A review of ‘Garden Design’ by Sylvia Crowe (1958)

Dame Sylvia Crowe was a landscape architect and her strong understanding and knowledge of design as it relates to gardens is evident throughout this book. She explains principles and provides examples, particularly from Stowe, Hidcote and the gardens of Le Notre (these stand out in my mind), but also from many other gardens of many different types. An initial section on the history of gardening takes in styles from the far east, middle east and Europe. Principles of design and discussion of different elements of design follow. The final section on ‘specialised gardens’ perhaps reflects the diversity of her work, including private gardens, parks, allotments, communal and flat gardens, wild gardens, rock gardens, factory gardens and school gardens. If a quick look at the age of the book and the rather turgid-looking contents listing is initially daunting, it shouldn’t be, because this is readable and informative. For example, I learned the defining characteristics of Italianate and French traditions, which were not so clear to me until I had read this book. There are examples of plant species and planting discussed, but that is not the strength of the book. Chalk and limestone, and poor soils, are mentioned slightly more frequently than in other general garden books I have read. There seems to be a real commitment and lively interest in the design of gardens that is evident in the feel of the book and the little sketches that appear at intervals through the text to illustrate points of design. At one point an opinion on the hoi polloi is expressed in a rather unfortunate way, and concrete is (albeit briefly) treated with more respect than it might be afforded in a garden these days, but I found this a useful read.