The Victorian Gardener

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As we can see in Matthew’s plant list, many plants were named after the Head Gardeners, their wives, and possibly their employers or notable figures. For example, Donald Beaton (a ‘star’ Head Gardener in Scotland), Mrs Woodroffe, Lord Raglan, and Mrs Nightingale (possibly Florence). Watercolour bedding design for Stagenhoe Park by Matthew Balls, and photograph of executed scheme, c. 1846-1869 If you wanted to be a gardener, like Matthew Balls, you had to commit to an apprenticeship of up to 15 years. Only the best and most committed uneducated boys were taken on, learning from older gardeners. Matthew probably would have started off as a gardener’s boy at a large establishment, aged 12-14. His jobs would have included washing flowerpots (huge numbers were required for carpet bedding), sweeping paths, and carrying coal for boilers heating glasshouses, which would need constant stoking. Gardening boys worked ten hour days, six days a week, while studying the latest horticultural publications in the evening. They would pay the Head Gardener for their training, and he would issue fines for rule-breakers. No other bloom signifies romance more than a rose and large scented decorative white, pink or red blooms would be everywhere. There is no more suitable plant for your Victorian garden than a hybrid perpetual rose which is repeat flowering and features large fragrant blooms. Among the most popular and still available today are the red Countess of Oxford, introduced in 1869, crimson Empereur du Maroc (1858), white Gloire Lyonaisse (1885) and pink Lady Stuart (1851). Statues – at least one statue. Mostly Greek gods. Many were females and not dressed fully due to the times. Heritage fruit trees could include an Egremont Russet apple (1872) or the heavy cropping Newton Wonder.(1887) which can be used to cook or eat. If you fancy a pear tree, the excellently flavoured Triomphe De Vienne has been growing vigorously since 1864.

Victorian greenhouses are characterized by a steep roof pitch for maximum light transmission and to create headroom for palms and other tall plants. Glass panels tend to be narrower than those used in modern greenhouses and period features such as cresting and finials abound.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 This engraving shows the house with an adjacent conservatory. During Rogers’ ownership, a new entrance and carriageways were constructed, as well as a large ornamental lake with small islands, a fountain, waterfall and stew ponds for fish. [3] Soil excavated from the lake was used to build up a terrace in front of the house. Sepia stereocard of Stagenhoe parkland looking towards the house from the lake, c. 1846-1869

Shrubs were an integral part of a Victorian garden. Gardeners used them to define walkways, flank entryways, and as focal points in the middle of meticulously designed garden beds. Instead of heading to see a French Château, just go to Waddesdon manor instead. It is my most favourite high-Victorian garden in England. Excellent formal parterres. As Queen Victoria’s empire grew, so did our Victorian gardens, with all sorts of exciting new produce: rhododendrons and magnolias from the Himalayas, monkey puzzle trees from the Andes, orchids from Central America, and blooms of every description from various continents. 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 FylesProviding homes for countless insects, frogs and other wildlife, stumperies are easy to create and can fit into the smallest shady spot within a garden. They look great near a pond. In Victorian times, when small, ornamental gardens became popular, evergreen magnolias were a common choice, even in the gardens of smaller houses. There are around 80 species in existence today and about 50% of them are tropical. Try scented pelargoniums if you have some over-wintering space indoors. They work well outside through mid-spring to early fall,' she adds. Orchids – symbolised royalty, symbolised wealth. Was a famous flower of Queen Elizabeth. Was used in both homes and gardens Try including different types of pelargoniums in your garden, which you can propagate from each year. Use them in pots along a garden wall, or as a garden table centrepiece, for instance,' recommends Rosie.

Hardy perennials like aquilegia, cardiocrinum, Alchemilla mollis and thalictrum were streaming onto the market. Her influence can be seen in the ambitious Italianate terraces they planned in the early years of the 20th century. In later life, in recognition of her horticultural achievements, she was awarded the prestigious RHS Victoria Medal of Honour.” One of a handful of pioneering female gardeners who received recognition and acclaim, Bodnant Gardenis well worth the visit. 3. RED CROSS GARDEN, LONDON

ROYAL HORTICULTURE

Trees and shrubs: Victorian garden style often implemented shrubs and trees, both evergreen and deciduous, as specimen plants. However, they were also planted along property lines or in mixed hedges. The entrance to the walled garden was through large double gates, known as the Stag Gates. Photograph of ‘Gateway to Great House, Stagenhoe Park’, c. 1846-1869 In recent years, a resurgence of interest has led to new gardens being created in the Victorian style. They have been a popular feature of the Chelsea Flower Show in the 21st century. Any list of noted historical horticulturalists has to begin with Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. The 18th century designer is credited with masterminding more than 250 landscapes, coming to characterise the English country estate. Brown worked on 'place-making' for countless clients, including at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire and Audley End House in Essex. By the 1760s, Brown had come to be known as 'Capability', as he often spoke of the 'capabilities' of a prospective property. Those capabilities remain apparent to visitors today. One style, called carpet bedding, was a much more precise and manicured look that involved selecting flowers of all the same height. This style often meant creating designs (geometric shapes and mosaics) within the bed using symmetry and colors. This approach requires a decent amount of planning and precision, but the look can be incredible.