Discover how time spent in the garden can spark creativity, connect you to community, and even be good for the soul.
The 17th-century philosopher Francis Bacon had ideas about gardens and their design that resonate today. In his 1625 essay On Gardens, he wrote that they are ‘the purest of human pleasures. It is the greatest refreshment to the spirits of man’. It remains true that while relaxing or toiling in our own green spaces can bring delights and benefits, taking the time to visit other gardens can be both a lovely way to spend an hour – or a whole day – and a creatively stimulating pastime. In a 2020 survey, 53 percent of the respondents said that visiting a garden aided their creativity, while 85 percent said it was ‘good for the soul’.
Whether they’re community-based, botanical, or large and open for all to view, these green areas have something to offer and to inspire. Many organisations also offer virtual tours of their spaces online, so it’s even possible to view and enjoy the plants and vistas of gardens around the world from your own home. And each trip, be it digital or in person, can bring something new to the attention – even in a familiar garden – whether it’s a previously unknown flower, a historical aspect, or simply an appreciation for the sunlight shining through the trees. As there’s growth and change in the character of these spaces, not just through the seasons but also year on year, it’s often worth revisiting to see what’s new.
Every garden is a reflection of its owner’s – and often a designer’s – style. You can visit a range of places to note how they work in practice, as designs can be emulated (even on a small scale). If you feel inspired, take pictures of borders and note down plants that work well within a design. Chatting to the gardeners who manage them can also provide some great insight.
Bring it back
A great way to remember a garden, of course, is to bring a piece of it home. That might involve buying a plant from the on-site nursery and potting it in your own space, or incorporating some of a design’s elements or colour palette into other areas of your life. The shades of green in a springtime arboretum might be the perfect colour for a kitchen refresh, or a combination of summer perennials in a border could inspire a new outfit. Alternatively, a photo of a blazing-red autumnal scene could be set as a wallpaper on your phone and serve as a regular reminder of your visit and the pleasure it brought.
Photographing plants and gardens is an easy way to be creatively inspired by them, and if you take pictures on your phone, there’s no need for lots of specialist equipment. For the best shots, professional photographer Jason suggests ‘going as early or as late as the opening times allow because the light will always be better and there will be fewer people’. If this isn’t possible, and if it’s a really sunny day, he says:
‘Try to shoot into the light rather than having it behind you. As a rule, keep the sun at 10 to or 10 past the hour,’
The ‘hour’ being represented by the plant or subject of the photograph. Experiment with angles, zoom out, zoom right in, and use the feel and style of the whole space to influence your images and give them a personal touch.
Taking the time to notice details is, of course, a great way to see and appreciate a stem, a bloom, or a frond, and while a photograph will reflect such individuality, for some it’s just a bit too speedy. But there is an alternative: a notebook and pen or pencils. Pop them in your bag, find a quiet bench on which to sit, and sketch (either alone or with company). It truly is a wonderful way to make the most of your visit. Drawing is a contemplative process, so focus on how this can really bring out the elements, mood, and minutiae of a garden, and on the feelings of calm it can induce.
Jennifer, an artist from Melbourne, recommends sketching the first thing that catches your eye. She says ‘interesting forms and shapes work best’, rather than those that are the most obvious. ‘If you’re visiting a rose garden, you don’t have to paint a rose. Draw what you’re attracted to. It’s not cheating to finish it later using photos for reference.’ Of course, while practice helps, the end result might not always match up to the vision, but Jennifer emphasises that ‘this is for your enjoyment, so every drawing doesn’t have to be perfect’. She says her own sketchbook is ‘full of half-finished drawings and ones I’m not so keen on, but I see it is a record of things I like and have been inspired by’.
You don’t have to rely on inspiration striking while you’re visiting a garden. A photograph, jotted note or sketch, or a fallen leaf picked up and tucked into a diary might later become a lino print, the opening scene of a novel, or a piece of micro-fiction. Horticulturalist Matthew suggests that a good way to improve gardening knowledge is to ‘choose a favourite plant of the day every time you visit a garden and read up about it when you get home’. If a close friend or family member also enjoys your hobby, you could also begin a correspondence about your visits and discoveries.
Writing and receiving letters is a wonderful way to preserve the memories of a trip, enhance a relationship, and bring a personal perspective to the experience. Every visitor enjoys a garden in their own way, noticing different plants and other aspects such as the light, bees and butterflies, flowers, fragrance, and birdsong. Encapsulating these elements in a letter can make the recipient feel as though they’d been by your side, walking along the blooms.
Get grounded
Gardens are rooted (pun intended) in history and location, and can bring a sense of belonging and community to visitors. Regularly exploring a garden can be a wonderful way to meet like-minded people and swap green-fingered know-how and plants. Some larger spaces also have volunteer programs, where you can help out as a guide or get stuck in with the gardener, which can also help to increase knowledge and forge new friendships.
Gardens are a source of both escapism and inspiration and, large or small, are all around us. They might be an encouragement to follow creative pursuits, or just an opportunity for a breath of fresh air and a chance to appreciate nature’s creations, but each is wonderful in its own way.
Each trip can bring something new to the attention – a previously unknown flower, a historical aspect, or simply an appreciation for the sunlight shining through the trees
Plan your pottering
- Choose a quieter time of day to visit. There might be fewer people earlier or later in the day.
- Check with the owners or gardeners if you are planning to spend some time on an artistic endeavour. Most will be more than happy to accommodate you, but some might have rules about photography, for example.
- Engage with the gardening team. Most will be genuinely pleased to explain what they’re doing and why. Ask what they like in the space, as they might point you towards an area or plant that would otherwise have escaped your eye, and don’t be afraid to ask technical questions. If you need help to identify a plant, it’s a good idea to have a photo of it.
- Take a notebook or use your phone to record plant names and pictures. When taking a picture of a plant for future reference, always snap the label as well (if it has one) or find out the name from a gardener or member of staff . It helps to jog the memory when, days or weeks later, you decide you’d like to purchase one.
- Maximise the chances of success for a creative expedition by checking the weather forecast. Rain, for example, might not be conducive to sketching, but it could offer the chance to take pictures of raindrops hanging onto the edges of leaves and flowers instead.
