Gardens - Bridging Cultural Differences
I recently visited a famous monastery in northern Romania to see the historic wooden architecture and large informal garden. There were 7 different buildings and structures forming a ring, with a tall gazebo as the central element in the middle of the garden area. The garden was a mixture of lawns, criss-crossed by a number of meandering footpaths linking the different buildings. Many of the footpaths were edged by planted borders, creating ribbons of sumptuous colour guiding the eye. There were also some small trees.
A view looking towards the central gazebo building which provides welcome shade in the hot summer sunshine and is also a focal point for religious ceremonies and festivals. Note the lines of benches edging the lawns around the central area for those attending events
As I wandered around, captivated by the tranquillity, to my surprise, I realised that the majority of the plants and flowers were ones we all know and grow in the UK. In fact, if it were not for the radically different architecture, I could have been in Perthshire, Scotland! The plants looked in excellent condition. This was partly down to the beneficial climate in that part of hilly Romania – warm days and the right amount of rain, but also due to the care and attention given to the garden by the monks and nuns living there. And how interesting to see lawns too (not cut too close) as an integral part of the design to unite the whole area and provide a beautiful setting for the amazing buildings. (Lawns used in this way were apparently popularised by garden designers of the romantic English Landscape Movement in the 1700s. Before this, gardens tended to be formally planted. Of course, there were meadows and areas of open rough grass surrounding castles and villages, but these were generally grazing areas or ‘commons’. Ref. SeeHow’s previous blogs – Brown and Green and Brown Only ).
The rolling topography, the lawns and meadows, the colourful planting, the groves of smaller trees and the exotic buildings all worked together to create a unique tranquil setting that felt as if it was a world-away from the busy world outside the entrance gates
Deciduous Hibiscus syriacus, shown here growing in front of one of the monastery buildings. It can grow to 2m or more, with large beautiful pink or white flowers through summer into autumn.
Hibiscus syriacus can be seen in many, many towns and villages in northern and central Romania, where traditional houses were generally built close to roads, with no front gardens and sometimes no footpaths either. Planted in front of the houses, the Hibiscus often formed colourful broken hedges, softening the architectural lines of the houses and adding beauty and colour to streets that were originally not laid out cope with modern traffic. Hibiscus syriacus is a hardy shrub commonly grown in the UK. This particular Hibiscus is apparently not normally grown for medicinal use. (H. Rosa-sinensis and H. sabdariffa are generally used for this purpose). This suggests that in Romania, H. syriacus is grown simply for its reliable flowering and opulent beauty, which is a nice thought.
In some areas, the flower borders were edged with low, hand-woven willow fences, separating the lawns from the flower beds. This creates a soft (handmade) divide between the smoother greens of the grass and the colourful texture of the herbaceous borders. Rudbeckia, African Marigold, Dahlia, Zinnia and many others could be seen throughout the garden
Rudbeckia, Phlox, Hostas, Roses, Hibiscus and many others filled the borders
How interesting to discover that despite the language and cultural differences between countries and peoples, something as simple as a shared love of gardening and growing beautiful plants and flowers, can unite us.
Happy Gardening!
The above Text and all Photographs are copyright of Wincenty (Wicek) Sosna. Please contact SeeHow (07939 226417) for permission to reproduce in any way, in part or as the complete text.
Wicek, now semi-retired, is an award-winning architect He is also a writer, horticulturalist and keen gardener and lives in Macduff on the dramatic north Aberdeenshire coast. He invented the unique interactive SeeHow gardening book concept, to actually show gardeners how plants and veg grow throughout the calendar-year. Because SeeHow books work visually, anyone can use them - from children to garden design professionals. Pictures really are worth 1,000 words!
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