The Victorian Gardener

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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. Native to the Far East, Philipp Franz von Siebold transported a cutting of the plant from a Japanese volcano to Leiden in the Netherlands. In 1850, a specimen was donated to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Greenhouses and exotic plants: Collecting plants imported from around the world became a popular hobby for Victorian-era gardeners. Wealthier gardeners overwintered tender plants in greenhouses.

Gardening became wildly popular in England during the Victorian era. The wealthy had the space and money to create large, lavish landscapes, but the middle class, with more time on their hands than ever before, were also able to create beautiful gardens in Victorian England. Many elements of Victorian garden style are enduring and remain popular to this day. Let’s learn a little more about Victorian garden history. Characteristics of Victorian Garden Style The Victorians loved their gardens and many of the flowers, shrubs and trees that are common today were actually discovered during the Victorian era. Owners loved nothing more than illustrating their wealth or how well-travelled they were than by filling the gardens of their Victorian homes with colourful species garnered from all corners of the globe. The history of Victorian garden design Although built from high-quality timber rather than iron, contemporary greenhouses such as the Forest Vale Victorian range reflect this styling with high ridges and long panes of toughened glass. There's also the Victorian wall greenhousea lovely sun-filled structure for planting and potting. Wrought Iron FeaturesThe camellia has also entranced gardeners since Victorian times. The exotic plant blooms quite early in the year, producing stunningly beautiful flowers. Camellias had been popular in China and Japan for centuries, but they didn’t appear in Britain until the early 19th century. Victorians championed pelargoniums for their reliability and flower power, developing new cultivars and new ways of using them. Pelargonium-rich displays became essentials of Victorian life,' explains Rosie Fyles The lawns needed to be green and well-maintained because that’s where one would throw parties, play lawn games, and serve tea to their guests. But it also would be the base for all the trees, shrubs, flowers, and ornamentation that are the staple of any classic Victorian garden. Flowers Ornaments were important to add structure and interest to the Victorian garden, birdbaths, sundial, statues, urns – these can be placed surreptitiously, a bust gazing imperiously at passers-by, or as a focal point at the far end of a pergola or in the middle of a lawn. A great starting point has to be the Hazelwood Stone Bird Bath a Victorian-style classic to set the scene. This 1881 map shows that within the walled garden there was a pond with a bridge over the centre. The area marked ‘20’ on the map shows the position of a Cedar of Lebanon tree, photographed by Matthew. The cross-hatched sections indicate glasshouses. ‘Hertfordshire Ordnance Survey, Six-inch to the mile’, surveyed 1881, published 1884 [4] Photograph of a Cedar of Lebanon in the garden at Stagenhoe Park taken from the upper windows of the house, c. 1846-1869

This species blooms from late January until April or May. When there’s a mild start to the New Year, it flourishes and the flowers bloom early. However, if snow and ice then return and the air is particularly damp, this doesn’t suit the camellia. Petunias, particularly in white and purple, were widely used in suburban gardens and if you know how to deadhead petunias you can prolong the blooms.As far as the Victorians were concerned the more variety in the garden, the better. It was their opportunity to show off their wealth and prestige. In the Victorian era, from 1837 to 1901, gardening became a pastime that could be enjoyed by the masses. An increase in population led to more middle-class families moving to the suburbs, while new technology made gardening easier, and more diverse plants boosted interest. Gardening became a status symbol of the industrial revolution. 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. Stumperies both recycle and upcycle at the same time, turning unwanted tree root stumps into something beautiful, relaxing, tranquil and great for wildlife. This trend marks a revival of a Victorian gardening trend, which began when gardeners wanted somewhere to show off their fern collections.