The Tempest Garden

The plants mentioned in The Tempest enrich the play’s themes and highlight the characters’ perceptions of their worlds. The richness of the magical island is often in contrast to the language the humans use to imagine their fates. Gonzalo, lamenting the storm, begs for

an
acre of barren ground, long heath, brown furze, any
thing. … I would fain
die a dry death.

Instead, washing ashore on the island, he remarks:

Here is everything advantageous to life….
How lush and lusty the grass looks! how green!

Later, the goddesses Iris, Juno, and Ceres bestow the bounty of the island on Miranda and Ferdinand:

Earth's increase, foison plenty,
Barns and garners never empty,
Vines and clustering bunches growing,
Plants with goodly burthen bowing;
Spring come to you at the farthest
In the very end of harvest!
Scarcity and want shall shun you;
Ceres' blessing so is on you.

Time and agin, the lush magic of the island stands in steady contrast to the seemingly barren life Prospero left behind as king of Naples. Watch the video below for a more detailed interpretation of the plants of The Tempest.

Special thanks to longtime CSF supporter and thespian Chuck Wilcox for voicing the part of The Bard in our video series. Full production credits available here. All photos copyright Colorado Shakespeare Group except those in the public domain, published under Creative Commons (CC) licensing. For more information on (CC) artwork in this video, click here.

Enjoy this slideshow of the plants we have in our Tempest garden: