Re: `Britain Meets the Bay'?


Regards
michael@muddywellies
-----Original Message-----
From: dave-poole@ilsham.demon.co.uk <dave-poole@ilsham.demon.co.uk>
To: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Date: 02 March 1999 08:41
Subject: Re: `Britain Meets the Bay'?


Dave Poole wrote:
"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."

I agree.  You are unlikely to find 'An English Garden Style' beyond the
grandiose stately homes and even then, such schemes are invariably a
combination of ideas taken from other locations in varying degrees to create
what the original land owner wished to see.

I'd go so far to say that ALL  gardening is  an evolutionary process to
explore and experiment.  An English Garden Style suggests a static
environment and it just does not exist.

Here in the UK there is much interest by the public and government to
preserve 'Victorian this and Victorian that' while completely ignoring the
fact that the Victorians themselves were renowned for exploring,
experimenting and collecting.  Nor did they hesitate to replace the old with
the new.

So steer well clear of anyone suggesting they 'know' English Garden Style
because there are as many English Garden 'Styles' as there are gardens in
England.  Instead, gardens everywhere, regardless of location, simply
reflect their owners personal interest (or lack of) in all things gardening
based upon their own ideas and resources.
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