English Garden design in delaware
September has arrived here in Delaware and the cool crisp air of Autumn has come out of hiding. For years I had an idea swirling around in the back of my subconscious, only to let the years go by without ever really giving it any consideration. After all, it's a lot of work! Fortunately, horticulture inspiration is not in short supply where I live. Within minutes of my humble home I have access to nearly a dozen well-known & established gardens all manicured to perfection. From Longwood Gardens, Nemours Estate, Gibraltar & Winterthur among the main attractions, my tiny home state has benefited from these magnificent gardens inspired & built by various members of the DuPont family, often mimicking French inspired whimsical retreats.
In short, if you enjoy gardening, Delaware checks all the boxes and then some.
I fully admit, I am fascinated by these gardens and how they provide an escape from reality. I also fully admit I know nothing about horticulture, garden design, flora or anything associated with it. Until now, I've been a viewer of nature, not someone who fully appreciated it. That tide has turned, mostly in part due to personal loss, but also my realization of just how beautiful nature is and what a gift God has provided right in front of us.
I bought my small 1000' square foot home about 14 years ago. One of the selling features my agent told me at the time was it had "a lovely flat & large backyard" where I could do anything I wanted. Sadly, I never did much outside the occasional BBQ. In addition to not utilizing the space, I've become disgruntled mowing the large yard in 95 degree heat with 70% humidity. Call it middle-age grumblings.
I've had the opportunity to travel in my life, and have done so both throughout the US and in parts of Europe. As a dual Italian-American citizen, my perspective on areas of beauty are well established. I've seen the beatify that is Italy and parts of Europe, including the English Gardens in Munich & the cobblestoned streets of Rome. I've come to realize that I love my home the best.
My hope and long-term vision is to create an English-Inspired garden sanctuary right here in my backyard. A place bustling full of colorful Rose beds, brilliant orange Marigolds, trellis-filled pathways with hanging honeysuckle and a large fountain as the centerpiece. I want to include a space to escape and paint, much like Monet' spending countless hours in his personal garden painting his surroundings. This is the goal. It will be a lot of work. I hope to capture some it here in these little blog entries. Thanks for coming along.
-Ben
