1. 1. Horticultural Travels
2. 2. Horticultural Travels by Sharon Muczynski
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4. 4. Table of Contents Gardens of Ireland.............................pg 4, 62 Gardens of Scotland................................pg 18 Gardens of England................................pg 26 Gardens of France....................................pg 48 Garden Influence Essays........................pg 68 Garden Plants............................................pg 78 References..................................................pg 112 pg 3
5. 5. pg 4 Ireland Gardens I succeed in flying to Shannon after a two day delay. Luckily I have seen Muckross and Powers Court on previous visits to Ireland. My first garden in Dublin is Glasnevin Botanic Garden, one of the finest botanical gardens in the world. It was a little early to see the renowned double borders in the their full glory, but there were many other botanical beauties to behold in the garden . Especially enjoyable and instructional was the side-by-side comparison of common flowering shrub varieties and garden-
6. 6. pg 5 worthy cultivars of familiar shrubs Weigela, Deutzia, lilacs (Syringa), and other small flowering shrubs. The closely-spaced layout of the shrubs made contrasting individual merits easy and fun . The Family beds are another part of the garden I found instructional . I find it really helpful in learning similarities between plants belonging to the same family when they are planted alongside others. Pure species are planted here and families with allied characteristics are planted near each other for analysis. If learning plants is your goal , the Glasnevin Botanic Garden excels in education with the idea and execution of the Family beds, and the best, most complete signage, of any garden I have encountered. It is also beautifully and meticulously maintained by an attentive staff. The newly planted walled vegetable garden was impressive in its large scale and beautiful concentric design . Strolling through the grounds one encounters several exquisite old glasshouses that act as focal points and way-finding landmarks on the 48 acre property. The garden is laid out gracefully and logically. The quality of the garden is carried over into the stunningly-designed restaurant with some of the most mouth-watering confections I have ever seen . Seriously. The restaurant was full of people, and I get the feeling it is full most of the operating hours of the garden . I will
7. 7. pg 6 never understand why garden centers or botanical gardens with restaurants are not more of a hit in the States. It seems to me the perfect combination - plants and food set in beautiful scenery! Spending time at Glasnevin is a pleasant way to get educated! Knot Garden at Glasnevin Botanic This intricate design looks as though the thread of boxwood ropes over itself in an overlapping pattern , when in fact, it is simply pruned to look that way. Other knot gardens use other small-leaved evergreen plants along with boxwood to frame herbs or low-growing flowers. The example in the photograph is not yet fully planted for the summer season . Knot garden patterns can get very intricate and are only limited by the imagination of the gardener, with the understanding that with increasing intricacy comes increasing time spent on maintaining the illusion of woven plants that jump out of the earth and over their green neighbors.
8. 8. pg 7 The Great Palm House at Glasnevin Botanic This magnificent glasshouse dating from 1884 was rebuilt at that time and fabricated in Scotland. It was shipped to the botanic garden in pieces and constructed on site. The structure is framed in iron and wood.
9. 9. Helen Dillons Garden pg 8
10. 10. pg 9 The afternoon bus trip took a circuitous route to Helen Dillons Garden . This is my fourth visit to her garden and I am more impressed with each visit. She accomplishes so much in such a small space. Her garden encompasses many garden rooms which remain distinct from each other, yet read as a cohesive whole. After many permutations in 30 years, it has achieved a lovely balance between hard strict geometry and billowing plants. At the end of the pool is a crescent-shaped set of arches that visually separates the back third of the garden while cleverly allowing uninterrupted passage straight through the garden . Helen Dillon is a consummate plantswoman and designer. Reflective Essay- Taste People have as many different opinions about gardens as they do about most things in life, and for the same reasons. Everyone is a unique combination of nature and nurture with very different experiences making up a singular set of tastes, morals, and values. Additionally, the backgrounds of the three students of our group had varying degrees of design experience, with two having no garden design or garden work in their histories. For all these reasons
11. 11. pg 10pg 10 the three of us viewed the garden through a private lens of our own individual experiences and history. We collectively agree that the garden is aesthetically beautiful , but among the merits of particular components, we differ. For example, two of the group were particularly bothered by the choice of the smooth cut ashlar stone used around the reflecting pool . It was thought the choice of sleek, sharply cut limestone material was too modern a selection compared to the roughly cut stone used on the faade of the house. One of us believed the choice of modern stone a perfect counterpoint to the rough ashlar of the exterior wall of the house and the exuberance of the plants spilling from rectangular beds. This juxtaposition of old and new is at the heart of Arts and Crafts Style and seems to underscore the beauty of each . The proportions of the smooth limestone are in harmony with the stone used on the corners of the house as each was cut in the same dimensions. The crisp lines of the stone allow the reflecting pool to visually cut a clean linear slice through the garden unencumbered by rough edges. We also agreed that the plantings in the blue-themed garden were attractive. On closer inspection by the horticulture student it was determined that not only were the flowers of all the plants chosen for the similar hue, but the foliage shapes were similar as well . All the leaves were palmate in varying sizes. What made it interesting, though , wass the array of palmate types selected which added variety to the bed. Basically it was a collection of blue-flowering plants, many of which had palmate foliage that ranged from entire to deeply sinused. Very interesting and attractive for all , yet for the horticulture student, clever as well .
12. 12. pg 11 Reflecting Pool at Helen Dillons Garden pg 11 Reflecting Pool at Helen Dillons Garden
13. 13. pg 12 Later that day in Dublin , I enjoy strolling along Grafton Street because it is strictly a pedestrian thoroughfare with no cars allowed. I wish this idea would catch on in the States. I believe commerce would improve in areas where cars are excluded as long as there is a certain density of people living in the vicinity. We have a driving day the next day and leave Dublin for Northern Ireland. I really enjoyed the old-fashioned elegance of the Hotel Wynn with its starched white tablecloths and fine china, such a welcome change from the fast food meals eaten out of paper bags, now so common in the United States. Along the way we stop briefly at an old cemetery named Monasterboice. We headed into the blustery wind to find an ancient collection of Celtic crosses dating from the 10th Century, beautiful and creepy, as only graveyards can be. Pretty remarkable that these stone dioramas depicting biblical stories are remarkably unscathed by the hands of time. The rain that started yesterday evening at Helens house continues today and threatens to follow us to Mount Stewart, our next garden . I am looking forward to touring Mount Stewart again as it is one of my favorite gardens! I remember that this garden is wonderful for the horticulturist with its wide range of plant material suited to the mild climate of Northern Ireland. The garden is also wonderful for the designer and follows the convention of meticulous plantings near the house dissolving into naturalistic forms and the curving bed lines of a picturesque English landscape garden further away.
14. 14. pg 13 Celtic Cross at Monasterboice We arrive at Mount Stewart just as the rains began in earnest. The inclement weather does nothing to change my plans for exploring the garden . I intend to do a very thorough job walking the property. I start at the main dwelling and walk around the Sunken Garden which is surrounded, very much like the walled medieval gardens, with a colonnade on all four sides. I am surprised to see a California native plant, named Dendromecon harfordii, from the Catalina Islands, espaliered along the colonnade The pergola is kitted out
15. 15. pg 14 with an assortment of climbing vines and roses. Trimmed topiary trees shaped like mushroom caps on sticks give views to the house underneath their skirts creating a marvelous juxtaposition of hard topiary edges and undulating natural plants. Sunken Garden outlined by a rectangular Pergola The large dense proportions of the topiary trees visually organize the space providing a hard-edged reminder that the hand of man made this garden , and their neatness, reveals his active, attentive presence. I move around the house to the Italian Garden with a double set of parterres that lead the eye from the interior of the house down into the pool of the Spanish Garden . Normally a vegetative colonnade is grown from Taxus baccata but, because of the mild climate, Leyland Cypress is used beautifully for this purpose, enclosing the pool . Enticing views out into bluebell meadows encourage further exploration . I see a fine planting of Ribes speciosum, another California native, although it is missing its major pollinator. Its exquisite miniature jewelry of red flower lanterns hanging
16. 16. pg 15 Leyland Cypress Colonnade Lake Glen Walk with Primulas like ornaments along the branches seem somewhat lonely without the constant ministrations of hummingbirds. As I walk further from the house the plantings appropriately lose rigid geometry and become loose, curvilinear, and naturalistic. I see lovely bluebell meadows and beautiful mature blooming specimens of Embothrium coccineum, Davidia involucrata, Drimys winteri, and Sephora teraptera. As I approach the lake I see marvelous specimen trees everywhere! The lake is captivating with carefully placed trees adding vertical interest. Trees clothed in burgundy and chartreuse foliage are artistically placed punctuating the green vista. Everywhere you look, the view could be easily translated into a scene worthy of a painting. Picturesque to be sure.
17. 17. pg 16 It is clear the trees and shrubs have been carefully chosen for the conditions of the site, and tended carefully because everywhere the plants are in robust condition . Seeing the fine health of the specimen trees allows a horticulturist to feel relief and gratitude that the plants have been placed in the care of gardeners at Mount Stewart. While it is true the garden is visually lovely, the sense of smell also plays a part in this design . The heady fragrance of white, large- flowered rhododendrons perfume the stroll around the lake. And these are not your ordinary diminutive garden rhododendrons, no, these are their Himalayan relatives that tower over passersby and present massive steroidal trusses of flowers. The flowers emit a delicate perfume that is a long-treasured treat. For me, no other flower has a similar fragrance. I find myself backtracking to inhale it just one more time before I leave. A marshy glen on the edge of the lake is a visual delight of blooming primulas and iris straddled by snow white birch trees. As I continue around the lake I feel rested and elevated by the restorative power of nature.
18. 18. pg 17 Mount Stewart with Planting Beds Designed by Gertrude Jekyll
19. 19. pg 18 Borrowed Views at Benmore Botanical Garden Nothing says welcome like a grand allee, and there is nothing grander than the allee of Sequoiadendron giganteum at Benmore Botanical Garden in Scotland. Beautifully situated in the Eachaig Valley on the Cowal Peninsula, Benmore Botanic combines the Gardenesque Style of J.C. Loudon with magnificent borrowed views. The Victorian Period saw the creation of many botanical gardens which showcased many new plants discovered on travels to other countries and trialed at home. Setting them apart allowed for study of plant performance, along with study of possible medicinal and economic uses. A climb through the Chilean section of plants
20. 20. pg 19 Giant Sequoia Allee rewarded our group with long views of the valley made visble by the agreeable clear skies. Heaths and heathers purple the hills where sheep do not roam. The creek water runs dark with the acids leaching from the peat found here. We arrived too late in the season to see most of the substantial collection of rhododendrons: over 400 species. Benmore is living proof that mild temperatures and frequent rainfall grows beautiful conifers. The collection here is large and stately. I hope to come back at a later date for further study of these evergreen giants. Even with the immense proportions all around me of giant trees, the plant that blows me away are the beautiful specimens of Enkianthus. Now I know Benmore House at Benmore Botanical Garden
21. 21. pg 20pg 20 Benmore Botanical Garden
22. 22. pg 21 how they are supposed to look- noticeably different than the wimpy individuals I attempt to grow at home. Benmore Botanical Garden is beautiful as well as instructive, and combines sciences with art and fine scenery. We travel on through the haunting lochs of Northern Scotland and make our way to Edinburgh . This afternoon we see more examples of technology from J. C. Loudon. Experimentation in his garden led to the twin inventions of a curved window sash made of iron for greenhouse windows, and a method to angle conservatory glass, by hinging individual panes. With these innovations greenhouses were free to take on convex shapes, and the angled panes let greenhouses take better advantage of the suns rays and natural rains. Both of these advancements are demonstrated at the Royal Edinburgh Botanical Garden in the handsome glasshouses on the grounds. My favorite part of the garden is the two acre Rock Garden. Like Benmore Botanic this multi- faceted display features fine alpine plants grown among sensitively arranged stones that look to natural alpine environments for design inspiration. This garden is successful because it uses local stone: conglomerate rock from the Callander area of Perthshire, and red sandstone from Dumfries, The use of local stone gives the garden a familiar feel and it seems to belong to the space it occupies. Once again , borrowed views, around the garden and beyond, add to the appropriateness. Additionally, design harmony is brought about by siting the waterway to flow as it would in nature, from high to low. The elevated beds display plants to their best advantage. To blend the rock garden with the expanse of lawn further away there is a
23. 23. pg 22 Rock Garden at Edinburgh Botanical Naturalistic Rock Formations transition zone that blurs the abrupt change. The rock garden appears to have used Japanese garden design principles with their careful attention to the geologic features of the native landscape to guide construction . A dialogue or synchrony exists between the rock formations, the plants, and the views. Careful attention to natures methods also guided the irrigation design for the rock garden . The plants are installed in freely draining scree, and irrigated frequently, by water coursing in the scree layer beneath the plants which discourages foliage diseases and supplies adequate water for good growth . Pathways weave seamlessly through the rocks, again masterfully built to resemble a well-worn trail in the rocks. Humanly- proportioned steps support sure-footed travel through the rocks. It is so easy to move through the garden , one never glances down or has moments of insecure footing. The design of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a disciplined partnership with nature that celebrates good design with skillfully grown plants.
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26. 26. pg 25 E d i n b u r g h S c e n e s
27. 27. pg 26 Tatton Park replaced the Ian Hamilton Findlay Garden. The design of Tatton Park is a sampler of many different garden styles. The problem, of course, is none of them are done well because of the fragmented landscape. There are small areas of excellence with rough transitions usually achieved through large expanses of lawn to help erase design memories of nearby gardens. By themselves, the walled Vegetable Garden , the Italian Revivial Garden , and the Japanese Garden are all fine examples of separate styles. The walled garden is derived from the medival Hortus conclusus. Age-old techniques ensure good harvest. For example, plants that are not entirely hardy are covered with a ceramic cloches to endure cold night temperatures. Apple trees are more intensively planted in the walled garden when they are espaliered on a series of arbors. While the Japanese Garden is beautiful , it is unfortunate it cannot be experienced as it was intended, as a strolling garden. I especially enjoyed the planned shape of the bridge reflection in the water. The Italian Revival Garden has been recreated by faithfully adhering to the vocabulary of the style Hortus Conclusus Cloches
28. 28. pg 27 Espalier on Arbors Quadrapartite Terracing Japanese Strolling Garden Use of Reflection Italian Revival Garden
29. 29. of garden . The long view is terraced to the pond level . Close to the house formal quadrapartite parterres of clipped boxwood topiary with water fountains, and statuary, complete the Italian Revival recreation . At Bodnant I would have liked to have either been early- about three hours, or late- about one week. As it was, we had a tiny bit of time to experience an 80 acre property. Sadly, I never made it to the majority of the garden . I have fond memories of the lovely Dell , and looked forward to seeing it again , but, they will stay distant memories, because I did not have time to see it. The world famous Laburnum Arch was about a week away from its yearly splendor. Laburnum Arch Bodnant pg 28
30. 30. pg 29 garden , three generations of the Puddle family have devoted their time as gardeners to its care. One of the grandest pergolas anywhere wraps the entire curved length of stairs down to the potager. The color of the pergola is a wonderful mossy celadon green which contrasts beautifully with the blooming wisteria. There is an old stone wall that no longer serving its historical function for keeping livestock separate from the immediate house grounds, still , the Ha Ha continues to maintain the illusion of an unbroken view far from the house. The Dell is a tranquil place, humid and primordial . Towering redwoods shade the small river flowing through it in the pinetum and natural garden . It must be nice to experience this garden through the seasons. Bodnant is an Arts and Crafts Garden with collections of Magnolias, Camellias, and Rhododendrons. Stone terraces adorned with roses step down from the manor with further views of large blue Atlas cedars flanking a lily pond. In the distance lies a large tapis vert or green lawn . Faraway views of the lovely Conwy Valley extend from the lily pond. This is a special Ha ha Pergola Tapis Vert
31. 31. pg 30 Wednesday found us at Hidcote. The Arts and Crafts principles of William Robinson are followed here, and combined with the color theory of Gertrude Jekyll, in this garden of many rooms, designed by Lawrence Johnston . The plantings appear like nature- intertwined, lush , and wild- kept in check by the squared planting beds. There are 29 themed gardens at Hidcote. Most famous are the Red Border and the White Garden featuring meticulously manicured geometric hedges and airy flowers. Particularly attractive is an ingenious hedge of green and red- foliaged evergreen plants marbled together. The garden rooms gave glimpses into the next enticing room and propelled me forward through this luscious garden . Hidcote
32. 32. Red and Green Hedge Meticulous Topiary Walls Exuberant Plantings pg 31
33. 33. pg 32pg 32 Hidcote Inspirational Tree- Cedrus deodara
34. 34. pg 33 Reflective Essay - Why We Revere Trees There is nothing like them on Earth , at once protective and nurturing, yet, majestic and proud. No other living thing grows as large or as old as a tree. From ancient times man gazed in awe at the stature of the noble tree. A fine old specimen usually served as a landmark and a meeting place. Children climbed and ate the fruit produced in its branches. Forests supplied the lumber required to provide housing. Bound in the girth of the branches is the power of the sun . The massive scaffolding spreads wide to shelter man from the elements by cooling and humidifying the air up to 20 degrees. Trees offer shelter, shade, year-around beauty, while sequestering carbon , and stabilizing soil . One large tree can support over one hundred species of wildlife, and essentially support a whole ecosystem, from the life in the soil to the birds flying overhead. Trees do so many amazing things. A healthy tree has the power to positively change the ecology around it. Powerfully built and muscular like a father, yet with spreading arms and cool shade, nurturing like a mother, combined with the age and wisdom of an elder, trees seem omniscient in their being. Families buy homes because of the presence of one majestic tree. That tree becomes the chronological thread throughout their lives. The tree becomes part of the family. It serves as a witness to daily activities and milestone events: children clambering through its branches, grown children marrying beneath its canopy, pets laid to rest nearby. The abiding presence of a tree, growing and changing just like a member of the family imbues it with a soulful human quality. But they are certainly supernatural . Some live thousands of years, seemingly forever, combining grandeur and the wisdom of nature into a form of graceful beauty.
35. 35. pg 34 Rill This was my first visit to Rousham and a fine garden it is. It is virtually unchanged from 1737 when William Kent redesigned it, but to me it almost seems like a modern garden . The unessential and fluffy garden elements have been stripped away to reveal the inherent beauty of the site. The rill that runs through the Laurel Walk curves with the topography and is made of clean , unadorned material . It is just perfect in its simplicity and form. The iconographic statuary is outwardly focused, so one notices the lovely countryside where the garden resides. The Dying Gaul statue symbolizes the glory days of Britain while the Statue of Apollo indicates power and good breeding. The inclusion of statuary and pavilions makes this garden different from the strictly picturesque landscapes of Capability Brown . The walled garden near the house came before Kent s redesign . It is an entirely different garden space, and because it is walled, one experiences the necessary transition needed to separate the new garden space mentally. A lovely dovecote is the focal point amidst borders and a central reflecting pool .
36. 36. Potager and Topiary Dovecote in Walled Garden Iconographic Statuary pg 35
37. 37. pg 36 I really enjoyed our visit to the city of Oxford. I had never been there before. It looks just like I thought it would. You could almost feel the jump in collective IQ. I love the aura of possibility and creation that seems to exist in elite college towns. The architecture was block after block of period buildings with ornate finishings no longer seen in modern buildings. I found myself imagining the walls could talk and the amazing things they would say! I think I heard whispers of momentous historical dialogue that had occurred throughout the city. One of my favorite authors, J. R . R . Tolkien , ate lunch at a quaint tavern we stopped in called, The Eagle and Child. It was cozy and dark: ripe for deep discussion and discovery. I acted as tour leader for some of our group and I was determined that we see all the landmarks on the map. One of my favorite spots was the lush , uncut meadow flanked by the mature allee of sycamores on the banks of the river. We finished our tour near dusk and watched the buildings turn peachy with the setting sun .
38. 38. pg 37 View in Oxford
39. 39. pg 38 Islamic Influence with Classical Proportions Iford is a delight, and lovingly tended by Mr. Higman , who gave us an excellent tour of this incredible garden . The garden was conceived of, built, and furnished by Harold Peto. The design incorporates his love of classical Roman proportions with his love of Islamic elements, and his love of quality materials and detail . Peto read classical literature and accurately reproduced the garden elements with traditional Roman proportions found in Vitruvius work. Appropriate for this classical garden is the terracing in keeping with the steep slope and proper Roman vernacular. The stone used is the finest grade as explained by Mr. Higman . It is easy to differentiate between lower quality stone when the distinctions are pointed out. I am glad Peto used the nicer stone, the dense warm color gives the garden an incomparable richness. Rills, scented geraniums, and the sound of trickling water are Petos Islamic elements, useful for sensually cooling a hot day. Flowers take a subordinate role in this garden , but there are still plants like boxwood, juniper, roses, and wisteria. Italian Cypress punctuate the changes in elevation as one walks through the garden . Peto, taking cues from Gertrude Jekyll and the Arts and Crafts influence, uses superb quality materials, and workmanship, which are evident from start to finish . Walkways are large, accommodating several people, and landings slow down progression and encourage appreciation . Classical statues and choice architectural fragments are focal points with open pergolas framing views.
40. 40. pg 39 Framed Views & Large Steps Trimmed Boxwook Espaliered WisteriaIford Manor
41. 41. pg 40Palladian Bridge
42. 42. pg 41 The painting that influenced this garden is etched into my brain . I have seen it many times and it is a pleasant, bucolic scene. A dammed river and a grand tour helped create the inspiration for this garden designed by Henry Hoare II. The story of Aeneid is told through , statuary and diminutive versions of, among others, the Pantheon , and the Temple of Apollo, seen as one progresses around the sinuous banks of the lake. Paths divurge symbolizing choices in the epic story. The garden is much more than a story, though , views of all the elements constantly change as one walks. Just as you think you have seen the best angle of a particular pavilion in relation to the landscape a further distance away the building, presents itself in a whole new appealing way. Watching the proportions and angles change in the relationship between the landscape elements is what I enjoyed most. Fascinating. The whole garden is picturesque, yet it retells an ancient tale, while demonstrating the wealth and power of the patron . Subsequent plantings of many more trees and rhododendrons are beautiful , but maybe not what the original designer had in mind. It would be informative to see the garden in the winter. Stourhead Temple of Apollo
43. 43. pg 42 Stonehenge Stonehenge is not a garden , but it is a must-see destination in England. We came, we saw, and we could not believe it! How did an ancient people construct such a monumental time-keeper! And more importantly, why did they care so much to do all that work! I guess the best the scholars can do is speculate on these questions. Sure, the physics part has been satisfactorily addressed, but why did they do it? This place raises many more questions than it answers. Maybe in the future we will get closer to having some additional answers to this great mystery.
44. 44. pg 43 National Gallery, London The Rise of the Carthaganian Empire by Joseph William Turner I am glad a couple of art museums were included in the tour. If given a choice between a garden or a museum, I am afraid the garden always wins. I have included this picture of a painting by William Turner because, like Stourhead, it was inspired by the Aeneid. So an epic poem inspires a painting AND a garden . It is interesting, but not surprising, that many of the great landscape designers started as painters. Both William Kent and Gertrude
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46. 46. pg 45 Jekyll were classically trained painters. Mixing colors on the palette no doubt helped Jekyll combine flower colors as her eyesight was fading. Landscape painting finds its origins in great Roman literature. We see the influence great Roman literature has on providing inspiration , by looking at the landscape works of Diego Velaquez. Velaquez was the first to recreate the written word of Roman writer, Pliny the Elder, and painted some of the first dedicated depictions of landscape in art. Later, Salvatore Rosa wished to share emotions of terror and awe with his depictions of explorers experiences. Most people who viewed his sublime drawings would never see the wild landscapes he drew, but taking in one of his drawings was the next best thing. Poussin and Dugat were later landscape painters who worked from books. Claude Lorrain was probably the most influential landscape painter, aptly, he trained under a landscape designer before becoming a painter. He painted many scenes from the Aeneid. He also found inspiration from reading Shakespeares depictions of idyllic landscapes. Lorrains dreamy scenes of the Golden Age are uplifting and calming.
47. 47. pg 46 Hampton Court Palace Hampton Court Palace was the home of Charles II and Henry the VIII. Charles II spent time in France, and was influenced by the gardens at Versailles. Like Versailles a patte doie radiated from the palace, but unlike Versailles, the central lane was equal in size to the other lanes. Britain royalty were a little reluctant to demonstrate in the landscape how egocentric they were, so all lanes were equal in size. Still , the scale of the garden was designed to impress. There is a Dutch idiom in the Renaissance French-style garden because it was designed by Daniel Marot, the designer of Het Loo in The Netherlands. The elements are scale-down to fit a less expansive
48. 48. pg 47 Parterres of Pieces Coupees- Grass Cutwork landscape. In the Privy Garden the yews are trimmed smaller, and the parterres of pieces coupees, or grass cutwork are more intimately scaled than in French Renaissance gardens. Recently, the Privy Garden was remade to a more faithful rendition of the original circa Henry VIII. The original patte doie has been reduced in size since the time of Charles II, when it extended out to another semi-circle further out in the landscape. Just like other Dutch Renaissance gardens the gardens at Hampton Court are meticulously maintained and the topiary and grass forms have razor- sharp edges. Similar too, is the landscape itself; it is flat in topography. The 300-year-old yew allees that flank the lanes of the patte doie have grown much larger than originally planned, and this changes the intended effect. Beginning of Patte Doie
49. 49. American Cemetery pg 48
50. 50. pg 49 Last night we boarded a ferry in Portsmith , England. This was more like a cruise ship than a ferry because there were beds for sleeping and showers. I slept so soundly that I forgot we were on a boat until I awoke and realized I was moving through the ocean out my window. Thank goodness I did not awake with a start, as the ceiling was just a couple of feet above my sleeping head. After our overnight ferry trip from Portsmith to Caen , France, we arrived early at the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. My Dad was in the Second World War, but thankfully did not attend this horrendous event. He was laid up in a hospital in North Africa, the victim of bomb warfare. On D-Day it was incredible that anyone survived on such an exposed beach . The Germans must have picked them off like swatting at so many flies. I imagine the sheer number of bodies going to slaughter must have allowed a few to make their way up to do battle. I can only offer my sincere thanks and appreciation . Over 9,000 men have graves here. Orderly rows of graves resembling ranks of troops go on and on in the landscape. The expanse of white crosses is broken up by an occasional Star-of-David marking the grave of a Jewish man . With self-preservation in mind, I tried to ignore the showing of Private Ryan on the bus, as I know full well I would turn into a blubbering mess. Sometimes it is especially good not to be an American male and be made to go war, because I do not think I could be as brave as the men of D-Day in defense of my country.
51. 51. pg 50 Latona Fountain with Canal in the Distance Beautiful LOrangerie
52. 52. pg 51 Louis the Fourteenth had Versailles built to showcase his power to the world. He called himself, The Sun King. He might have believed it, but I do not think so. Versailles seems like overcompensation , like a big red monster truck owned by a sunken- chested, bespectacled, skinny little guy. The scale of it, and the impossibility to form a coherent whole of it in ones mind makes it tiresome. A visit to Versailles makes me long for a cozy wooded glen with tree cover for shade. The statuary that remains at Versailles tells of greatness and power. The Fountain of Latona warns visitors of what a mistake it would be to cross the Sun King- unless you like becoming a frog. You get a sense of the enormity of the place when you stand near the Fountain of Latona and look down the length of the grounds and see the end of the canal shimmering mirage-like in the vast distance. Wild. I soon tired of yet another visit to this monstrosity and retired to draw trees in the lorangerie. It had not been open on my previous stops. I enjoyed being the only person there until I was locked in by mistake. As I wandered about considering my escape strategies an ATVing security guard saw me and opened an enormous (I guess the size is in keeping) padlock to let me out. Whew- That was close. Iconographic Statuary
53. 53. pg 52 Stone Pattern- Figurative Rill Symbolic & Decorative Rill Modern Pergola Parc Andre Citroen refers to the name- sake of the park in its earlier history- Citroen automobiles were manufactured on this site. A design competition awarded the parks plan to two design teams. Alan Provost and Gilles Clement headed the two winning entries and the plans were melded into a cohesive whole. Gilles de- signs are primarily plant-based. Many of his parks originate from his wish that humans live more har- moniously with the environment. His design is on one end of the park while Provost did the urban edge on the other side. The design themes for the design of the park are artifice, architecture, movement and nature. Clement primarily uses movement and na- ture, while Provost uses artifice and architecture. The park has something for everyone. The huge center lawn is perfect for sun-bathing and people- watching. Small intimate gardens in the black gar- den and the sensory gardens give people looking for privacy a chance to commune with nature. Beautiful
54. 54. pg 53 and skillful plant combinations can be appreciated for their horticultural awareness. Now I know why I am such a fan of this garden and Gilles Clement,- he is a plant nut too! And, if you want to get a better birds eye view, a trip on the resident hot air balloon can be arranged. Reflective Essay- Historical Connections Parc Andre Citroen is a park for people in a very urban area of Paris. The question in creating the park was how to design a planted space in what was a toxic waste dump in the middle of Paris? How do you make the green space transition from a sea of concrete? The designs of Clement and Provost use the language of French Renaissance gardens and traditional agriculture in a new way to transition the park from an urban neighborhood to the wilder spaces near the Seine. Theirs is not a strict translation; however, the language of forms is still recognizable. This time, instead of building a monument to an egocentric king the designers use the old forms for the people. Clever design using the traditional elements of patte doie, rills and fountains, make the garden aesthetically pleasant, accessible and usable for everyone. These forms of rill , pergola, laurel walk, patte doie, and fountain are still recognizable although they may be symbolic rather than serving their original purpose.
55. 55. pg 54 Laurel Walk Concrete Divider with Stone Rill Modern Concrete Pergola Most people use the north entrance, through the urban neighborhood, to enter the garden . This part of the garden uses architecture and artiface to blend park and urban areas. Rills and waterways are represented using stepped terracing, different stone patterns, slots, and ramps. All follow walkways and add ornamentation along with figurative moving water. Of course when it rains the rill slot may actually convey precipitation and serve a purpose. The rill-like symbolic stone pattern also acts as guide for wayfinding through the park. This is a flat site and a design problem if the designer wants to provide privacy and shade. Ramps at the north entrance
56. 56. pg 55 Terracing and Fountain LOrangerie & Greenhouse introduce another more intimate level to the park. The upper level is used by joggers and walkers; the lower level gives one the feeling of strolling through forest clearings. This multi- level solution , like so many innovative design solutions is simple and extremely clever. Modern metal pergolas stripped of any ornamentation stretch across the lower level to provide shade with twining plants. Juniper and other evergreens are terraced in large swaths cooling the space in a modern version of the laurel walk. Instead of hedges to separate garden rooms, modern concrete dividers do it sculpturally with stepped edge ornamentation . During the French Renaissance a palace would dominate the landscape with a patte doie emanating from the center. Similarly in Parc Citroen the space of the White Garden is dominated by buildings, but not a palace, by greenhouses. The patte doie is there too, but it is set to the side slicing the park with a diagonal that makes all the park
57. 57. Patte DOie areas easily accessible while sensibly providing the shortest distance through the park for people in a hurry. The Chateau Versailles has the palace with the lorangerie to one side, and so does the Parc Andre Citroen . The wooden boxes housing the trees are identical copies of the boxes at Chateau Versailles, but painted white instead of green , and housing crepe myrtles instead of orange trees. At the greenhouse the rows of boxed trees are set in a grid like an orchard of fruit trees. Modern versions of reflecting pools or moats are found alongside the greenhouses. Pleached magnolias form a grid, and rest in the pools creating a multiplication of leaf shapes in their reflections. This design element differs from pools in renaissance gardens where the reflecting pool reflects only the sky, and a moat is only protective. Fountains are used in French Renaissance gardens. In traditional pg 56
58. 58. pg 57 designs they are removed from human interaction with walls, statues, heavy jets, and pedestals. The fountains of the Renaissance were meant to be looked at- not so at Parc Andre Citroen . Here the fountain starts at ground level with no walls and no statuary to discourage interaction . Kids are free to romp through the computerized sprays that constantly vary in pattern , and appear to dance, and it is just natural that kids want to join the fun . Yes, Parc Andre Citroen has historical landscape forms from the French Renaissance in the park, but they are used in innovative ways to invite people to get involved with the garden , creating a peoples park . Pleached Magnolia Grid
59. 59. pg 58 Green Wall Le Mur Vegetal by Patrick Blanc is mounted on the Musee du Quai Branly.. I have always wanted to see this installation . I hope someday to see green walls on most buildings, especially in cities. Maybe these walls could incorporate food plants and serve multiple uses, for example, green walls can act as insulation , air cleaner, beautifier, habitat, and a source of food. The wall itself differs from, say, an ivy- covered wall because it is kept separate from the exterior of the building by a frame and waterproof liner. The plants are planted at 30 plants per meter into thick polyamide felt. I wish recycled natural materials could be utilized for the felt instead of synthetic polyamide to make it a more ecologically sound choice. As it is, polyamide is derived from coal tar and is not recyclable. The green wall at Musee du Quai Branly is attractive, although , I would have liked to see it in better health with less dead gaps. I guess it has its successes and failures too, just like a regular garden . According to Blancs website, green walls need tending about 3-4 times a year. I was so impressed with the landscaping at the Musee du Quai Branly that I went back
60. 60. pg 59 Naturalistic Planting Urban Park & Art the next day when it was open . It turns out the natualistic plantings were done by a familiar landscape architect, Gilles Clement. I love his work! Once again like in Parc Citroen he was able to bring nature to an urban area of Paris. Regrading the site to add topography, planting large swaths of grasses to add movement, and finally, adding nature-inspired art and sculpture all work together to bring the illusion of never-ending nature to the city. And really, it is not an illusion , I saw ducks, bees, and butterflies. Definitely an approach to landscape design that I aspire to. Flowering Grasses
61. 61. pg 60 Atlantic Puffin Gentian acaulis I brought my binoculars because I had hoped to spy Atlantic Puffins along the Cliffs of Moher. Unfortunately I did not make it to the Cliffs. Atlantic Puffins are declining all over their range, and this is one of the few remaining habitats where they can still be found. I missed the grandeur of the cliffs rising vertically out of the sea an impressive 600 feet. It is said that the weather is overcast much of the time. Wouldnt you know it was sparkling clear the day I couldnt go? Maybe next summer me and the Hubster will take a couple of days to visit this wonder of nature. I think we could rent bicycles and tour Glendalough too. The Burren, of all the gardens and places on this trip I wanted to see, I wanted to see this one the most. It is one of the most unique geological formations on Earth combined with the temperate climate of Southwestern Ireland. Soil is almost nonexistent on this large karstic formation of limestone. The rock itself is split and broken forming crevices, and in these places small unusual plants make their homes. one of the plants, Gentian vernis is a surprise for its large shockingly blue flowers on a such a diminutive plant. Some of these plants occur nowhere else in the world, and associated with them are insects that are equally rare. When it is blooming it must look like a jewel box filled with gems.
62. 62. pg 61 Primula sp. Hyacinthoides non-scripta I really would have liked to see Annes Grove Garden . It has a famous woodland garden and a walled garden with herbaceous borders. Because of the mild climate, many tender plants thrive here including Embothrium, Hoheria, and Eucryphia. The woodland garden hosts a large collection of Rhododendrons. The 30 acre garden is set on a slope overlooking the river Awbeg. In the Robinsonian style the plants are not native, but appear to be native by their naturalistic arrangement. It is famous for a large expanse of Primula florindae along the river. It must be beautiful . I hope to have the pleasure someday. Glendalough is located close to Dublin , in a picturesque valley located between two lakes. The valley was formed long ago by glaciers. Ancient ruins, dating a far back as the six century, of six churches and a remaining round tower are located here. The founder, St. Kevin , came here seeking enlightenment. He settled in the area because the solitude and memorable beauty of the place inspired religious reflection and retreat. Glendalough means, Glen of Two Lakes. The setting is naturally beautiful and popular with bikers and hikers. Bluebells blanket the valley in the springtime.
63. 63. pg 62 Parc Bela Bartok- Small Park Reflective Essay Lessons Learned Superficially I learned to leave a few days early if I want to ensure I do not miss anything. Fundamentally I learned that European urban space planning has much to teach the United States. Parks and plazas should be a fundamental part of city planning. Public outdoor spaces are not a luxury, not an add-on , but a necessity for a healthy, functioning human society. Olmsted realized this and added significant parks to New York City, and Boston , and influenced the formation of large parks in San Francisco and other cities. When cities are planned for cars rather than people, buildings and roadways get big, and out of human scale, people lose touch with each other and become alienated. Can you imagine New York City without Central Park? It is no wonder that Claude Lorrains idyllic scenes of The Golden Age, showing picturesque, gently rolling parkland, dotted with shade trees, were so popular. Looking at such a painting imparts immediate feelings of calm. The scenes are therapeutic. Even better is to have access to an actual park of tranquil beauty in order to
64. 64. stroll and relax. The longing for a scenic meadow accented with trees is in our DNA. As a race we originated from the park-like savannah in Africa. It is appealing to us, and we feel safe there because we can see possible danger in the open grassland, yet we have protection and shade from overhead tree canopy. In parks people have the freedom to connect with nature and each other, or find their own patch of lawn and just lie back, sunbathe, and reflect. I also learned that if large parks are not possible than small parks will also work to create relaxation and sanity in urban areas. Parks have a civilizing influence for everyone no matter what their size. Unlike many American cities, Paris has many small parks. Near the Lourve, I just happened to stumble upon sweet little Parc Bela Bartok in the middle of a sea of concrete. It is a wonderful space created by forming gently rolling topography to give a feeling of immersion and privacy in nature, even in the midst of a city. It provided solace for me and undoubtedly others who live here seek it out for the contentment it fosters. More importantly, I learned that as a designer you can bring nature to urban areas which benefits wildlife, and the people who live there. Musee du Quai Branly is an example of this. The landscaping here is carefully chosen to foster wildlife, to be healthy with minimal care, and to encourage interaction with urban populations. And just like the green wall has many benefits, so does creating pockets of nature, in the city. It is a win-win situation really, with nature and people benefitting. I believe that ANY greenspace is therapeutic and immeasurably favorable for the health of whole communities. It reminds us of our relationship with other living things and nature is comforting in its resilience and beauty. pg 63
65. 65. pg 64 View from the House Muckross House and 11,000 acres was sold to the Bourn Family as a wedding present for their daughter, Maud, who had married an Irishman . The Bourn family also owned and lived at Filoli in Woodside, California. After Rose died of pneumonia crossing the Atlantic, the house and grounds was deeded to Ireland and became the first National Park. I visited here several years ago. I enjoyed the breathtaking scenery and continually changing appearance of the lake surrounded by mountains as the bus drove towards the house. It is here I saw striking Rosa sericea ssp. omeiensis f. pteracantha and its blood-red thorns for the first time.
66. 66. pg 65 Rosa sericea ssp omeiensis f. pteracantha
67. 67. pg 66 I have visited Powerscourt many times in a post-flight stupor. The drive through majestic beech trees up to the manor is impressive. A dramatic view is directed from the house down through the garden , to the small lake, and out to the mountains in the distance. This is an Italianate Garden with terracing, statuary, urns, topiary, and water. Black and white pebble mosaic carpets also bring to mind the Italian gardens I saw last year. The two, winged-horse statues flanking the grand stairs, refer to the design in the family crest. The ornate gate was purchased in Bavaria, as were the winged-horse statues. Apparently the owner liked to travel and collect garden ornaments, and ideas. The Japanese-style Garden is pleasant and laid out in concentric circles. The herbaceous borders in the walled garden really come into their own in the middle of summer. The Pepperpot Tower was closed when I visited, but I understand that it is now open and you can climb up to the top for views of mature specimen trees. I have never before seen an allee of Araucaria araucana- pretty wild! Powerscourt View
68. 68. pg 67 Powers Court Gate Italian Renaissance Garden
69. 69. pg 68 Influence of Vitruvius The first two chapters of Vitruvius book, Of Architecture, are a treatise on how an architect should be educated and how he should also know the aesthetic principles necessary to construct enduringly beautiful and well- constructed buildings. He writes that an architect must have a well-rounded education in history, math , drafting, construction , weather and climate, sciences, music, and philosophy, because without it, the design of the building will be deficient. He also writes that proportions of the building and its parts must follow certain measurements which are based on the proportions of the human body. If a building is constructed with these measurements and proportions, the parts will add up to a harmonious whole, and be aesthetically beautiful . He goes on to say that in a correctly styled building, certain styles of architecture termed orders should never be mixed as they are associated with particular deities. A big reason why Vitruvius teachings are followed in Western Architecture, even today, is because the proportions just look right. Buildings like the Pantheon , following these principles, is still considered to be one of the most perfect buildings on earth . Even Thomas Jefferson looked to Vitruvius when he designed his home, Monticello. Looking at the National Gallery in London one can see classical Roman elements and proportions in the columns, pediments, and domes. At Stourhead, in an attempt to showcase classical beauty in a retelling a classical story, Vitruvius work was consulted. Not only did it look appropriate and historically correct, by inference, it demonstrated the well- rounded education talked about in Chapter One of Vitruvius book. Harold Peto also realized his gardens would look aesthetically beautiful and well-bred if he followed the classical proportions and sited his buildings with an appreciation for surrounding scenery, all requirements described in Of Architecture.
70. 70. pg 69 Influence of Homer and The Garden of Alcinous The Garden of Alcinous from The Odysssey, by Homer, describes a bounteous land of plenty. This vision of paradise on Earth is an archetype that many garden designers have tried to replicate (myself included). In this place there is no disease or bad weather, fruits and flowers perpetually bloom, and everywhere you look there is lush beauty. When I think of this metaphor for Eden I think of carefully planned and tended double herbaceous borders. Every time I see a peaking border I see an illusion of paradise: colorful and extravagant with no hint of disease. Walled gardens, especially when they include flowers (potager,) are the temporal representations of the Gardens of Alcinous. Fruit trees espaliered, and intensely planted, with many varieties growing together; bring to mind a worry-less paradise where food is always plentiful and delicious. Just the fact that there is a wall physically separating the area makes it seem other-worldly, protected, and ethereal . Everyone craves this place. There are no worries or sickness just unstoppable beauty and an unending supply of food. It is a place of peace where all creatures live side-by-side in harmony.
71. 71. pg 70 Influence of Pliny the Younger Pliny, in is writings, seems to be describing several of the gardens we visited. Plinys gardens are protected by colonnades, separated by hedges and stone walls, and decorated with box topiary in the forms of animals, geometric shapes, and letters. In his descriptions shady pergolas covered with fruit and scented with flowers give relief from the hot sun . Further from the house, meadows, vineyards, and woods provide food and wild beauty. Similarly, at Mount Stewart, beds near the house are rimmed in clipped vegetation , colonnades surround the sunken garden and protect guests from inclement weather. At Mount Stewart the clipped boxwood figures and animals come right out of Plinys description . Similarities can be seen at the Garden at Hidcote which has luxurious beds of flowers controlled by strict geometries of boxwood. Garden rooms are enclosed by topiary hedges. I wonder if the large twin bird topiaries looked anything like the bird topiaries at Plinys villa, because both Hidcote and Pliny had them. On our trip, vine-covered pergolas, similar to Plinys description were found at Helen Dillons, Mount Stewart, Tatton Park, Hidcote, Iford, with a huge example at Bodnant. Many of the gardens also had a woodland in the distance: Muckross, Annes Grove, Powerscourt, Mount Stewart, and Bodnant. Just like other Romans, Pliny, had already figured out the elementary forms used for outdoor living, the best directional siting for a house, and what constitutes agreeable views. Even though it is 2000 years later we still need the same things as human beings, our comfort and aesthetic requirements have not changed, so it is no wonder we still look to ancient writings for design direction .
72. 72. pg 71 The garden on our tour that most fits this description for me is Mount Stewart. At Mount Stewart the Manor was not nearly as grand as the gardens. The time and energy apparent in the design and care of all the horticultural specimens, in my mind, elevated them to reverential or religious objects. I also felt this in Helen Dillons Garden because she paid serious attention to particular plants and how she combined them. Additionally her reflecting pool seemed to pay homage to all the plants and the garden by echoing the grandeur found there. Influence of Francis Bacon Francis Bacon was Lord Chancellor of England, a philosopher and a practitioner of empirical science. He wrote, Of Gardens in 1625. In the essay he gives his opinion on what qualities a perfect garden should have. First, he elevates gardening and gardens to being the most god-like pursuit of anything man can do, and the most refreshing. Second, he says compared to constructing a garden , architecture is a vulgar pursuit. Bacon says it is far easier to build well than to garden well . Man , in his opinion , should garden rather than most anything else because it is fulfilling, provides food, and brings one closer to God.
73. 73. pg 72 Influence- Hypnerotomachia Poliphili This chapter from the book, Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, is supposedly written by a monk, and describes the erotic dream of Poliphili. In it, he describes an idealized dream world from gardens to buildings in great detail . The translation of the book came out in 1592. The descriptions in the book provided an Eden-like template for garden designers. Details of layout, water features, plants and their arrangement, influenced many Renaissance gardens. Woodcuts included with the text made it one of the first garden design books ever written . In the chapter on gardens the author describes a place with a stream leading to a lake surrounded by fragrant roses and jasmine. Orderly rows of many kinds of flowering and fruit-bearing trees, are chronicled in this imagined garden , as well as, meadows with many flowers, fountains, and many sweetly singing birds. Gardens that remind me of this story are Annes Grove Garden which has a walled garden that was an orchard in a previous design , and now has an abundance of flowers with a nearby pond. Especially reminiscent of Hypnerotomachia Poliphili is the walled garden at Rousham. There in the walled garden are flowers, espaliered fruit, a small pond, and a dovecote, for the birds. This garden predates the redesign of the garden from the early 1700s, so it is highly likely that it was influenced by the book.
74. 74. pg 73 Influence- Alexander Pope In the poem by Alexander Pope, Epistle to Lord Burlington , the author describes possible design mistakes and things to keep in mind when designing a garden . Most importantly, in the poem, the garden designer should consult the genius of the place, and by paying attention to the inherent qualities of the site one can derive a good design . He also adds to never lose sight of nature, and not to overdo embellishments in building a garden . And just like Plinys Roman guidelines, he suggests that the parts should add up to a harmonious whole. Pope also advises that parts of the garden should be hidden to introduce elements of drama and surprise. Of the gardens we visited, Powerscourt, is a prime example of attention paid to siting the garden properly, and consulting the genius loci. The axial layout leading the eye through the garden to the fountain in the lake would not be nearly as strong were it not to include views of the surrounding majestic mountains. Also, in the design , planting a simple grove of large noble beeches in the valley leading up to the manor, does not gild the lily, it increases the appreciation of inherent beauty of the valley. At Rousham, the position , shape, and simple materials of the rill and pools, gives one pause, and enough time to really comprehend the characteristic loveliness of the location . Simple plantings, well-placed ornamentation , and minimal pruning give the garden an air of unplanned elegance.
75. 75. pg 74 where meticulous landscaping close to the house transitions to more naturalistic forms further away. This approach makes sense because one is apt to care for plants that are easy to get to, and conversely, find it difficult to care for plants when travel is necessary to accomplish maintenance. Mount Stewart certainly had flower beds close to the house that required more pruning and maintenance than did the bluebell meadows glimpsed beyond the cypress colonnade. Helen Dillons Garden , too, had topiary boxwood and more precious plant combinations near the house, with more unkempt places beyond the set of arbors. Tatton Parks design follows Reptons teachings with neatly trimmed boxwood, needing frequent attention , clustered near the house, and further away less intensive informal lawn leading to a pond. Influence- Humphrey Repton In Humphrey Reptons essay, The Flower Garden, he makes a case against the picturesque and unadorned landscapes of Capability Brown . He basically states that a house in a landscape such is this, is the same as a house just being plunked into a pasture, because it has nothing to differentiate it from the surrounding landscape. He writes that a house in this situation is a melancholy scene. To make a house a proper home one must add flower beds and shrubs to demarcate the it from the wilder landscape nearby. According to Repton , shade of a pergola or woods is necessary for relief from the sun . On our tour we saw several gardens
76. 76. pg 75 Influence- William Robinson Many of the gardens on the trip were influenced by the teachings of William Robinson . He proposed planting hardy exotics in large naturalistic plantings because after initial installation and growth , the plantings require less maintenance. He writes that picturesque gardens may appear low-maintenance, but in reality require a great deal of care. Annes Grove Garden has a large expanse of Primula floridinae near the water. It looks appropriate for the site; in fact, it appears to be a drift of a native plant. Yet the plant is from Tibet, and is planted here because it requires less care than most native plants. Dactylorhiza is also planted in large colorful areas, and it is also from a colder climate much further north . Rhododendrons cover the hillside at Muckross where they prosper with little care, even though they are not native, because their basic needs are met by an agreeable climate. Mount Stewart fills the beds near the house with foreign perennials that require no coddling and just a little pruning. The large leaves of Gunnera grace many ponds and lakes at the gardens we visited. The placement of this perennial along waterways looks like it belongs, yet the mammoth plant hails from Brazil , and requires no care - save planting. Double herbaceous borders take their cue from Robinson . They are filled with hardy perennials, most of which come from other countries, and bloom every year. Glasnevin Botanical Garden , Hampton Court, and Annes Grove all have substantial perennial borders.
77. 77. a sequence of complimentary colors grading into each other. She planned beds by the time of bloom and the color of bloom, so no combination was jarring. She strove for the visual delight of soft colors blending into each other. In the double herbaceous borders witnessed on the trip we saw this was a lofty goal . Hampton Court had a huge single border along one side. I walked the length of it, and it must have been 300 feet long. I doubt that the border at Hampton Court would go without criticism from Jekyll . Her borders were changed often to more closely align with a new level of beauty. I doubt any such changes would be easily implemented with a border of this size. Jekyll thought that plants combined well was akin to high art rather than just a collection of plants. Influence- Gertrude Jekyll According to Gertrude Jekyll , perennial gardens require nearly constant reassessment and imagination , in order to get closer to perfection . Jekyll is of the opinion that gardens with lots of perennials are not necessarily a garden , but a collection . She felt that relentless culling and rearranging was unavoidable maintenance so plants would bloom complimentarily, and goal could be achieved by building seasonal beds, to avoid blank spots. Jekyll was a consummate colorist and her flowering beds were harmonious boxes of bloom colors arranged like a color wheel with pg 76
78. 78. I think most people are lucky to get things to live and be healthy, let alone softly grade into delightful color schemes. It is easier to achieve a Jekyllian ideal when you live in the benign climate of England. Achieving beautiful borders is probably the most difficult gardening activity. Anytime you look closely at most borders, even in England, you will see a hidden , time- consuming, infrastructure of pea sticks and strings that are needed to keep blooming plants upright, and to maintains the illusion of effortless abundance. Often too, plants are growing in the greenhouse ready to be swapped out when another has finished blooming, so that the illusion of unending bloom is fulfilled. Plants must be attended to constantly: pruned at different heights, culled, or thinned, and the weeding is endless. The soil must be amended yearly for the fast growth required of the perennials. Fine Art is certainly a lofty goal , but for most, a group of healthy plants is the best we can do. Most of us do not have a staff, a large greenhouse, or the mild climate required to achieve fine art. Robinson was on the right track, as far as, creating a lower maintenance garden while still contributing to the beauty of a site. I think once you know how much work a particular style of garden entails, it is like finding out a beautiful girl is not very nice: she doesnt look quite as beautiful . pg 77
79. 79. pg 78 Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Luzula nivea Snowy Wood Rush Juncaceae Northeastern Spain Musee du Quai Brantly Massed for long-blooming white flower effect Massed as a ground cover or used as a specimen
80. 80. pg 79 Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Carex pendula Great Drooping Sedse Cyperaceae Europe Serre de la Madone Massed along waters edge or paths so drooping seed heads can be appreciated Ground cover or border plant
81. 81. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Clematis tosaensis Snowy Wood Rush Ranunculaceae Eastern Asia Benmore Botanic Small vining plant to grow through and add flowering interest to non- blooming shrubs Flowering vine pg 80
82. 82. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Paeonia lutea var. ludlowii Tibetan Tree Peony Paeoniaceae Tibet Benmore and others Tall shrub with pretty light green foliage and spring- blooming clear-yellow flowers Specimen pg 81
83. 83. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Rhododendron charitopes ssp. tsangpoense Rhododendron Ericaceae North Yunnan China Benmore Botanic Evergreen foliage shrub with late Spring- blooming lavender flowers Specimen or shrub border pg 82
84. 84. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Pilgerodendron uviferum Ciprs de las Guaitecas Cupressaceae Northern Chile Benmore Pyramidal , dense evergreen reads as blue-green color in the landscape Specimen or screen pg 83
85. 85. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Lewisia cotyledon Lewisia Portulacaceae Northern California Bodnant White or pink flowers often with center red stripe Rock garden specimen plant, needs sharp drainage pg 84
86. 86. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Calceolaria bicolor Pocketbook Flower Scrophulariaceae Chile, Argentina Bodnant Constantly flowering in cooler climates. Specimen , massed in border, or in seasonal planting pg 85
87. 87. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Azara petiolaris Azara Flacourtiaceae Chile, Argentina Bodnant Evergreen shrub to 20 feet tall with yellow blooms in late Spring, needs some shade Espaliered or as a free- standing specimen pg 86
88. 88. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Ceanothus Dark Star California lilac Rhamnaaceae California Bodnant 5-6 foot evergreen shrub covered in cobalt blue flowers in the late Spring Specimen or shrub border pg 87
89. 89. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Campanula thyrsoides Yellow Bellflower Campanulaceae European Alps Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Rock garden plant flowering in late Spring with light yellow flowers Specimen plant pg 88
90. 90. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Fritillaria camschatcensis Kamchatka fritillary Liliaceae Japan to North America Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Low-growing bulb with nearly black flowers Mass in front border or specimen in rock garden pg 89
91. 91. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Zaluzianskya ovata Night Phlox Scrophulariaceae South Africa Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Small rock garden plant Spring blooming Rock garden specimen pg 90
92. 92. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Anemone trullifolia Windflower Ranunculaceae Nepal , Bhutan , Sikkim Benmore and others Small creeping perennial with single white or blue flowers Specimen rock garden plant pg 91
93. 93. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Sutherlandia montana Balon Pea Fabaceae Southern Africa Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Shrub 3 feet high with striking red flowers Specimen shrub pg 92
94. 94. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Ulex gallii Western Gorse Fabaceae Ireland, England Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Small shrub with needle- like foliage and yellow flowers in Autumn and sometimes Spring Specimen pg 93
95. 95. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Senecio candicans Giant Wooly Ragweed Asteraceae Falkland Islands Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh White foliage insignificant flowers on small perennial Border specimen pg 94
96. 96. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Gentiana acaulis Stemless Gentian Gentianaceae Europe Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Low-spreading flowering plant. Difficult to grow, needs sharp drainage Rock garden specimen Rock garden specimen pg 95
97. 97. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Vaccinium floribundum Colombian blueberry Ericaceae Andes, Colombia Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 3-4footshrubwithcopious small pink flowers Flowering shrub for massing, specimen , or for wildlife garden pg 96
98. 98. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Oxalis enneaphylla South American Clover Oxalidaceae Falkland Islands Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Small flowering alpine plant Specimen in rock garden pg 97
99. 99. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Penstemon davidsonii ssp. menziesii Davidson Penstemon Scrophulariaceae Nothwestern North America Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Small mat-forming, copious flowers in mid- summer Flowering perennial pg 98
100. 100. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Ribes speciosum Fuchsia-Flowering Gooseberry Grossulariaceae Central California Coast to Baja Mount Stewart 4-8 ft tall and wide Spiny, flowering plant Specimen , barrier, or hummingbird plant for wildlife garden pg 99
101. 101. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Primula pulverulenta Candelabra Primula Primulaceae Central China Mount Stewart and others Flowering perennial Good massed near water, border or specimen plant pg 100
102. 102. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Dendromecon harfordii Bush Poppy Papaveraceae Santa Cruz Islands, California Mount Stewart Large (8-15 feet) flowering shrub with evergreen blue- green foliage Ever-blooming Specimen Shrub, or espaliered pg 101
103. 103. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Sophora tetraptera Kowhai Fabaceae New Zealand Mount Stewart Medium-sized tree (20 ft) covered in clear- yellow blooms in early summer Flowering specimen tree pg 102
104. 104. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Drimys winteri Winters Bark Winteraceae Southern Chile, Argentina Mount Stewart Medium-sized tree with glabrous, evergreen foliage, attractive mahogany bark, and copious bunches of white flowers Specimen pg 103
105. 105. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Olearia phloggopapa Tasmanian Daisy Bush Ranunculaceae Tasmania Mount Stewart Medium-sized Flowering Evergreen Shrub blooms in late spring Flowering specimen shrub pg 104
106. 106. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Festuca ovina or F. glauca Shaeeps Fascue Graminaceae Europe Musee du Quai Branley Tufted low-growing blue grass used for color and textural interest Specimen in rock garden , massed in from of border pg 105
107. 107. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Arisaema elephas Cobra Lily Araceae Eastern Asia Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Small blooming perennial Specimen Flowering perennial pg 106
108. 108. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Strongylodon macrobotrys Blue Jade Vine Fabaceae Philippines Glasnevin and Edinburgh Big vine with unusual and striking blue flowers Specimen vine pg 107
109. 109. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Grevillea rosmarinifolia Rosemary Grevillea Proteaceae Australia Glasnevin Botanic Garden Low-growing evergreen that blooms in winter Flowering ground cover pg 108
110. 110. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Sanchezia nobilis Zebra Plant Acanthaceae Central & South America Glasnevin Botanic Ever-blooming hedge or shrub, attractive white- veined green foliage Specimen or hedge, good for hummingbird gardens pg 109
111. 111. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Eryngium bourgatii Picos Amethyst Sea Holly Ranunculaceae Picos Mountains, Spain Helen Dillons Garden Small perennial with attractive amethyst blue flowers and attractive white- tinged green foliage Flowering perennial specimen pg 110
112. 112. Scientific Name- Common Name- Family- Origin- Garden Where Observed- Landscape Interest- Garden Function- Cantua buxifolia Sacred Flower of the Incas Polemoniaceae South America Glasnevin Botanic Small , evergreen shrub with flowers in summer Specimen or shrub border Hummingbird favorite pg 111
113. 113. References Brenzel, Kathleen Norris. Sunset Western Garden Book. Menlo Park: Sunset Publishing Corporation. 2007. Jellicoe, Geoffrey and Jellicoe, Susan. The Landscape of Man. London: Thames & Hudson, Inc. 1995. Kelley, John, Hillier, John. The Hillier Gardeners Guide to Trees and Shrubs: Pleasantville: Readers Digest. 1995. Mineo, Baldassare, Rock Garden Plants. Portland: Timber Press, 1999. Rogers, Elizabeth Barlow. Landscape Design. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 2001.