Spanish Colonial gardens acted as an extension of the main house as the most important part of the kitchen. The horno that you will see if you walk through the gardens is not original to the house but it is a functional outdoor oven made in a traditional way. In addition to a kitchen space, the gardens also acted as a pharmacy. Doctors were a rarity and home medicines were required for healing injuries and illnesses, particularly because of the rural nature of Northern Colonial Spain.

When these gardens were restored by Frank Cabot in the early 2000?s he made sure to include traditional medicinal and ornamental plants in the garden. 

Did you know?

Rabbitbrush, known in Spanish as chamiso blanco, was cultivated in Spanish Colonial gardens because it is used to make yellow dye and paint. The galls of the plant were also dried and strung as beads on necklaces to stop babies from drooling. 

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