Inspirations

If you're looking for gardening inspiration, you can look at some historical examples. For example, the Greeks and Romans were famous for their gardens.

Peristyle gardens were an iconic example: courtyard gardens surrounded by columns and porticoes. They usually featured geometric layouts and were designed for relaxation.

Other gardens designed by the Greeks and Romans followed an axial design, with central pathways leading to focal points like statues, pavilions, or water features.

Often, these gardens had a double purpose: they were designed for beauty, with carefully arranged plants and architectural features, but they also served a practical purpose, such as growing medicinal herbs.

During the Renaissance period, botanic gardens started to become popular in Europe. A botanic garden is a curated garden that is dedicated to the study and conservation of plants, often with a focus on scientific research, education, and public engagement.

One of the first botanic gardens was founded in Padua in 1545. It was dedicated to the growth of medicinal plants, which could be tested and studied in Padua's university. Some of these plants were exotic and valuable, and the garden had to be enclosed by a wall to deter potential thieves.

In the modern world, botanic gardens still contribute to scientific knowledge and the propagation of plant species. There are more than a thousand of these gardens across 148 modern countries, and this number is on the up.

As time went on, gardening projects became more and more ambitious. In the 17th century, André Le Nôtre, a French landscape architect, designed the gardens at the Palace of Versailles – a project so grand that it took him approximately 40 years to finish.

The Gardens of Versailles are home to 700 topiaries – plants or trees that have been trimmed into shapes like spheres, spires and cones. Each shape is unique, and is dictated by the branching pattern of the individual tree. The gardens also house 400 statues, making them the largest open-air sculpture museum in the world.

Maintaining all this takes a lot of effort. The Gardens of Versailles have to be replanted once every 100 years in order to preserve their design.

Outside of Europe, Native American gardens were characterized by their sustainable and harmonious approach to agriculture, integrating plants, animals, and natural resources into a holistic system. One of the most well-known Native American gardening practices is the Three Sisters method, which involves planting corn, beans, and squash together.

Elsewhere, the Aztecs constructed chinampas, raised fields built on the shallow waters of lakes. These gardens were highly productive, allowing for the cultivation of a wide range of crops, including maize, beans, squash, and chilies.

The canal system of Xochimilco Ecological Park in Mexico has the most famous present-day chinampas system.

Elsewhere in the world, Japanese gardens can be traced to the Asuka Period (592-710 CE), when Japan was introduced to Buddhism and Chinese culture. The Japanese nobility began to create gardens with features like koi ponds, waterfalls, and carefully arranged stones.

A few centuries later, this style evolved into Zen gardens, also known as 'karesansui'. Prominent Zen temples like Ryoan-ji in Kyoto created famous karesansui gardens, known for their minimalist and contemplative design.

Much later, in the 17th and 18th centuries, stroll gardens (kaiyushiki teien) emerged as a popular style. These gardens had meandering paths, teahouses, and carefully curated views. A famous example can be found at Katsura Imperial Villa in Kyoto.

Capability Brown, an English landscape architect, revolutionized garden design in the 18th and 19th centuries with his naturalistic style. Often referred to as the “father of landscape architecture”, Brown's designs marked a significant departure from the formal, geometric gardens of the past.

He aimed to create landscapes that mimicked the beauty of the natural world, with rolling hills, meandering water features, and seemingly effortless compositions. He designed landscapes that seamlessly integrated buildings, lakes, trees, and other elements to create a unified and picturesque whole.

Brown was known for his skillful manipulation of water features, including lakes, rivers, and ponds. He reshaped existing water bodies and created new ones to enhance the visual appeal and natural flow of the landscape.

The Victorian era (19th century) saw the rise of conservatories — grand glass structures that allowed people to cultivate exotic plants. These structures were not just functional spaces for plant cultivation, but also served as symbols of status, luxury, and horticultural innovation.

Many conservatories were associated with botanical gardens and institutions, serving as educational spaces for plant enthusiasts, scientists, and researchers.

Victorian conservatories were often designed to reflect the architectural style of the main house. They featured ornate details and large glass windows, creating a sense of grandeur and elegance.

Some of the most famous examples of Victorian conservatories include the Crystal Palace in London, built for the Great Exhibition of 1851, and the Kew Palm House at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Modern gardening practices often incorporate technology to enhance efficiency and productivity. Automated irrigation systems, for example, allow for precise water management, while digital plant identification tools provide valuable information to help gardeners care for their plants.

Modern garden trends reflect a balance between nature and technology, sustainability and aesthetics, and the desire to create spaces that enhance well-being and environmental stewardship.

Gardens by the Bay in Singapore is a great example of modern garden innovation. Its Flower Dome is the largest greenhouse in the world.

Wherever you draw your inspiration from, remember this: with so many different options, from all over the world, there's never been a more exciting time to grow yourself a garden. Now that you've reached the end of this pathway, it's time to go away and put this theory into practice.