Re: `Britain Meets the Bay'?

Trevor wrote:

>I had a lot to say about this subject in GARDENS OF THE SUN, and also 
>during lecture tours to CA and Europe (France, Italy, Greece and 
>Spain in '97) THE ENGLISH GARDEN STYLE is fine and dandy - (mostly) 
>in England. (I'll concede some parts of BC, Oregon, France, Ireland, 
>New Zealand and elsewhere come close.) But it is such a hard lesson 
>to learn. Cultural relocation of ideas about what a garden must/ 
>should look like is difficult to overcome... 

Plus lots more sounds of sound and sensible comments.

If I can add to this, this so-called 'English gardening Style' is
rarely pursued with such vigour here and the tendency to break out of
it  - even by some noted landscapers is considerable.  I suspect here
in England, the purveyors of this 'style' might be given rather short
shrift by a good many dedicated gardeners.  In truth, the real English
style is to evolve, constantly explore new ground and experiment with
new ideas.  'Cottagey gardens' and the grandiose plantings of the
large estates are only one small aspect of a very rich and diverse
type of gardening that is carried out by folk even with only tiny
plots of land.  Medit style gardens are very much in-vogue -
especially in the South East where water shortages and naturally low
rainfall creates near perfect conditions.  Sub Tropical plantings are
almost common-place in the South West where short, mild winters and
high rainfall contributes to an explosion of growth.  Further north,
people attempt  mixtures of the two styles with varying degrees of
success and hardier 'tropical looking' plants such as bamboos,
Fatsias, Gunneras and the like take over from more tender subjects.
Once in a 'blue moon' you will come across that so-called, typical
'English Garden' but believe me, it is quite a rarity - even in
England!

David Poole
TORQUAY  UK
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