The Victorian Gardener

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One style, called carpet bedding, was a much more precise and manicured look that involved selecting flowers of all the same height. This style often meant creating designs (geometric shapes and mosaics) within the bed using symmetry and colors. This approach requires a decent amount of planning and precision, but the look can be incredible. The Victorian Kitchen Garden Companion; Harry Dodson and Jennifer Davies. London: B.B.C. Books, 1988 ISBN 0563207108

This garden was not opened for the common man because the queen was not in favor of it. But after the control went over the government, the garden was opened for the common man. This garden has a great collection of rhododendrons. The people of the Victorian period have a passion for the exotic plants. Matthew Balls was born on 23 March 1817 at Gaynes Hall, West Perry, Cambridgeshire, to Henry and Ann Balls, who were both servants. Henry was a gardener, as was Matthew’s grandfather. Matthew married Elizabeth Flint on 30 July 1842 in Godmanchester. They subsequently moved to Hertfordshire, where he was appointed Head Gardener at Stagenhoe Park by the time he was 30, but what happened in between? How did he rise to such an illustrious post, leading a team of up to 20 gardeners? Rising Through the Ranks Garden fencing made from wrought iron became increasingly popular due the Victorian era due to the fact that it is a malleable material that can be fashioned very ornately and corrosion-resistant. Now replaced by powder coated mild steel, metal garden archesby Burbage keeps up the tradition of decorative railings by manufacturing ornate ready-made and bespoke fencing and gates.

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The number of people who had a garden was on the increase and more leisure time meant that these people were spending greater time in the garden. New inventions such as the lawnmower began to have a tremendous impact on garden design and, with increased horticultural knowledge, gardeners learnt how to control nature as well as working with it. Victorian garden planting was neat and often symmetrical. Beds were laid with flowering plants of the same height and colour — a practice known as carpet bedding — and often planned in isometric shapes. Wilder and more natural gardens increased in popularity towards the end of the 1800s in a reaction against industrialization. Statues – at least one statue. Mostly Greek gods. Many were females and not dressed fully due to the times. Climbers such as clematis, wisteria and trumpet vine straddled exterior walls and sheds and were trained to hide fences.

This shows wonderful foresight because studies today suggest that spending time in the garden actually promotes better psychological health. So how do you recreate Victorian garden design? The Victorian Era in the United Kingdom is the period of the reign of Queen Victoria beginning on June 20th, 1837, until her death on January 22nd, 1901. There were a lot of changes, politically, socially, and religiously during this time. It was also an era of advancement in science, technology, and engineering. The Victorian era was the beginning of the modern lawn and garden (partly in thanks to a newly-patented lawnmower). With a flourishing global market, amateur gardeners could get their hands on exotic plants and design plans—their heirloom gardens weren’t your typical native plant variety. Instead, there were geometric garden beds in the middle of the lawn, colorful annuals and perennials, shapely shrubs, and garden statuary and decor. Each garden was either heavily manicured to perfection or left to fill in and be more “natural.” Take a look at these antique garden publications and see which tips you can use in your garden today. Victorian Garden Design Tips 1. Keep your shrubs well-manicured. Ian Kirkland / Unsplash Try scented pelargoniums if you have some over-wintering space indoors. They work well outside through mid-spring to early fall,' she adds.Shrubs, the bolder the better,including acid-loving azaleas, spring-flowering camelias, hardy cotoneasters, forsythias, versatile fushias, hydrangeas, magnolias, skimmias with winter berries, and easy to grow viburnums were gathered from all over the world and found their place in a Victorian garden. For an iconic tree, why not choose a Monkey Puzzle that became available in the 1840s. In 1793, Repton was employed by the 2nd Earl of Mansfield to remodel the grounds at Kenwood. Repton introduced a series of meandering paths that would show off the large estate of the Georgian Neoclassical house, as well as tree groves to break up the wide open spaces and a lawn to the west of the house with intricate flower garden. While not all of Repton's proposals were taken forward, several of his features can still be seen today.