Explored the Charming 15th-Century Garden in Rural England: The Enchanting Great Dixter and Its Everlasting Impressions
Great Dixter, nestled in the heart of East Sussex, England, is a testament to the beauty that arises from a horticultural philosophy that celebrates nature's exuberance within a framework of deliberate design. Known as "Scripted Chaos," this unique approach to gardening has earned Great Dixter a reputation as one of the most impressive gardens in the British Isles, standing alongside Sissinghurst and Hidcote as iconic 20th-century British gardens.
The gardens at Great Dixter are a contemporary interpretation of English history, bursting with color and fragrance. The key to this apparent chaos is not haphazardness, but careful orchestration through skillful companion planting and meticulous design strategy. The gardens, while appearing wild and untamed, are grounded by "good bones" such as topiary and purposeful shrubs that provide visual anchors and coherence.
Great Dixter's planting philosophy is somewhat anarchical, with nothing held back from reaching its full potential. Tall plants are often placed at the front of the border, while smaller plants are placed at the back, a departure from traditional gardening practices. This deliberate disorder creates a tumultuously romantic border, with poised and thoughtful color choices that are held together with topiary and purposeful shrubs.
The Head Gardener at Great Dixter, Fergus Garrett, is known for his meticulous yet hands-off approach. He believes in bringing tall plants to the border's front as long as it allows for an open texture and view of the plants behind. This approach results in a garden that is a source of wildlife garden ideas, with an emphasis on attracting pollinators and avoiding chemical pesticides.
However, the gardener often deadheads plants, a practice that is discouraged at Great Dixter. Instead, the garden allows plants to go to seed during the growing season to promote biodiversity and prolong visual interest. Leaving plants to go to seed provides food for a wide range of insects and small mammals, and serves as an ornamental feature in winter.
Great Dixter serves as a reminder that technical understanding of plants is important but cutting loose and experimenting is necessary for garden design. The expert companion planting at Great Dixter indicates a plantsperson with skill is overseeing the 'chaos'. For those interested in recreating this style in their own spaces, foxgloves and hollyhocks are recommended for tall plants, with seeds available from Amazon. The seedheads of plants such as sweet peas, alliums, fennel flowers, lunaria, Sicilian honey garlic, thistles, and Great mullein persist in the garden after flowering, adding to its winter charm.
A book about Christopher Lloyd, the icon and iconoclast of the gardening world, and mesmerizing photographs of Great Dixter is available for those who wish to delve deeper into the world of "Scripted Chaos." This book provides insights into the thought processes behind the garden's design and the passion that drives its creation.
In summary, Great Dixter’s "Scripted Chaos" is a horticultural philosophy that celebrates nature’s exuberance within a framework of deliberate design, creating gardens that feel organic and wild while actually being highly curated and expert-crafted.
Home-and-garden enthusiasts seeking innovative garden ideas may find inspiration in the flower beds at Great Dixter, where tall plants like foxgloves and hollyhocks are placed at the front, a departure from traditional practices. This deliberate disorder, a hallmark of their "Scripted Chaos" philosophy, results in romantic borders that attract pollinators and thrive with healthy biodiversity, even in winter.
Great Dixter's lifestyle-defining approach to gardening, embracing nature's exuberance within a framework of deliberate design, challenges conventional gardening norms and offers gardening enthusiasts a fresh perspective for home-and-garden improvements.
