Gardening in Scotland

Historical Evolution of Scottish Gardens:
– Gardens in Scotland originated with Christianity and monasticism in the Middle Ages
– Formal gardens around medieval abbeys, castles, and houses
– Influence of Renaissance styles on gardens at royal palaces
– Transition to less formal landscape design in the 18th century
– Emergence of Capability Brown’s ideas in Scottish landscape design
– Influence of French garden styles, including those from Versailles
– Notable gardens like those at Aberdour Castle and Edzell Castle
– Development of Italian Renaissance-inspired gardens at estate houses
– Transition to a natural style of ‘jardin anglais’ in the 18th century
– Influence of Dutch post-Glorious Revolution gardening practices

Prominent Garden Designers and Innovations:
– John Reid’s ‘Scots Gardner’ as the first gardening book published in Scotland
– Robert Robinson and Thomas White senior and junior as prominent landscape designers
– Influence of Humphry Repton’s ideas on 19th-century gardening
– John Claudius Loudon’s promotion of preservation and restoration of old formal gardens
– Notable garden creators like Ian Hamilton Finlay and Charles Jencks
– William Robinson, Gertrude Jekyll, and Frances Hope advocating for informal flower-based gardens
– Introduction of surprises in natural elements influenced by Ossianic Romanticism
– Emphasis on rising and falling ground beauty in gardens by architect William Adam
– Development of formal gardens near major houses in the 19th century
– Establishment of formal public parks in the mid-19th century

Scottish Plant Collectors and Major Gardens:
– Scottish plant collectors like George Forest and Euan Cox active in the early 20th century
– Major planned gardens like Little Sparta and Garden of Cosmic Speculation
– The National Trust for Scotland’s ownership and maintenance of significant gardens
– Gardening becoming popular among working and middle classes in the 20th century
– Contribution of George Forest in bringing back botanical specimens from Western China
– Scotlands Gardens scheme opening private gardens to the public for charity funding

Notable Features and Elements in Scottish Gardens:
– Elaborate sundials in gardens like those at Holyrood and Newbattle Abbey
– Incorporation of significant landscape features by Alexander Edward in the 17th century
– Terraces redesign at Drumlanrig Castle by James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry
– Militaristic earthworks at Castle Kennedy by Field Marshal John Dalrymple
– Ornamental elements like canals, parterres, statues, and trees at Earl of Mars palace in Alloa

Organizations and Initiatives in Scottish Gardening:
– Founding of The National Trust for Scotland and Scotlands Gardens in 1931
– Gardening as a major pursuit for working and middle classes, with a focus on vegetable growing
– Opening of private gardens to the public through Scotlands Gardens scheme
– Influence of gardening books from the continent and England on Scottish gardening
– Development of major public parks for gardening in Scotland