236 Old Time Gardens 



A vivid description of Ambrosia is that of 

 Gerarde in his delightful Herball. 



" Oke of Jerusalem, or Botrys, hath sundry small stems 

 a foote and a halfe high dividing themselves into many 

 small branches. The leafe very much resembling the leafe 

 of an Oke, which hath caused our English women to call 

 it Oke of Jerusalem. The upper side of the leafe is a 

 deepe greene and somewhat rough and hairy, but under- 

 neath it is of a darke reddish or purple colour. The seedie 

 floures grow clustering about the branches like the yong 

 clusters or blowings of the Vine. The roote is small and 

 thriddy. The whole herbe is of a pleasant smell and 

 savour, and the whole plant dieth when the seed is ripe. 

 Oke of Jerusalem is of divers called Ambrosia." 



Ambrosia has been loved for many centuries by 

 Englishwomen ; it is in the first English list of 

 names of plants, which was made in 1548 by one 

 Dr. Turner ; and in this list it is called " Ambrose." 

 He says of it : 



" Botrys is called in englishe, Oke of Hierusalem, in 

 duche, trauben kraute, in french pijmen. It groweth in 

 gardines muche in England." 



Ambrosia has now died out " in gardines muche 

 in England." I have had many letters from Eng- 

 lish flower lovers telling me they know it not ; and 

 I have had the pleasure of sending the seeds to 

 several old English and Scotch gardens, where I 

 hope it will once more grow and flourish, for I am 

 sure it must feel at home. 



