Edwardian gardens represent a cultural shift

While the untamed charm of a cottage garden, and sleek style of a modern garden draw me in, the symphony of order and meticulous beauty - the timeless elegance of an Edwardian formal garden created with symmetry,  craftsmanship and geometry, for me, feels like a piece of living art. There's nothing I adore more than visiting an Edwardian garden & exploring the rooms that have been thought through thoroughly from the ground up. Clipped hedges into perfect cones, the gentle trickle of reels, rethought herbaceous sit swaying in amongst. There's a quiet authority in its structure, that the chaos of the natural world has been tamed into something elegant is what draws me in - it's a display of personal expression and horticultural knowledge beyond aristocracy. 

Years into my career, I met a dear friend who jokingly saved me on their phone as ‘Phoebe Jekyll’. Embarrassed that  I had no understanding, this navigated me into researching, and exploring the arts and crafts movement of Lutyens and Jekylls cohesive designs.

Despite having a passion for all things horticulture, the discovery of the restored terraced gardens alongside the orangery at Hestercombe took my breath away. A technological advancement for its time.

Lutyens composed a stage using honey coloured Ham stone, creating a substantial presence and unshakeable structure for the terraces, axial paths and courtyards. The Great Plat, a vast rectangle which in theory should feel cold or intimidating, yet the overall proportions are governed by a sense of controlled grandeur. The unexpected curved steps of Lutyens make the corners of the room intimate, whilst the vast lawns direct the eye to the interconnected successional drifts of herbaceous which sweep across the canvas. Mauve bleeding into pinks and whites, while on the opposite axis, oranges, reds and yellows create a vibrant counterpoint. Jekyll’s art captivates even whilst flowers are absent. The feathery plume spires of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) are deliberately placed against the bold, leathery plates or Bergenia (Bergenia crassifolia) for an exquisite juxtaposition of foliage. Yet this texture softens the rigid geometric architecture. 

Jekylls contrast in low maintenance herbaceous became fashionable for its time as large estates and labour dependency rapidly started to decline. The garden engages the senses at every turn. The smooth, cold surface of stone, the velvety leaves of lambs ear (Stachys byzantina) and the fragrant needle foliage of rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) all contribute to a rich sensory experience. Yet the planting echoes the architecture. Tall, vertical spires of herbaceous are planted near doorways and pergola posts to reinforce. while, you’ll notice Low bearing and often spreading herbaceous are used around each step.