English Gardens

It can be argued that many people view the cottage garden and Edwardian garden as the archetypical romantic English garden, an array of scent, colour and texture enclosed by old garden walls clothed in a profusion of plants. The surrounding countryside becomes an extension of the garden as the boundary between the garden and the outside is blurred by plants or an invitation is extended to the view by an old garden gate.

 

Cottage Gardens

The cottage garden initially evolved out of necessity by the owners to provide provisions for the family. The cottage garden was multifunctional and provided many provisions for the family, food, cut flowers and medicine.

 

Cottage gardens were an eclectic collection of seeds, plant material and useful objects, people taking what ever was being offered in their exchanges from one person to the next. There were no grand designs. Some cottages were tied cottages to the great estates, the occupiers having access to the various gardens on the estate. The large homes being very fashion conscious would follow garden trends set by London.

 

Edwardian Gardens

The Edwardian garden followed on from the Arts and Crafts movement, a rebellion against all things standardised and mass-produced. William Robinson (1838-1935), Gravetye Manor West Sussex, England, was an advocate of this movement and drove the crusade away from the Victorian formality of gardening particularly the seasonal carpet bedding displays, seen today within municipal parks. He championed natural planting, "plants should thrive without further care" and "plant in appropriate conditions" each plant flowing in a less formal setting. The garden was an area that required individuality and creativity not formulaic designs. Notable supporters of this approach were Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932) and Vita Sackville-West (1892-1962). Gertrude Jekyll, of Munstead Wood, England, and Vita Sackville-West took this work further and developed planting colour associations which included both the flower and foliage. This approach has become a cornerstone in garden design.

 

Vita Sackville-West's work is continued today, at her home, the famous gardens of Sissinghurst Castle, Kent, England, the gardens having a formal design whilst the planting remains strictly cottage in style. Some would say this is the epitome of English garden tradition. Another designer Christopher Lloyd (1921- 2006) is a personal favourite. He continued to push the boundaries further with innovative planting schemes of bright colours and half hardy tropical plants, set within the formal framework of the garden set out by Edwin Lutyens (1869-1944) in the 1920s. Christopher Lloyd's work continues today at his home Great Dixter in East Sussex, England.

 

The designer Eileen is happy to take design commissions for clients requiring an English garden style or to incorporate aspects of a cottage garden into your garden design project.