The Elizabethan Garden has many root that contributed to its existence.  Those who traveled during the Queen's reign brought back new plants to add to their collection.  Imported goods affected the themes and styles of the gardens.
          During this time, house were being built rather than castles.  Knot gardens, labyrinths, and mazes were incorporated into designs.  Arbors and hedges of clipped yews were seen throughout Elizabethan gardens.   Tools of the period consisted of knives, wooden and iron rakes, hatchets, chisels, and grafting saws.
          Many new plants were brought home from voyages or were imported to the country.  Roses were brought from the Mediterranean and have been used in English gardens extensively since.  Tobacco came from the new world of North America.  Spinach and carnations came from Europe and potatoes came from South America.  These are only a few of the new plants introductions.
          Hedges and mazes were incorporated into gardens using clipped yew, boxwood, and privet.  They used these hedges in knot gardens that were adopted from the Medieval period.  The Elizabethans also had smelling gardens.  In these gardens, they planted herbs to help relax people and for cooking needs.  In these herb gardens they planted hyssop, thyme, basil, sage, and balm.  The herbs were used for stews, seasoning, and throughout the house for smell and to ward of spirits.
          Travelers and visitors frequented the gardens.  They noted that there was fruit to be had on the tress.  The gardens were said to be a place where one could become lost because of distractions from taste, scent, and birds.  The gardens were an "earthly paradise."