Savour the coming of Spring and celebrate!

We have moved into the light with the Spring Equinox tilting the equilibrium in our favour.    Also, known as the vernal equinox, the Spring Equinox marks the date when light and dark last the same amount of time.   The Sun is certain to stay in the sky longer and longer until June's Summer Solstice.    Relish it! 

The Arrival of Spring - Holehird Gardens, Windermere, overlooking the Langdale Pikes

After the reign of the Norman Kings came the Tudors (1485-1603) and then the Stuarts (1603 - 1714). 

A luminosity  came to Britain's gardens.   Similar to that of the coming of Spring.

The formidable Brougham Castle, Penrith, founded in the early 13th Century as a barrier against Scots invaders, became a prestigious residence.   Beside the crossing (ford later a bridge) of the River Eamont, in a picturesque setting, the Castle became one of the many homes of Lady Anne Clifford (1590-1676).  Lady Anne was probably the greatest female in the history of the northwest of England.

A walled garden was laid out across the end of the Roman Fort nearest the Castle and extended to the road - the outline is still visible.   The garden was planted with fruit trees and shrubs, vegetables but not flowers.   Delicacies such as peas, cucumbers, raspberries and strawberries were produced for Lady Anne and her household. 

St. Anne's Hospital, Appleby, built by Lady Anne in memory of her mother in 1651 are alms houses providing a home for the poor widows of the town and are set around a pretty courtyard garden.    The courtyard can be visited today.    

During this time British gardens began to develop their own style.   Philosopher and statesman, who served as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England, Francis Bacon (1561-1626) wrote an essay "On Gardens" that generated the idea of places of delight and solitude for scents and sounds: "for satisfaction of mind and senses and for the refreshment of the spirits of men".    He suggested that as well as formal gardens there should be a heath made like a natural wildness with all sorts of sweet smelling flowers and leaves.

Of Gardens an Essay by Francis Lord Bacon

"God almighty first planted a garden: and indeed it is the purest of human pleasure.   It is the greatest refreshment of the spirits of man; without which, buildings and palaces are but gross handy works; and a man shall ever see, that when ages grow to civility and elegancy, men come to build stately, sooner than to garden finely, as if gardening were the greater perfection.    I do hold it, in the Royal ordering of gardens, there ought to be gardens for all the months in the year: in which severally, things of beauty may be then in season.    For December and January, the latter part of November, you must take such things as are green all winter: holly, ivy, bays, juniper, cypress - trees, yew, pine - apple trees, fir trees, rosemary."

Many years later in 1841 James Spedding of Mirehouse, Bassenthwaite Lake covered a work of the life, letters and works of Francis Bacon.    A plaque in the garden immortalises the 14 volume edition.

The development of formal walled gardens began in the 16th Century.   Laid out in geometrical shapes the knot garden was designed to include low hedging, usually Buxus sempervirens (box), with complicated rope like patterns with "topiary"  (evergreens into shapes of heraldic figures, birds and animals).    All plants, even within the beds, would be trimmed.  The "trappings" within the garden were of wood, brightly painted or gilded.   There were poles with heraldic devices, fences, arbors and fountains.    Larger gardens had mounds of 30 feet (9 metres) or more made of earth or stone, and sometimes mazes or labyrinths.

Topiary in the walled garden at Holker Hall, Cark in Cartmel

Gardens were formal and elaborate, they included terraces, balustrades, steps, statues and fountains.    After James VI of Scotland's accession to the throne of England, life was safer.

Scotland and England were united, grand houses were built, huge avenues were cut through the woods, often radiating from the house, opening long vistas.    Canals were built to echo the avenues.

The 17th century saw the start of the Botanic Gardens - Oxford in 1621, the Queen's Garden at Kew in 1631, the Chelsea Physic Garden in 1671.    Beds were laid out along formal lines with related plants.

A brightness came over Britain, a radiance developed within the great gardens of the noblemen just like the coming of Spring today.    Take the opportunity to visit great gardens this Spring and savour the moment.