Cassandra Austen (Greta Scacchi) & Mrs Austen (Phyllida Law) in Miss Austen Regrets
During my morning stroll I saw crocuses, snowdrops, pansies, and daffodils in bloom. What a difference two weeks make! Spring is in the air, and the robins are pushing north.
Columbine, Lilac, Small Daisy, Peony, Sweet Briar, & Mignonnette
It is time to think about the garden, and this year I am inclined to plant a few varieties that Jane Austen and her family grew. Jane wrote to Cassandra:
Syringa, Sweet William
Some of the Flower seeds are coming up very well–but your Mignioette makes a wretched appearance. Our young Piony at the foot of the Fir tree has just blown & looks very handsome & the whole of the Shrubbery Border will soon be very gay with Pinks & Sweet Williams, in addition to the Columbines already in bloom. The Syringas too are coming out — We are likely to have a great crop of Orleans plumbs–but not many greengages–on the sandard scarcely any–three or four dozen perhaps against the wall. – Christian Encounters:Jane Austen, Leithart, p75- 76.
Greengages, Gooseberry, Wild Strawberry, & Moor Park Apricot
The excellent article, Jane Austens Flower Garden, describes additional variety of flowers, fruits, trees and shrubs and the kitchen garden. “I remember the garden well,” writes Miss Lefroy. “A very high thick hedge divided it from the (Winchester) road, and round it was a pleasant shrubbery walk, with a rough bench or two where no doubt Mrs. Austen and Cassandra and Jane spent many a summer afternoon.”
Row of Beeches, Long grasses, Hedgerow, Potatoes
Kitchen Garden
Flowers, trees, and shrubs mentioned
- Syringa
- Lilac
- Cornflowers
- Columbines
- Sweet Williams
- Old-fashioned roses
- Mock Orange
- Hollyhocks
- Philadelphus
- Pinks
- Small daisies
- Sweetbriar
- Syringas
- Laburnum
- Currants
- Gooseberry bushes
- Raspberries
- Wild strawberries
- Hedgerow
- Gravel Walk
- Orchard with plum tree
- Long grass
- Thick hedge
- Oaks
- Row of beech trees
- Quickset hedge
- Kitchen garden
- Potatoes
Philadelphus, Currants, & Plum
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Jane Austen's World 
Enjoyed this article, Vic, and could almost smell it…(in a good, flowery way!). You certainly posted it at exactly the right time. Spring is in the air…
[…] The Flowers in Jane Austen's Garden « Jane Austen's World […]
Wow! You are one blessed lady! Beautiful, just beautiful!
Thanks for the touch of Spring; badly needed!
Loved the photos. Though I really like flowers, I think I would have gone for more fruit. I wonder about hedgerow potatoes. I gather thery were potatoes planted in the hedgerows, but it seems so odd.
An enjoyable piece.
Hi, nice blog and your garden is very beatiful.
A real closeup view on Jane’s flowers; Jane loved her garden, I think she’d be so pleased to know Chawton cottage garden is restored…An interesting & colourful posts. -thankyou so much, Vic !
I think that Mrs Austen grew potatoes and tried to encourage the village women to do the same.
It was very sad for Cassandra, as well as for Jane, to leave Steventon, their house and their garden. I do hope that Cassandra got the opportunity to keep bees when they came to rest in Chawton, after years of living in rented houses.
Nice to think of Cassandra’s bees sucking from all of those flowers.
Thank you for the information and lovely Photos all very helpful to me here in Yorkshire, England. I have a Florists here, and have been asked to provide some Jane Austen themed table decorations for a Charity event of Undressing Mr Darcey!! on Saturday. Helen Milton
Hi Vic.
All i want to say is i like all the pictures in this page..
the flowers, fruits, and also the girl wearing blue dress are beautiful.
i’ll bookmark this page for sure :)
Thanks!