Varnum Continentals

Preserving and Promoting U.S. History in East Greenwich, RI.

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You are here: Home / Our Museums / Varnum House Museum / Varnum House Museum’s Period Herb Garden (sustained by the URI Master Gardeners)

Varnum House Museum’s Period Herb Garden (sustained by the URI Master Gardeners)

Colonial herb garden at the Varnum House Museum.
Colonial herb garden at the Varnum House Museum.

The Varnum House Museum Garden is a recreation of a historic dye, medicinal, and household garden using plants appropriate to the era of the house.  In 2011, the URI Master Gardeners created a garden using the existing brick work, walls, and boxwood hedges as a framework.  They researched plants and laid out the framework of the garden at that time. Each year, the Master Gardeners have added or refined our selection of plants.

In the dye garden, you will find Madder, Indigo, Russian Sage, Tansy, Marigolds, and Lady’s Bedstraw.  Medicinal plants include Betony, Cimicifuga Racemosa, Hyssop, Foxglove, and St. John’s Wort.  Household plants include herbs used for cooking but also for other uses.  Each plant has a function and would have served the household in different ways during Colonial times.

All the plants are self-sustaining, drought tolerant, and have survived with a good foundation and care.  Knock-out roses were added as a border to enhance the existing plantings and hedges.

Colonial herb garden at the Varnum House Museum.
Colonial herb garden at the Varnum House Museum.
Colonial herb garden at the Varnum House Museum.
Colonial herb garden at the Varnum House Museum.
Colonial herb garden at the Varnum House Museum.
Colonial herb garden at the Varnum House Museum.
Colonial herb garden at the Varnum House Museum.
Colonial herb garden at the Varnum House Museum.
Colonial herb garden at the Varnum House Museum.
Colonial herb garden at the Varnum House Museum.
Colonial herb garden at the Varnum House Museum.
Colonial herb garden at the Varnum House Museum.
Colonial herb garden at the Varnum House Museum.
Colonial herb garden at the Varnum House Museum.
Colonial herb garden at the Varnum House Museum.
Colonial herb garden at the Varnum House Museum.

Featured Posts

Colonial Yuletide at the Varnum House Museum (December 7, 2019)

December 1, 2019 By James Mitchell Varnum

The Varnum Continentals will host its Annual Colonial Yuletide Celebration in the Varnum House Museum, 57 Pierce St., East Greenwich, RI, 02818. The museum will feature festive holiday decorations, live music, and host guided tours by docents in period costume. Built in 1773 by General James Mitchell Varnum, the museum contains a wide variety of […]

[DEC. 9 DINNER MEETING] Guest Speaker: Christian McBurney on “Untold Stories of World War II Rhode Island”

December 4, 2019 By James Mitchell Varnum

Christian McBurney returns to the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum to speak about his newly-released book, “Untold Stories from World War II Rhode Island”. This is a sequel to the 2017 book (“World War II Rhode Island”) that he co-authored with the Varnum Continental’s own Brian Wallin. The new publication shares long-forgotten stories, from amazing secret […]

Recent Posts

  • [DEC. 9 DINNER MEETING] Guest Speaker: Christian McBurney on “Untold Stories of World War II Rhode Island”
  • [FEATURE ARTICLE] Quonset Point and Its Aircraft Carriers
  • Colonial Yuletide at the Varnum House Museum (December 7, 2019)
  • LIFE. LIBERTY. BEER. 10th Annual Craft Beer Tasting Fundraiser (Nov. 23, 2019)
  • [FEATURE ARTICLE] A Look Back at the East Greenwich Railroad Station

Welcome to the Varnum Continentals Website!

The Varnum Continentals are committed to the preservation of the historic heritage of our community, our state, and our nation. Please take a virtual tour of our museums to learn more about our mission to encourage patriotism. You can participate with us through active membership and/or philanthropic support in our non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Museum tours are welcomed and our facilities may be rented for suitable events.

Our Mission

The Varnum Continentals are committed to encourage patriotism through the Varnum Armory Museum, the Continental Militia, and the James Mitchell Varnum House and thus to preserve, support, and communicate the military history of our community, our state, and our nation.

Recent Posts

  • [DEC. 9 DINNER MEETING] Guest Speaker: Christian McBurney on “Untold Stories of World War II Rhode Island”
  • [FEATURE ARTICLE] Quonset Point and Its Aircraft Carriers
  • Colonial Yuletide at the Varnum House Museum (December 7, 2019)

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