Medieval Abbeys & Monasteries usually kept within their grounds an area for the cultivation of herbs and plants which could be used to produce medicines. They would also have included plants which could be used for coloring wools and other fabrics.

In reconstructing such a garden, it must contains herbs & plants believed the Benedictines would have grown. Many of the plants in the garden, will predate the formation of the monastery for their medicinal use was known to the Ancient Greeks, Egyptians & Romans. Some of the knowledge of Arabic physicians came to Europe after the Crusades from the 1100s on. Benedictine monasteries were often the primary source of herbal medicine in Europe in the early middle ages. By translating Greek and Arabic text into Latin they broadened their knowledge base. Through a system of trial and error medieval man used many of the herbs to treat common ailments. These were used in teas, ointments, tinctures, baths, soaps and simply strewn on the floor of a room. Many were dried and could be stored for upwards of a year. Some were only harvested on certain days of the year when they were believed to be at their most potent. During a time when the letting of blood was considered a cure, it will come as no surprise to visitors that medieval man also attributed magical powers to some of the plants. Many were used in love potions and to keep evil spirits away from the home. A guided tour of the Garden you design needs to incorporate these plants and herbs attributes as well as their  claimed medicinal uses.