In an English country garden Published June 19, 2008 By Suzanne Harper 48th Fighter Wing public affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- A glorious green explosion has happened in my back garden. I can hardly believe that a few short months ago the trees were bare, the shrubs leafless and my perennial plants just small shoots poking through the soil. Every spare moment is needed to keep a degree of control as weeds struggle for space among my vegetables and climbers scramble upwards. The relentless routine of rain and sun that blesses our little island results in this wonderful wildness. Gardening is currently enjoying great popularity in the U.K., encouraged by a plethora of television programmes; the current increase in food prices has also led many to experiment with growing their own vegetables. Before my husband and I arrived, our garden had been lovingly tended since World War II by a gentleman who grew almost entirely vegetables. He was doing what all patriotic Britons were urged to do by the wartime government back in the 1940s - digging for victory! The Dig for Victory! campaign was instigated in Britain as soon as World War II started. The government realised that the population would go hungry if the war was to last longer than a few months, as the German navy was targeting merchant vessels. The result was that formal gardens, lawns and even sports pitches were transformed into allotments*, large and small, and everybody on the home front was encouraged to become a vegetable gardener. Today, many gardens are a mixture of flowers, hard landscaping and vegetables as we try to make our gardens into places to relax and entertain as well as to help us with our cooking. Historically, the traditional English cottage gardens developed when people realised adding flowers and herbs to their vegetable plots would help attract bees to pollinate their crops. This evolved into the traditional cottage garden style with deep borders, a vibrant mix of perfumed flowers and herbs, a meandering path and a rustic bench tucked in a quiet corner. The earliest English gardens that we know of were planted by the Roman conquerors of Britain in the 1st century A.D. The Roman gardens that we know most about are those of the large villas and palaces. The best example of the latter is probably Fishbourne Roman Palace in Sussex, where an early garden has been partly reconstructed. There is also a small kitchen garden which is planted with fruits and vegetables common in Roman Britain. The Romans are credited with introducing the rose to Britain as well as herbs such as lavender and rosemary. They used a wide variety of herbs for medicine as well. Over the centuries, fashions have changed. Tudor gardens (1485-1603) , such as can be found at Hampton Court Palace near London, show a strong Italian influence. The Stuarts (1603-1714) were slaves to the French fashion for formal gardens. The chief feature of this French style is a broad avenue sweeping away from the house, flanked by rectangular parterres made of rigidly formal low hedges. The prime survivors of this style can be seen at Blickling Hall (Norfolk), Melbourne (Derbyshire), and Chatsworth. The 18th century saw the pendulum swing from Renaissance formality to a more 'natural' look. Lines were no longer straight, paths curve and wander, and parterres are replaced by grass. Trees were planted in clusters rather than in straight lines, and rounded lakes replaced the rectangular ponds of the earlier style. The garden became open, a park joining the house to the outside world rather than a carefully nurtured refuge from it. This natural style evolved into the 'landscape garden' as developed by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, whose curious nickname came from his habit of telling prospective clients that their gardens showed 'great capabilities', had an enormous effect upon the course of English gardening and architectural style. In the Victorian era the pendulum swung again, to massed beds of flowers (bedding-out plants raised in greenhouses), exotic colours, and intricate designs. During your time here in Britain, whether you are a keen gardener or not, a visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, will be highly memorable. My first trip was in May a number of years ago when we combined it with a trip down the River Thames. Kew Gardens is undoubtedly Britain's most beautiful scientific institution. From the oldest orchid collection in the world to the iconic Victorian Palm house, this spectacular garden has been at the centre of our botanical history for 200 years. There is much more information at http://www.kew.org/ Another great way to explore a wide variety of British gardens is by using the National Garden Scheme. The N.G.S. was founded in 1927 to raise money for the nurses of the Queen's Nursing Institute (Q.N.I.) by opening gardens of quality and interest to the public. Most of the 3,600 gardens belonging to the scheme are privately owned. Some open as part of a group which gets the whole community involved. But all the gardens are enjoyed by the garden owners and their visitors, funding charities to help people who are ill or under stress. By using the 'Garden Visiting' link on the N.G.S. website and putting in your postal code, you can find gardens in the area. For the history of the scheme and to find a garden near you, visit http://www.ngs.org.uk/gen/default.aspx So, whatever the weather, I hope you'll find time to explore some of our beautiful gardens and maybe you're already getting our hands into the soil and growing your own fruit and veg. In the U.K., we talk about gardeners having 'green fingers'; my American colleagues tell me that over in the U.S., you have 'green thumbs'. I suppose that means together, we have the winning hand when it comes to gardening! ************************ *British meaning of 'allotment' - a small piece of land rented by a person to grow vegetables on. Allotments were necessary if your garden was too small to grow sufficient vegetables