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DESIGNING
AN ENGLISH GARDEN
By Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension
Professor
Aileen King, Student Intern
University of Vermont
You don't have to travel to the English countryside to
experience the charm and tranquility of an English cottage
garden. They are very versatile and can thrive anywhere, even
here in the states, including our northern regions.
Perhaps such gardens are popular because of the
"natural" feeling they evoke. They look as if no
planning was necessary to create their beauty. Not quite sure
how to begin designing your own classic English cottage garden,
compared to a formal border? Here are three simple steps to
follow.
The first step is to select three to four main colors to
create continuity within the garden. Stunning contrast is made
possible by using perennial blooms of opposing colors. Variety
can be achieved by using many shades (dark versions) and tints
(lighter versions) of the main colors. Roses, delphiniums, and
foxglove are traditional plant choices although you aren't
restricted to these.
Although free flowing, English gardens do need a certain
amount of structure. So the second step is to group flowers
together without being symmetrical--either in width, or height.
You can create balance and harmony within the bed with the shape
of the blooms, leaf size, and texture.
Borders are often three feet or more wide and very curvy.
They are more narrow at some parts and deeper in others. This
bed design brings intrigue as to what is behind the deeper
areas--the plant combinations that you stumble upon. An English
garden is all about surprise.
A third important ingredient in an English garden is the
"accessories" or in other words, the structures or the
"whimsy." Often there is an entry--a gate, an arbor,
or a trellis that has vines, such as clematis or roses, climbing
on it. Other structures might be a bench or other garden
furniture, or a water feature, a fountain and pool perhaps. For
whimsy you might include statues, such as frogs, or antique
watering cans.
If using potted plants, keep pots the same color. They can be
different sizes and shapes, but keep the color because you are
creating a foundation for the plantings. They don't have to be a
neutral color like clay or white. Consider a bold color such a
royal blue, with either blue flowers, or contrasting ones such
as yellows. Such bold colors, although not traditional, are seen
in some current day English cottage gardens.
If growing perennials, you can add new, changing, or
continuous color with annuals. Violas, pansies, johnny jump-ups,
and dianthus (pinks) are commonly used in English gardens. Don't
be afraid to cut your flowers, too. The more you cut, the more
blooms will come (especially with annuals and roses), and you
can encourage some early season perennials like perennial
salvias to rebloom.
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