Comments on: Watering the Gardens and the Gardeners http://blog.metmuseum.org/cloistersgardens/2008/07/03/watering-the-gardens-and-the-gardeners/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:18:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Deirdre Larkin http://blog.metmuseum.org/cloistersgardens/2008/07/03/watering-the-gardens-and-the-gardeners/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Deirdre Larkin Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:47:59 +0000 http://blog.metmuseum.org/cloistersgardens/?p=10#comment-30 Julie--- The berries you remarked on are the fruit of woody nightshade (Solanum dulcamara.) The plant is also known as bittersweet, a literal translation of the Latin epithet given to the species. This perennial woody vine is trained on a trellis in a bed devoted to plants used in medieval magic in Bonnefont Herb Garden. You might well be surprised to see it growing in a garden, since it is a common weed in the United States. The ovoid berries ripen to red in late June or early July. Unlike other members of the nightshade family, whose fruits may be highly poisonous, the ripe berries of bittersweet are mildy toxic. While the poisonous black berries of deadly nightshade had a sinister connotation in the Middle Ages, the red fruits of woody nightshade had a positive significance and were used as a protection against evil. Julie—

The berries you remarked on are the fruit of woody nightshade (Solanum dulcamara.) The plant is also known as bittersweet, a literal translation of the Latin epithet given to the species. This perennial woody vine is trained on a trellis in a bed devoted to plants used in medieval magic in Bonnefont Herb Garden. You might well be surprised to see it growing in a garden, since it is a common weed in the United States.

The ovoid berries ripen to red in late June or early July. Unlike other members of the nightshade family, whose fruits may be highly poisonous, the ripe berries of bittersweet are mildy toxic. While the poisonous black berries of deadly nightshade had a sinister connotation in the Middle Ages, the red fruits of woody nightshade had a positive significance and were used as a protection against evil.

]]> By: Julie Greto http://blog.metmuseum.org/cloistersgardens/2008/07/03/watering-the-gardens-and-the-gardeners/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Julie Greto Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:10:09 +0000 http://blog.metmuseum.org/cloistersgardens/?p=10#comment-28 This image is wonderful. I notice some berries in the bottom right corner. What are they and why are they grown in this particular garden? This image is wonderful. I notice some berries in the bottom right corner. What are they and why are they grown in this particular garden?

]]> By: Dorothy Compeau http://blog.metmuseum.org/cloistersgardens/2008/07/03/watering-the-gardens-and-the-gardeners/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Dorothy Compeau Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:04:46 +0000 http://blog.metmuseum.org/cloistersgardens/?p=10#comment-27 It's wonderful to have this information available for those interested in the gardens! And if it weren't for the enthusiasm of your loyal gardener, Ted Pender, many of our friends and family wouldn't have known about its seasonal beauty. Thank you for posting these updates and photos. It’s wonderful to have this information available for those interested in the gardens! And if it weren’t for the enthusiasm of your loyal gardener, Ted Pender, many of our friends and family wouldn’t have known about its seasonal beauty. Thank you for posting these updates and photos.

]]> By: Deirdre Larkin http://blog.metmuseum.org/cloistersgardens/2008/07/03/watering-the-gardens-and-the-gardeners/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Deirdre Larkin Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:16:52 +0000 http://blog.metmuseum.org/cloistersgardens/?p=10#comment-20 We do intend to cover gardening activities and techniques on the blog, as well as botany, ethnobotany,and garden history. The picture, a favorite of mine, was taken by Barbara Bell, a talented artist and photographer who volunteers in the gardens of The Cloisters. We are planning a book on the gardens, but had not thought about including the gardeners---it's a good idea. We do intend to cover gardening activities and techniques on the blog, as well as botany, ethnobotany,and garden history. The picture, a favorite of mine, was taken by Barbara Bell, a talented artist and photographer who volunteers in the gardens of The Cloisters.

We are planning a book on the gardens, but had not thought about including the gardeners—it’s a good idea.

]]> By: michael clements http://blog.metmuseum.org/cloistersgardens/2008/07/03/watering-the-gardens-and-the-gardeners/comment-page-1/#comment-15 michael clements Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:17:26 +0000 http://blog.metmuseum.org/cloistersgardens/?p=10#comment-15 This is a beautiful picture. You should display more pictures like this showing the men and women who make the cloisters possible. In fact why not publish a book on the mainteance of the Cloisters. This is a beautiful picture. You should display more pictures like this showing the men and women who make the cloisters possible. In fact why not publish a book on the mainteance of the Cloisters.

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