History of Garden Design

Dr. Cynthia McKenney

The Purpose of the Garden
Changes Over time
Embellished farms
Production
Early Park
Versailles is an
example
Hunt and take
long walks
Walls and stands
of trees
Modern Parks

Picturesque
Majesty
Grandeur
Expansive
Capability Brown

Modern Parks

Poetic
Egyptian and
Greek mythology
Art
No movement


Modern Parks

Romantic
Moving Water
Shadows
Attention to detail


Pleasure Gardens

No link to being
useful
Laborious artifice
Branches and
foliage become
walls and ceilings
Status
Vases, figures



Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Ancient Wonder of
the World
Nebuchadnezzar II
around 600 B.C.
Artificial mountain
with rooftop
gardens to cheer up
a home sick wife
Hanging refers to
overhangbalcony
Hellenistic and Roman Gardens
Hadrians Villa
Example of
Roman Gardens
Characterized by
meeting of axis's
100 B.C to AD 500
Retreat
Religious symbols


Islamic Gardens
Persian gardens
Europe about 60
B.C.
Indicative of
climate
These evolved into
the Mughal
gardens of India
Inlaid tiles and
mosaic
Moroccan Gardens
More color added
Contemplation
gardens
Key water features
Influenced Spanish
Gardens
Spanish Gardens
Orangery
Production and
beauty
Indicative of
climate
Straight lines
Oriental Gardens
Japanese Zen
Concurrent
development to
Europe
Hill and pond
gardens
Meditation
Symbolic features
Japanese Seison-KaKu
Modeled on nature
House becomes a
direct part of the
garden
Simulate age and
permanence
Chinese Gardens
Modeled on nature
Miniature
landscape of large
areas
Symbolic elements
Meditation
Symbolic features
Characteristics of Italian
Renaissance Gardens
Very formal lines
that intersect
Result of hot
climate
Influences French
baroque gardens
Italian Renaissance Gardens
Geometrically patterned beds, or parterres, are
a distinct element of the Italian style.
Traditionally, Italian gardens had few flowers.
The plants were primarily evergreens for
texture and shape, often in manicured topiary.
Italian Renaissance Gardens
19
th
century revival
Italian gardens are
based on:
Steps, urns and
balustrades
geometrical to
serpentine
Characteristics of Italian
Renaissance Gardens
Designed to be
inspiring all year
round
Not dependent on
color
Very formal
An expansive vista
Characteristics of Italian
Renaissance Gardens
Display and
backdrop for
sculpture
Historic themes
Contrast of sun
and shade
Shady alle or walk
Water Features
French Baroque Gardens
Retains the
elements of
geometric design
and parterre
gardening
French Baroque Gardens
Water features and
fountains remain
important with
highly styled
elements
French Baroque Gardens
Stairs and
balustrades are
also incorporated
to change from
one terraced area
to another
French Baroque Gardens
The expansive
vista and topiary
hedges remain
critical elements
but less statuary is
present.
Anglo-Dutch Formal
Gardens
Retains many of
the similar
elements but color
begins to enter the
picture
This is more in
favor with today
Formal English Gardens
Statuary,
balustrades and
stairs to transfer
from one terrace to
another
Formal English Gardens
The heavy
influence of both
French and Italian
gardening is easily
recognized.
English Landscape
Gardens

Formal English Gardens
Estate Parks
became popular
Capability Brown
was a designer that
removed much of
the formal gardens
in favor of a
natural design with
a stream and green
sward.
English Gardenesque
Gardens
Current these
highlight
individual
plantings to their
best
Avent of the
botanical
collectors approch
Cottage gardens
English Landscape Gardens
No talk on English
gardens is
complete without
the Ha-Ha feature!
Provides the
naturalistic sward
while allowing for
the production
animals to be held
away from the
botanicals