Formal gardens were entirely swept away by the designers of the landscape school and superb parkland layouts created in their place. Far from the mastery of nature, this was an attempt to improve and idealize her and for the next hundred years anything small was considered unworthy.
In the hands of first William Kent, who pioneered the movement, followed by 'Capability' Brown and Humphrey Repton, contours were altered, hills built and valleys excavated; straight paths and avenues were abandoned and straight canals turned into serpentined lakes. Nature was triumphant-though in fact the freedom and naturalness were very carefully contrived. The sense of vast space could be very deceptive as landowners planted trees at the boundaries to obscure where an estate ended. There were no walls or hedges but instead the device of the ha-ha, a sunken ditch. was invented to keep animals out.
Many of the gardens planted by Gertrude Jekyll were for large country houses (often designed by the architect Edwin Lutyens) and were tended by gardeners. But the later emulated by all the Tudor nobility. The flower beds were laid out in a knot garden pattern and other characteristics included mazes, labyrinths, gazebos or pavilions, topiary, sundials, trellis and arbours. Vegetable gardens were usually walled and separate from the main garden. After 1660 the influence of Le Notre made itself felt briefly: grand parterres replaced simple knots and vast lakes and canals replaced the gentle fountain, while broad beech-lined avenues stretched out to the horizon. Though the English could not match the Italians or French as designers, nor the Dutch as growers, the closely-cut lawn was one feature of English gardens which attracted international admiration.
The seventeenth century was a time for pioneers on the English gardening scene. The first gardening text hooks appeared, the interest in horticulture increased and a great search for new plants began. The earliest botanic gardens were opened and there was an increasing use of orangeries and conservatories to protect tender plants.
Men like London and Wise set up the first commercial nurseries and began selling plants throughout the land.
The twentieth century has seen large gardens become an economic impossibility and small ones multiply. Garden cities have been conceived and built, each house having its own individual garden.
In the hands of first William Kent, who pioneered the movement, followed by 'Capability' Brown and Humphrey Repton, contours were altered, hills built and valleys excavated; straight paths and avenues were abandoned and straight canals turned into serpentined lakes. Nature was triumphant-though in fact the freedom and naturalness were very carefully contrived. The sense of vast space could be very deceptive as landowners planted trees at the boundaries to obscure where an estate ended. There were no walls or hedges but instead the device of the ha-ha, a sunken ditch. was invented to keep animals out.
Many of the gardens planted by Gertrude Jekyll were for large country houses (often designed by the architect Edwin Lutyens) and were tended by gardeners. But the later emulated by all the Tudor nobility. The flower beds were laid out in a knot garden pattern and other characteristics included mazes, labyrinths, gazebos or pavilions, topiary, sundials, trellis and arbours. Vegetable gardens were usually walled and separate from the main garden. After 1660 the influence of Le Notre made itself felt briefly: grand parterres replaced simple knots and vast lakes and canals replaced the gentle fountain, while broad beech-lined avenues stretched out to the horizon. Though the English could not match the Italians or French as designers, nor the Dutch as growers, the closely-cut lawn was one feature of English gardens which attracted international admiration.
The seventeenth century was a time for pioneers on the English gardening scene. The first gardening text hooks appeared, the interest in horticulture increased and a great search for new plants began. The earliest botanic gardens were opened and there was an increasing use of orangeries and conservatories to protect tender plants.
Men like London and Wise set up the first commercial nurseries and began selling plants throughout the land.
The twentieth century has seen large gardens become an economic impossibility and small ones multiply. Garden cities have been conceived and built, each house having its own individual garden.
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