Although some of us see landscaping more as a business than an art form, the truth is that landscaping has a rich and intricate history that has much to say about the social and cultural development of our society. In fact, some speak so highly of landscaping as an ancient art form that it has its roots in one of the Seven Wonders of the World: the Hanging Gardens of Babylon created in 600 BC.
While we’re busy installing landscaping that brings the best of modern technologies to our customers, like outdoor televisions and sound systems, it’s easy to forget how much the idea of ”landscape” has changed over time. Just a few decades ago, landscaping was considered an absolute luxury. Only the “well-heeled” can afford to decorate their outdoor space with beautiful garden beds and patios and adorn their backyard with the latest outdoor toys.
Today, some form of landscaping is expected, even if it is just a few trees, a small garden, a porch, or a patio. That said, while basic landscaping is the norm, most homeowners go a step further. They feel that it is important to enhance the curb appeal of their home, and more importantly, they enjoy having an outdoor space that is completely tailored to their own tastes. Hence the desire to treat the landscape as an extension of the home, complete with all the additional comforts and luxuries of the interior. But it was not always like this.
For fun, here’s a look back at landscaping trends from decades past, minus today’s Japanese-inspired spa gardens, outdoor kitchens, and fire pit tables.
The Roaring 20s:
The landscaping of 1920 was all about vegetation. There was a real desire to celebrate and welcome nature in all its glory, which led homeowners to install bird feeders, birdhouses and birdbaths, as well as fish ponds and rock gardens… anything that would bring more nature into the house. At the time, birding was a shared pastime, so berry-bearing plants and trees (such as holly, hawthorn, nandina, roses rugosa, and crabapples) were popular choices.
In the 1920s house, the front yard was considered the “public place” and was therefore the space that received the most landscaping attention. Most houses had a wide front porch, often furnished with rocking chairs and swings so people could comfortably enjoy the natural scenery outdoors. Most front yards were unfenced, and sidewalks and driveways were usually lined with perennials, such as Canterbury bells, lilies, foxgloves, phlox, pyrethrum, coreopsis, hollyhocks, roses, columbine, larkspur, poppies and carnations and annuals, such as California poppies, cosmos, petunias, snapdragons, verbena, bachelor’s buttons, centaurea (sweet sultan), strawberries, marigolds, drummond phlox, asters, etc. The bushes were boxwood, holly, yew, abelia.
The backyard, often referred to as a “utility area,” was reserved primarily for drying clothes on clotheslines and storing trash cans, although some homeowners designated a small area in the backyard as a “private spot,” which was generally it was protected by a mesh or fence. within or surrounded by a border of trees or bushes to protect residents from the watchful eyes of their neighbors and from the sun.
Popular recreational activities often found their way into landscape design. Fire pits, bowling alleys, golf courses, and croquet lawns were popular features of the landscape.
The dirty 30’s:
The decade of the Great Depression saw little progress on the landscaping front. Most homeowners were struggling to make ends meet, which meant there was little or no money left to spend on luxuries like landscaping. That said, there were still some popular garden trends. Large rose gardens were popular during the 1930s, as were plants such as hydrangeas, lilacs, and hostas.
The booming 50s:
Consumerism is probably the most appropriate word to describe the theme of the fifties. And just as it affected most aspects of life in the 1950s, it influenced the type and style of landscaping that was popular in the suburbs. Looking back now, we generally associate 1950s garden and landscape style with all things ‘tacky’: garden gnomes, plastic pink flamingos, an overuse of evergreens as foundation plantings, and an excessive amount of green grass. In other words, far from modern, the eco-friendly look is popular today!
While 1950s landscapes may conjure up images of plastic decorations and box hedges, the 1950s are actually defined as a decade of “modernism.” Although, a very different type of modernism from the so-called “modern” styles of today. With an incredible number of soldiers returning home from war in the 1950s, marrying and starting families, the home building industry boomed.
However, many of the houses built were smaller, leaving limited space for landscaping. The result of space restrictions was “modern” landscaping, a style that was far removed from the overly ornate look of the pre-war era.
Although modernism was the style du-jour, with the rise of consumerism and a love of all things with a price tag came a fascination with big, flashy items. Garden flowers were large, vibrant and colourful, for example large tea roses such as Garden Party roses, Tiffany roses and Chrysler Imperial roses were popular choices. And, in line with the whole ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ concept, the lawn was the symbol of dream life in the suburbs. The greener and bigger the lawn, the better! With the rise of consumerism and the desire to keep lawns in pristine condition, the market has been flooded with lawn care products, including pesticides and pest control chemicals. At this time, the first lawn spreader was also invented.
And there you have it! Times have really changed… below we’ll take a look at landscaping trends from the 60’s to today. Stay tuned!
