Summertime in an American apothecary garden

During the mid-15th century and into the 16th and 17th centuries, bound copies or herbals emerged in Europe as part of classical educations. From the records by medieval monks, Greek texts, Islamic records, German herbals, and books of French remedies, a translation into English was printed in 1577. Garden designs and herbals provided guidance about planting artistically and elaborately, which provided Europeans an opportunity to develop awareness about medical and botanical investigation. Members of the healing professions recognized that accurate plant identification from medicinal gardens was essential for the sick to be consistently treated. From medicinals in the New World and specimens imported by explorers, the medicinal garden, with accompanying collection and dispensing notes, emerged in Colonial America. In 2005, a contemporary American demonstration apothecary garden was established in conjunction with the Oklahoma Pharmacy Museum located in Guthrie, Oklahoma. The project was sponsored by the Foundation of the Oklahoma Pharmaceutical Association and citizens of the Historic District of Guthrie, so desginated by the U.S. Department of the Interior. This article reviews the structure, landscaping, and plantings of a newly designed apothecary garden.