Understanding English Garden Design
People familiar with English garden design are aware it is a garden complete with flower beds offering curvature as far as design, twisty pathways and a variety of color hues. The maintenance is relatively simple for the gardener or resident since most plants found within this type of garden-style arrangement are well-cared for by Mother Nature.
The English garden is a variety of flowers however under constraints.
The English garden originated because some people preferred a less formal landscaping theme. Other proponents of English garden design were no longer enthused about classic styling. The two styles mentioned are polar opposite from an English garden design scheme. More formal style gardens are linear in effect; English gardens are not. Formal gardens are angular but English gardens do not generally make use of angles. The English garden can best be described as a garden not ostentatious in effect and very natural in appearance.
The painters who painted impressionist style were significant in encouraging the development of the English garden style. For example Monet who became famous for his water-style garden arrangement expressed interest in designing his garden in a very robust way with tremendous use of color.
The English garden most predominate in the States is the residential style. Pergolas covered with clinging vines; gardens filled with roses and different colors bursting at the end of each growing season are typical of an English garden-style arrangement. The English garden style is a truly informal garden design. Varying colors and plants provide the viewer with enormous visuals in the way of textures and flowers growing in the most natural of form. But while the English Garden is suggestive of a naturalistic style garden, it is not. Flowers within English Garden style design are randomly planted which is suggestive only of a countryside landscape.
The English garden is planted with no rhyme or reason; the flowering plants and foliage are the personal preference of the gardener. You will find plants from all styles of gardens. Plants from the vicinity are planted predominately within an English garden since this provides the closest vibe with respect to the naturalistic component of the garden. Floral plants are housed together.
The object is to allow for planting here and there however not allow messiness as far as appearance. A hodge-podge of plants is used inclusive of bulbs, annuals, perennials, shrubs, herbs and climbers. Rose bushes keep the garden fragrant and a perfumed element is found essential as well as significant. Generally a picket-style fence acts as an enclosure for the English style garden — that, or a row of shrubs in the way of a hedge. The preceding is what brings some order to the garden.