Every garden designer comes to each landscape with their own signature style of design. Some you have seen are complex and abstract, while others are neatly organized and manicured. The English garden is one type of garden that is considered neat and manicured, and is inspiring to many gardeners around the world.
The beauty of English garden landscaping is that it combines an appealing blend of both groomed and natural beauty. English designs are characterized by simplicity, but are pleasing to the eyes. In fact, many English designs are used in the corporate world in famous places and prominent public buildings.
English landscaping began in Europe, naturally. And the garden design was initially inspired by paintings depicting the European landscape. William Kent was the first garden designer to apply this notion into sculpting gardens, and Humphrey Repton and Capability Brown were influential designers that followed in his footsteps.
Kent took his influence direct from European culture, whereas Repton was looking more for a garden that would embody the English countryside. Brown on the other hand was wanting to implement traditional flowering plants into the structure of the landscape. This idea with flowers was one that at the time, was not the norm for the everyday gardener.
Today, traditional English gardening involves a landscape that has both curve and wind around the area of the entire space. You will see winding paths, and focal points in statues and benches. You will also see variety in botanical life, a true variety will enable a natural feel, as if you are sitting right in the middle of nature, and not in the middle of a manicured garden.
Famous English gardens today include Stourhead (pictured above), Stowe and Rousham House, Blenheim Palace, and Castle Howard.