as sparrows and wrens, but I have seen phoebes nest in them (or sometimes on top of them!). It may take a while for the birds to discover their new digs, but if you have any inquisitive wrens around, they probably will not be able to help themselves. Do you have an area where you have berried shrubs planted near the house? Also, if you supply water in the yard, like a bird bath or some way for the birds to drink, that will encourage nesting. You can hang the Bird Bottles in trees, higher up (as the eaves of the house are high up)-we have used them in trees at our golf course. Good luck!

Q.I understand that tomatoes were not widely accepted in 18th-century Williamsburg but I was wondering what vegetables were grown for eating at that time?

A: Tomatoes were not widely grown in the 18th century here in Williamsburg, but a large number of vegetables were grown here. The early colonists brought European vegetables with them, such as carrots, parsnips, onions, potatoes,cabbages, beans, and peas. Then they integrated vegetables the Indians were cultivating, such as pole beans, corn, and squashes. Other North American vegetables cultivated include hot peppers, other potatoes, such as sweet potatoes, various squash, and melons. The slaves brought vegetables from Africa and the Islands such as okra and peanuts.
Generally, poorer people ate a diet primarily of vegetables, with wild game and some domestic meats. The gentry, or wealthier people ate primarily meat-a combination of wild game and domestic meats, and used vegetables as condiments. Thomas Jefferson differed from his contemporaries in that his diet consisted primarily of vegetables and very few meats.

Q: Are there any flowers or shrubs that were common to the home garden in the 18th century that are still in use today?

A: There are many flowers and shrubs that were commonly found in the gardens of Williamsburg in the 18th century that you can find today. Some of the modern versions of the plants grow better and have prettier flowers. I will give you a list, and mostly common names. You have not told me where you live, so keep in mind these plants live in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Chokeberry-Aronia
Snapdragon
Candytuft
Common Boxwood
Basket of Gold
Sweet William
Beautyberry-Callicarpa
Calendula
Four O'clock
Carolina Allspice
China Aster
Forget Me Not
Common Camellia
Cockscomb
Poppy
Flowering Quince
Larkspur
Black eyed Susan
Common Fig
Sweet William
Yarrow
Fothergilla
Globe Amaranth
Common Iris
Rose-of-Sharon
Sunflower
Siberian Iris
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Strawflower
Columbine Inkberry
Balsam
Butterfly Weed
American Holly
Sweet Alyssum
New England Aster
Mountain Laurel
Flowering Tobacco
Bellflower (Campanula)
Bayberry
Marigolds
Oxeye Daisy
Mock Orange
Nasturtium
Feverfew
Flame Azalea
Violas
Corepsis
Old Roses
Pinks—Dianthus
Common Lilac
Daylily-orange & yellow Snowball Bush
Hypericum (Viburnum Opulus)
Cardinal Flower
Vitex—Chaste Tree
Peony
Common Yucca
piderwort
Phlox