English Flower Garden

Background

The English Flower Garden is one of the six Paradise Gardens each representing major garden design traditions. There were a range of European styles for which the primary purpose was the display of flowers and collections of plants. The English Arts and Crafts style (also referred to as the New Georgian Style and the Natural Style) was chosen to represent the tradition because it has been the most enduring, distinctive and aesthetically successful.

Many notable gardens in this style have been created throughout the 20th century, but the period from 1870 till the Great War is generally considered to be the golden age, and the gardens of the period are often referred to as 'the gardens of a golden afternoon'.

In terms of design philosophy The English Flower Garden incorporates many elements common to traditional gardens, such as the use of walls and hedges to create a series of outdoor rooms that contain and unify a diverse collection of plants. These spaces often have different planting themes and are typically linked by axis lines that terminate at an arbor, fountain, urn or seat. The spaces are also linked with recurrent groups and drifts of good foliage plants that reinforce the sense of unity between garden compartments.

History

The English Flower Garden was sponsored by Mrs. Kathleen Braithwaite M.B.E., J.P. who was Hamilton's Mayoress from 1953 to 1959, a Councilor from 1962 to 1974 and Deputy Mayor from 1968 to 1971. Her Husband Rod Braithwaite J.P. was a City Councilor from 1944 till 1947 and Mayor from 1953 to 1959. Her son David Braithwaite also served as a City Councilor.