The herb garden is situated adjacent to the Kitchen building for easy access for use in cooking. However, in Joel Lane’s time, herbs had additional uses: as medicines (Feverfew), insecticides (Tansy), to mask odors (Lavender), and as food (Parsley).
Joel Lane’s herb garden would not have been as formal as the present day one at the site with its gravel paths and wooden edging. The plan was drawn up in the 1970s by Donald Parker of Colonial Williamsburg. However, the herbs and plants showcased within the garden would all likely have been grown during the period, alongside many more food crops.
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Since February 2021, the herb garden has also held the plaque honoring those 43 individuals enslaved by Joel Lane (or his estate) on this plantation. The plaque is affixed tot he side of the central sundial. For more information, please visit the page on slavery.
