How to Grow and Edwardian Garden
Who's Behind English Edwardian
Gardens?
English Edwardian Gardens or the Edwardian style of gardening is
yet another symbolic presentation of the Edwardian period. The
Edwardian era (1901 to 1914), was governed largely by style fashion. Wealth decided
the terms and the English Edwardian garden and they were amongst the
various tools, deployed to showcase the lavish lifestyle. In
those times. For the affluent it was important to be living in
stylish structures, the grand houses, with equally magnificent
Edwardian Garden. After all, those were years marked by
long afternoons, spent in gardens, enjoying the garden parties,
with big hats defining important status grades. This generous
presentation nurtured the seeds of gardening, in of course the
English style.
The Edwardian Garden and the pleasure of gardening. marked prosperity and life. The same also explains
the name associated with Edwardian era, which is Belle Époque.
The term means beautiful era and what better way to symbolize
beauty. The unique style, governed by fashion and exuberance,
controlled all spheres of activities during those years,
including gardening. This also explicitly suggests the
time devoted towards nurturing the English Edwardian gardens;
they definitely were not
low maintenance gardens.
English Edwardian Gardens – important names
Gertrude Jekyll (1843 – 1932): The pertinence of this name here
can be calculated by knowing that Gertrude Jekyll’s works as a
gardener were recognized to the extent, that horticulture design
was believed to undergo a complete transformation and Britain
became globally popular as a nation of gardeners. It was her
touch to the art of gardening, which is the base of English
Edwardian gardens. To her credit, there is designing of about
400 gardens and endless articles and other written material on
the subject. While the gardens could not be preserved, an in
depth study of the writings, most definitely opens the door to
the depth of gardening as an art. Gertrude Jekyll introduced the
fusion of formal and informal. The pertinence of theme and
style, in the domain of gardening, was offered by her. Call it
the impact of Edwardian times and associated lavish lifestyle or
Gertrude’s innovative touch, gardening for sure has benefited
the most.
Gertrude Jekyll was born is an affluent family, which paved the
initial doors to artistic learning. She received formal
education from Henry Coles’s School of Art, which also enabled
advanced learning in the domain of art and craft, and the same
is evident in the opulent gardening style.
William Robinson (1838 – 1935): The man behind drastically
modifying or rather replacing the Victorian gardening style,
William Robinson introduced wild garden to the British lawns.
His works can be understood in his books viz., The
Wild Garden &
The English Flower Garden. While this gardening pattern could
seem too basic today, during the English Edwardian gardens era,
it was definitely novel and radical. In context to gardening
William can certainly be demarcated as a scientist, who not only
challenged the traditionally established norms, but also
justified the contest with unique gardening presentations.
As a gardener, there is ample to William Robinson’s credit, with
Herbaceous Border as an important term. Herbaceous Border, also
known as perennial border outside UK, is a gardening form, which
focuses on arranging perennial herbaceous plants
together. These plants are basically soft stemmed, non woody and
have a life of more than two years. The arrangement is such that
the colours and layout of gathered plants presents a gripping
affect. A work intensive job certainly cannot be treated on the
likes of low maintenance gardens; so it is suggested not to
confuse the plant life with less care requirements.
