The Painted Garden is an unusual and informative lecture, discussing the ways gardens have been depicted in works of art through the ages, their role within the image and the ideas which they represent. Starting with the Garden of Eden, we travel through space and time via the Queen of Heart’s garden in “Alice in Wonderland” and the landscapes of Capability Brown to the modernism of the Princess of Wales Conservatory in Kew Gardens, looking at the ways in which gardens have changed in form and function over 4,000 years.

 Dig for Victory looks at the period when England’s gardens took on the might of Hitler’s armies.   Gardens great and small, public and private saw clematis give way to cabbage and roses replaced by radishes. We discuss the role of the “forgotten army” – the Land Girls – who helped to put food on the tables of the nation, plus advice and propaganda given to gardeners in print and over the airwaves.

 The Ancient Garden looks back at gardens of three important civilizations: ancient Egypt, classical Greece and the Roman Empire. Design, layout, horticultural techniques and the plants to be found there are discussed, using paintings from tombs and palaces, evidence from archaeological sites and modern photographs of plants. Starting off with a look at some gardens of the Bible, we follow the rise and fall of each empire and their gardens.

The Capable Mr. Brown takes a look at the life and career of Lancelot “Capability” Brown - a man who changed the face of England for ever. Born into poverty and obscurity, he became renowned across the world as the father of the English landscape garden movement.

The Art of the Folly is an entertaining and lighthearted look at some weird, wonderful and whimsical buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Some are famous in their own right, such as the Pagoda from Kew Gardens, many are obscure and some no longer exist, but all are entertaining and have stories to tell. 

The Devil’s Garden is a look at plants with sinister histories and which have, for one reason or another, been associated with banishment, devilry, madness, black magic and murder most foul! From the screams of the mandrake plant to the Forbidden Fruit of Eden, from ghosts in a plate of beans to something very nasty hiding in a pot of basil, this unusual talk takes you on a garden tour with a difference. Beware – these plants can seriously damage your health...

A Nice Cup of Tea looks at the history of England’s national drink, a cup of which is made every 48 seconds in this country! Horticultural history rather than garden history, this talk looks at the story of tea from its origins in the foothills of the Himalayas and traces its journey via the Japanese Tea Ceremony and the decks of the Cutty Sark to the Victorian Temperance Movement and the modern tea bag. One lump or two?

 An A-Z of Garden History is a fast, furious and funny look at the history of gardening, using one aspect to illustrate each letter of the alphabet. Starting in the traditional way with “A for Apple”, we encounter famous gardeners and gardens, buildings, historical styles, tools and plants on our trip through the alphabet towards “Z for Zoological Gardens”

The Literary Garden is an informal talk (without slides) which looks at the garden as it appears in works of fiction. Mainly consisting of readings from selected titles, both classic and contemporary, it nonetheless sits in a loose narrative framework in which gardens are categorised according to literary "style" - such as "Everything in the Garden is Lovely", "Gardens of Magic and Enchantment", "Gardens and Snobbery" etc. Audience participation is encouraged (copies of texts can be provided in advance should audience members wish to give readings). Humorous, entertaining and very lighthearted. 

Coming soon!

The Amazing Mr. Paxton - plantsman, gardener to the Duke of Devonshire, architect, designer of the "Crystal Palace", inventor, MP and railway magnate, this talk looks at the rags-to-riches tale of the 19th century's most extraordinary (and busy!) man, Joseph Paxton

A Cabbage and Three Snails - the life and work of Andre Le Notre, designer of the grand formal gardens at the palaces of Vaux-le-Vicomte, Marly, St. Cloud and Versailles.

Study Days

These lectures are designed to give a longer, more in depth look at the history of gardening in a “study day” format, ideal for both large and small groups wishing to explore the subject further. Broken down into four easily digestible units of 1 – 1½ hours per unit, thereby allowing a 20 minute morning break for coffee, an hour for lunch and a further 20 minute break in the afternoon, as well as ample time for group discussion. Study days are ideal for universities, colleges, museums and gardens with a public lecture programme, or private groups wanting something “a little different” for their members.

The Painted Garden

A more detailed look at the history of gardens as depicted in paintings (details as above).

An Armchair Guide to the History of Gardening

This study day aims to introduce the subject of the history of decorative gardening, answering some of the questions “who, when, why and how”, by looking at major developments in horticultural style, design and fashion over the last 4,000 years. This is a wide-ranging look at a vast subject, and there is plenty for complete beginners to enjoy. Those with some knowledge and understanding of the subject will still find the study day relevant and interesting. As well as specific period gardens, the influences of culture and fashion on the garden will be examined, as well as period plants, individuals and horticultural techniques associated with developments in gardening. Armchairs not supplied!

For both of the above courses, a wide selection of books on general and specific areas of garden history can be provided on request for course members in order to provide background material for use during the day, to facilitate interest and research at a later period, or simply to enjoy browsing through at the time.                  

All lectures, their titles and content are © Russell T. Bowes