The origins of rural gardens date back to the 13^th century when landless peasants were given patches of land for their own cultivation; crops harvested from those fields constituted a significant source of food for families and were paid as tithes. For centuries, gardens primarily served practical purposes. At first, ornamental gardens were established next to manor houses, noblemen's residences and the estates of the Church. Flowering plants appeared in the so-called "front" gardens adjacent to peasants' households, following the completion of the process of granting freehold to peasants. Rural homestead gardens changed their forms, sizes and functions over the years, depending on the region. This paper presents the results of research conducted in selected rural gardens in Giżycko and Węgorzewo Districts. The subject of analysis was the manner of arranging the immediate house surroundings, including: species diversity; manner of vegetation maintenance; the choice of landscaping elements; layout and functional arrangement; aesthetic and environmental aspects and the local traditions. Another issue was the assessment of the impact of the development of a structure on both the neighbouring land and the image of the village. The study considered the following aspects: multiplicity of function; diversity of species and colours; mixture of styles; and standardisation of rural and urban gardens.

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