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Stourhead, an excellent example of the English Landscape Garden tradition. |
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Example of an English cottage Garden. |
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Imitation Italian villa in Las Vegas, NV. |
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Versailles Palace garden and park designed by Andre le Notre and others for King Louis XIV is the most famous of all French gardens. |
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Small contemporary Spanish style courtyard. |
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Mid 20th Century house with lawn and clipped shrubs. |
What is a Traditional Garden Style?
There are many different landscape garden styles in the United States. Many of these styles evolved from European garden styles that were introduced by European settlers. As settlers spread throughout the continent, they brought these styles with them. Landscapes that are seen throughout the nation have been adapted from English, Spanish, French and Italian garden styles. American landscapes continue to evolve toward a more sustainable water wise tradition but there is still a long way to go.
Many contemporary styles of gardens and lawns are derived from English landscape gardens and cottage gardens.
English Landscape Gardens
- large areas of turf
- masses of annual flowers
- highly maintained
- designed to look 'natural'
- found mainly on large estates
English Cottage Gardens
- lots of flowering plants
- edibles and medicinal plants such as herbs
- some fruit trees
- informal design
- contemporary cottage gardens include natives and ornamental grasses
- originally a functional garden for the working class
French and Italian Gardens
- traditional formal symmetrical style for the very wealthy
- water and statuary are common
- clipped geometric shaped planting beds predominate
- highly manicured
Spanish Gardens
Spanish garden styles were brought to Mexico and South American and then to California, New Mexico and Arizona. These styles are particularly suited to arid climates.
- courtyards
- geometric layout
- limited use of water but very important as a focal element
Mid 20th Century Gardens and Yards
A common garden style is the mid 20th Century garden and yard that still predominates many subdivisions nationwide. Large areas of lawn and planting beds with evergreen shrubs and annual flower beds are a common theme.
What is a Water Wise Traditional Garden Style?
A water wise traditional garden can simply substitute water wise plants in any of the traditional garden styles mentioned above
- remove some of the lawn
- replace lawn or areas of lawn with water conserving turf species
- reduce irrigation to the traditional Kentucky bluegrass lawn
- link the garden style to the house type
- take an inventory of plants on the property to determine their water needs
- substitute low water use plants for traditional landscape plants
West
California - Water-wise Lawn Alternatives
Southeast
Florida - The History of Landscape Design
Similar Articles:
Tips for Creating a Traditional Water-wise Landscape