Starting in the 1600's, the lords of the great manor houses mapped and started construction of their "plesuer gyrdens", their kitchen gardens for food, and their mansion plans, at almost the same time.

Most of the great garden plans included boxwood, either for the edging of paths or as accents and backgrounds. The geometric designs in many of the old gardens were reminiscent of the chateaux's, with high walled gardens and little beds filled with gay flowers.

The early settlers learned from the Indians the practice of making a deep circle around each hill of corn, to keep out the cutworms.

Governor Sharp had a great intrest in horticulture. He had arrangements with his many friends abroad to inform him on the arrival of "all such rare and unknown" varieties of plants and flowers.

His influence has added much to the beauty of all gardens, and he is also responsible for the importation of seeds for many of the flowers we now enjoy.

Some rose cuttings taken from the garden of Malmaison (the origin of almost all of our roses) were brought to America as a gift by a Frenchman, for his American hostess. These cuttings were tended and cared for by an old French soldier.

His ghost, a little old man shuffling slowly along a certain path with a shovel across his shoulder, is said to appear "at the change of the moon".