Loudon Viewed Gardening as an Art Form Open to Everyone

John Claudius Loudon (1783-1843) has been called the Father of the English Garden.

I think that is because in his writing he promoted the art of gardening among all classes of people, not just the wealthy.

In the first issue of his Gardener’s Magazine in 1826, he wrote: “We shall endeavor to promote a taste for the art [of gardening] among country labourers, and to draw the attention of every cottager who has a garden, to the profit and enjoyment which he may derive from its improved cultivation.”

Every gardener would benefit from reading the magazine and, hopefully, become an even better gardener.

That goal motivated Loudon as he wrote throughout his life.

Before that time, only the wealthy could enjoy gardening because they had the  resources to employ gardeners who made the English landscape garden a reality for them.

Loudon argues it doe not matter how much money you have, you can still enjoy gardening.

Seems so essential for us today, but then learning about gardening was not open to every class of society.

Loudon once said that writing about the garden teaches more  people  about gardening than any garden itself could.

That’s another reason I like him.

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