Medieval Sadly, no existing medieval gardens have survived in their entirety in Europe, and historical documentation on gardens and plants is scarce. Much of what we know is from paintings.

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Timeline

Medieval style of gardening

Medieval characters

c.1087
The Doomsday Book is written - showing ownership of land and property for the first time.

c.1178
A stained glass window features one of the earliest images of a garden tool. The image at Canterbury Cathedral shows Adam delving with a spade and a mattock. A spade with an iron tip and a wood base became common in the 12th century. It's one of the oldest panels in the cathedral.

c.1190
De Naturis Rerum by Alexander Neckham is published, which lists 200 plants. Some of these plants may not have been growing in Britain - but were encountered during the crusades. Neckham was a prolific writer and is thought to have made the earliest known reference to a wheelbarrow.

c.1237
Roman de la Rose is started. It's the most famous literary celebration of gardens in this era. It was later translated into English by Chaucer.

c.1340
According to some sources, rosemary was introduced by Philippa of Hainault, the wife of Edward III. Philippa received cuttings from her mother in Antwerp.

c.1440
John the Gardener wrote a verse treatise on gardening called The Feate of Gardening. The verse is considered to be the first practical manual about English gardening.

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