Gardening: A potted history

Beneath the towering landmarks of London lie some of the most beautiful 'secret' gardens in the country where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the tourist trail while celebrating Britain's fertile horticultural heritage. Joanne Fellowes reports.

Ever since Nebuchadnezzar had the Hanging Gardens of Babylon built to mirror the verdant motherland of his homesick wife, man has grown exotic and beautiful plants. In this country, the history of gardening really begins with the Romans who, along with their beautiful architectural relics, left a legacy of frenetic plant-growing.

Whether you view horticulture as a skilled hobby, art-form or nothing more than a Sunday chore, it has a fascinating history; traced in a beautiful museum lying at the heart of London. The Museum of Garden History rests on the banks of the Thames next door to Lambeth Palace and opposite the Houses of Parliament. This beautiful building served as the parish church of St Mary-at-Lambeth for 900 years before its deconsecration in 1972 due to falling worshipper numbers. It now has a new lease of life and stands as testament to the Brit's love of all things nurtured by green fingers.

Although a stunning destination in its own right, the museum can also be experienced as part of the Historic Gardens Museum Trail. The trail can be downloaded from the web by logging onto www.campaignformuseums.org.uk.

The route encompasses the idyllic Chelsea Physic Garden founded in 1673 and the Old Operating Theatre and Herb Garrett near St Luke's Hospital, where herbs where stored by the apothecary of the old St Thomas's Hospital, set up in 1255. The Museum of Garden History itself has one of the finest collections of garden-related artefacts on public display. Attractions include a range of children's tools and garden models through to historic gnomes and 18th century terracotta watering pots. Display cases featuring shears from 50BC to hedge clippers from the very beginning of the 20th century are lined between the church's alabaster pillars towered over by impressive stained glass windows. Other items on display include a Neolithic antler pick and axe, which dates back 4,000 years. Our forefathers would have used that for clearing land and digging ditches.

More quirky objects are to be found, too. Cucumber straighteners came into vogue in the 19th century when the heads of stately households demanded all produce was perfect in appearance. The fruit was placed in long glass vessels where it grew dead straight.

The earliest gardeners, the first Roman settlers, are also explored. Romano-British gardens were based in a courtyard offering privacy, and all-important security from the native tribes, as well as providing herbs for the kitchen.

After the collapse of the Empire and as Britain slid into the Dark Ages, gardens only survived within monastery and castle walls. There, Christian symbolism prevailed with earthly visions of Paradise and Eden. Later on, medieval noblemen fashioned country parks for the hunting of deer, hare and rabbit, with huge estates eventually becoming symbols of power and status throughout the Tudor and Elizabethan periods.

By the 17th century, formalised gardens were prevalent. Low hedges were cut and trained into weaving patterns called knot gardens, a fine modern example of which can be seen at the Museum of Garden History itself. They varied from simple geometric patterns to elaborate weaving displays. As they were designed to be viewed from above, specially raised walkways or mounts were built from which to admire them. By now, too, plant collectors were travelling the world. Risking their lives, they brought back non-native 'exotics' to an avid domestic market. The father and son duo of the Tradescants, both named John and who are buried at St Mary's, were the most famous collectors of that period. It is they who were the catalyst for the museum's creation. Following it's deconsecration, 1976 looked set for demolition. That year, the museum's founders John and Rosemary Nicholson traced the tomb of the two Tradescants to the overgrown graveyard surrounding the derelict building and were determined to save St Mary's and surrounding land. By 1977, they had saved the building and seen the Museum opened by the Queen Mother.

Britain really became a nation of gardeners in the Victorian era when the rise of the middle classes and suburbia meant rakes and shears were taken up by more and more people - not only those lucky enough to own large country homes. That's when innovation in gardening equipment really took off.

Few implements have had as much impact as the lawnmower - first powered by a pony wearing special boots so as not to damage the lawn - then steam and finally petrol and battery. The golden era of British gardening culminated just before World War I, during a heyday inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement and fuelled by cheap labour and an immensely wealthy social strata.

Today, our gardens are filled with all kinds of plants and flowers from all across the globe. It is only thanks to people such as the Tradescants, who risked everything to bring them home, that we are able to enjoy explosions of summer colour we now all take for granted.

The Museum of Garden History is open seven days a week, from 10.30am to 5pm, with a £3 voluntary entrance fee (concessions £2.50).

For more information visit www.museumgardenhistory.org or call 0207 401 8869.

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Monthly gardening: February

A Right Royal One For The Pot
There is something very regal about gloxinias; characterised by their velvety flowers in rich tones of red, through blue to the deepest of purples, which makes them superb plants for indoor decoration from May right on in to July. As such they are well worth trying for the average gardener, either from seed planted this month, or by starting tubers in March.

By far the easiest way of course, is the latter method, but since February is still with us let us deal with the cheaper method with seeds first. Fill a seed tray with damp John Innes seed compost and gently knock the seed from the packet or from a piece of paper on which they have been emptied. The seeds are very fine and will need to be sown as thinly as possible. Then just lightly press the seeds on to the top of the soil. Cover the tray with a sheet of glass, keep in good light and maintain a temperature of around 20c (70 F). Once germination has taken place, the temperature can be allowed to drop to 15c (60 F).

When they are big enough to handle transfer them, spaced at 1 1/2 inch intervals to trays of John Innes No 1, laid over a bed of peat. As the plants develop they can be moved on into separate pots, first of 3 inch size, later 5 inch. To grow the easier way, obtain healthy tubers with good centres. Plunge them into trays of peat and, once they have formed roots transfer them to 5 inch pots which should be filled with John Innes No 2 over a good layer of peat. When they are brought into the house, find them a windowsill which will allow good light, without them being in direct sunlight.

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WORK FOR THE MONTH

CHECK SUPPORTS
If you have any wall-trained fruit trees or bushes, check that the supports are in good order before the new season's growth makes fresh demands on them.

LAWN CARE
Any turfing should be completed as conditions allow. By the end of the month it will be time to think about preparing ground for sowing new areas.

SUMMER BEDDING
If not yet dealt with, summer bedding schemes should be planned at the earliest opportunity so that seed orders can be sent in as soon as possible.

START FUCHSIAS
Fuchsia stock plants can be started into growth to encourage the production of shoots, which will serve as cuttings in March.

CAMELLIAS
When pot-grown camellias pass out of flower they can be top-dressed or repotted to sustain them through the growing season.

BULBS
As early potted bulbs cease flowering, the pots or bowls can be laid on their sides and the bulbs allowed to die back naturally. This allows food in the foliage to be drawn into the bulbs, building them up for next season. As an alternative they can be heeled-in in a nursery plot, provided they are first hardened-off.

SEED SOWING
The busy season for seed sowing approaches, and it is always worth sowing thinly. This way seedlings have room to develop, and will not become overcrowded if pricking off is delayed.