A Short History of the English Garden - Season 1
Season 1
Episodes
Romans, Renaissance and the Picturesque
The Romans were the first to introduce gardens to England, and European influence returned during the age of the Tudors and Stuarts, with an emphasis on geometric patterns and formal features. In the late 17th and 18th centuries, the English picturesque movement took off, inspired by an appreciation of the native landscape and the icons of the ancient world. The work of its chief exponents, including William Kent and Capability Brown, is still in evidence in the gardens of England's great stately homes today, such as Blenheim Palace. In the English landscape garden geometric structures, alleys, and parterres near the house were eliminated and replaced with rolling lawns and extensive views. Artificial lakes, dams and canals transformed streams or springs into the illusion that a river flowed through the garden
Pleasure Grounds, Naturalism and Beyond
The formality of neat structured lines would soon return to Victorian gardens in the 19th century. The Age of Exploration had led to many exotic plants being brought back to England. These were popular in Victorian gardens and this led to a boom in greenhouse construction. Some of the world's biggest greenhouses were constructed at places such as Kew. In the 20th century, gardeners such as Gertrude Jekyll, Vita Sackville-West and Christopher Lloyd provided the inspiration for many English gardens today. Now, in the 21st century the self-sustaining philosophy of the new perennial garden has taken centre stage in many of the country's showpiece gardens.
Recently Updated Shows
Tyler Perry's Sistas
A group of single black women from different walks of life navigate their complicated love life status, careers and friendship through the ups-and-downs of living in a modern world of social media and unrealistic relationship goals.
Children Ruin Everything
Children Ruin Everything is one couple's efforts to reclaim a piece of their old lives which are continually thwarted by their young children in surprising and absurd ways. But somewhere in the toy-filled, pee-stained wreckage of what they once had, they find a new life that's pretty good, too.
Home Town
Erin and Ben Napier love their small Home Town of Laurel, Mississippi, especially the old historical houses. Using found materials and old textiles; they're keeping the character of these classic homes, but giving them modern and affordable updates. From Erin's imaginative hand sketches to Ben's custom handiwork, this couple is bringing Laurel's homes back to life, and making sure their small town's future is as bright as its past.
Fixer to Fabulous
Dave and Jenny Marrs embrace small-town America by renovating classic homes in and around their hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas. This resourceful and creative couple transforms historic houses in desperate need of an update and turns them into charming forever homes.
Will Trent
In Will Trent Special Agent Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations was abandoned at birth and endured a harsh coming-of-age in Atlanta's overwhelmed foster care system. But now, determined to use his unique point of view to make sure no one is abandoned like he was, Trent has the highest clearance rate in the GBI.