Here's the version sung in the pleasure gardens c1750 in The British Harmony item 11.

The Encouraging Gardener

Come all you pretty Maids, that are now in your prime,
I'd have you all beware, and have your Garden clear,
and let no one steal your Thime.

For once I had Thyme enough, and it grew both by Night and Day,
And there came by a jolly post-boy,
and stole all my Thyme away.

When all my Thyme was gone, and I had not planted any more,
In the very same place where my Thyme grew,
was all gone over with Rue.

O Rue is a runny runny root, a root that runs underneath,
O I'll pluck up that runny runny root,
and plant a jolly old tree.

Stand up you jolly old tree, and tell no man dare touch,
That all the world may plainly see,
I bore one flower too much.

My Gardener standing by, he offered to choose for me,
He chose me out the Lilly, the Violet, and the Pink,
But I refus'd all three.

The pink I refus'd the first, because it would fade so soon,
The Violet and the Lilly I overlook'd
and resolv'd to tarry till June.

In June there is a red rosy bud, and that is the flower for me,
Oftentimes I have aim'd at the red rosy bud,
but I join'd the willow tree,

(I think there were probably further stanzas to this version.)

The willow tree will twist etc.....