Garden Circle

Hutt News, Volume 12, Issue 17, 21 September 1938, Page 2

Garden Circle

An interesting talk on Landscape Gardening was given by Mr. E. Hutt, Director of the Borough Council's reserves at a meeting of the Hutt Society's Garden Circle on Monday evening. Before dealing with the subject of the design and construction of gardens, the speaker briefly traced the history of the English garden and said that few gardens appear to have existed in England prior to the eleventh or twelfth centuries. During the troubled and lawless state of the country at that time, the gardens belonged to a simple class of people, the monks. The monastries were the only properties respected and there,foTe the only places where the peaceful art of gardening could be carried on. These gardens consisted of a few trees with simple beds of herbs and vegetables. A few flowers, especially roses, weTe grown for religious ceremonies, but most of the colour of the garden was found in the herbarium, where such plants as violets, poppies and lilies were grown for their medical properties. Gardening from then onwards passed through many phases until it reachcd its present state of what seems to us perfection. In dealing with the principles of garden design the point was stressed that a garden architect's work is essentially a specialist's work and although in New Zealand there are many fine private gard; ::s the chief avenues of enterprise :ire the civic parks and gardens. Modern times demand open, spaces with facilities for young and old. Mention was made of Spain, France and Italy, who were all pioneers in European gardening, and although they had influenced English gardening, the English garden still retained a charm all its own. The use of existing features as elements in design was emphasized,, with simplicity as the keynote, together with balance and proportion. In planting, proper spacing is essential, overcrowding being fatal. Mention was made of the labour problem and it was pointed out that certain forms take up a lot of time. Afterthought is fatal in good garden design said the speaker. Plan the garden first, beginning the plan where the house and garden meet, linking the house with the garden with no lack of cohesion. Near the house should be well kept lawns, small shrubs and flowers at all times of the year. A plea for the children in garden design, by providing space lor games and a corner for their own garden was made. Emphasis was placed on the importance of colour schemes in the garden and the necessity for proper preparation of the ground <prior to planting.