The Victorian Gardener

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The rear lawn was especially important. It was treated like a conservatory is today: as an extension of the home. Tea was often served on the rear lawn and it was frequently used for parties, genteel games and entertaining. 2. Plant neat flowerbeds Flower gardens and beds were a favorite of classic Victorian-era gardeners. Two very different design styles emerged. 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.

Wild gardens as a contrast to the increasingly industrialised world, with bluebell and snowdrop patches and wild flowers

Victorian gardens at the back of the house

The Victorian houses had lots of open space in front and this was one of the major reasons why they had great chances of growing different kinds of plants. London square was the other place which can be included in the list of the famous Victorian era gardens. Modern cast stone ornaments from original designs are ideal and very affordable adornments. To reflect the romantic mood a scantily clad maiden or goddess might be appropriate, or two lovers embracing.

Make sure they are firmly fixed into the ground. Add mulch plus shade loving plants and bulbs like hellebores, dicentra, woodruff, ferns, dwarf evergreens, wood spurge, primroses, bluebells, lily of the valley, trailing ivy. Let moss and lichens to grow on the stumps. The 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.Interest in the camellia waned in the early 20th century, but it became popular again in the 1950s, when new varieties and species were introduced. The camellia has remained on trend, thanks to its ability to bloom early in spring, with the most famous variety being C Japonica. What do you do with tree roots? Break them down for firewood, take to the tip, grind down the stumps? A more stylish, ecologically-friendly alternative is proving increasingly popular within gardens large and small: stumperies. What is a stumpery? The detailed botanical drawings had been created by Walter Fitch, based on Joseph’s sketches that he had made while in Sikkim. They were made into a widely-read book, Rhododendrons of the Sikkim Himalayas. Exotic plant collections gathered from all corners of the world. Typical Victorian plants for gardens might include the Monkey Puzzle, Douglas fir, Monterey pine or redwood trees; wisteria, jasmine, ferns, lilies, rhododendrons and magnolias which were extremely popular; these all capture the essence of the period and anchor the garden to the era of the house.

As far as the garden design is concerned the Victorian garden is not much different to the Georgian model: a terrace by the house, a parterre below and views out to the parkland. Interesting to note that a Victorian garden could be built in Elizabethan, Italian and other styles. Knightshayes, Devon – the gardens were designed in the 19th century by Edward Kemp, one of the leaders in the design of parks and gardens during the mid-Victorian era in England. Note the colourful flowers and the vase on the pedestal. Climbing and rambling roses decorated arches and other structures to spectacular romantic effect. With the surge of ardour in a secluded arbour with the air permeated with heady scent, the Victorian lady might have been fortunate to escape with her virtue intact. 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 Dig holes at least three foot deep for the stumps, placing them so that the roots face upwards. You can link them together or keep them separate. Step three: Plant Growth was, in fact, prolific and it was virtually impossible to eradicate. It is an invasive species which now impacts biodiversity and flood management, and can undermine property foundations.Gardens are always special and people who have enough space outside their house will surely want to grow beautiful flowers in their garden. Gardens can be of different types and styles. One of the most popular styles of the garden is the Victorian style. Victorian era Waddesdon Manor Garden The plant was first grown in Europe in the 18th century and Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus named it “magnolia” in 1737. To make your garden look like it’s truly Victorian, you’d want to feature these typical elements of Victorian gardens: