Frequently when I'm reading gardening magazines and web sites, there are references to the Irish gardener, William Robinson who remains a key influence to this day. Robinson's views on gardening show clear links to the Arts and Crafts movement with a rejection of foreign influences instead of the natural plants of these islands. The Victorians and Edwardians had been enthused by all the new plants coming back from the Empire and beyond and these were prized and coddled in greenhouses and surrounded by bright bedding plants and standard roses.
Given our current move in society for prizing the local and native, it is not unexpected that Robinson would be a great influence. The idea of a garden that is part of its wider environment rather than an island of colour and artifice is also very attractive. However it is always difficult to turn the clock back, difficult to turn back to a century ago (when Robinson lived) and even more so to turn back to a golden-tinged medieval era. While as a gardener I applaud Robinson's sentiments and aspire to have my garden look like a beautiful winderness, I know I could not turn may back on the amazing plants that just need a little more support to survive here - a price I'm willing to pay.
Robinson is scarily well connected to many other luminaries of gardening - Getrude Jekyll being a key relationship that lasted for over 50 years. In his journal 'The Garden' he published contributions from many individuals including John Ruskin, William Morris and Getrude herself.
Many of Robinson's ideas are now almost law in gardening - mixed and dense herbaceous borders, drift planting and no bare soil to be seen. It isn't actually a wilderness though - this is an aesthetic which needs to be carefully tended and planned to ensure it looks wild. Key to ensuring the human design looks like nature is understanding your plants and how they grow.
Now I'm trying to listen to the Radio 4 programme on him!
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