Back in the spring of 2009, I had the pleasure of meeting Beverly McConnell, a formidable Antipodean plantswoman, internationally known for her garden Ayrlies in New Zealand. While showing her around the garden where I work, she remarked on the bountiful May display: “I hope you don’t mind me saying, but this garden feels very feminine.”
I smiled and replied that I didn’t mind, but I was slightly taken aback. As we carried on the tour, I quizzed her gently on what she meant by ‘feminine’, but it was only as the weeks passed that I wondered about the first part of her comment. As a man in my late twenties, should I have been offended that my work had been described as feminine?
Throughout history, the stereotypical gender roles that have existed within industry and society have also been present in horticulture: men hunt and gather; women care and tend. For horticulture, this has meant men have traditionally been the gardeners and plant hunters, while women used the crops and worked with floristry.
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Denne historien er fra September 2024-utgaven av Gardens Illustrated.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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WHY SHOULD I VOLUNTEER?
Giving your free time to volunteer in the community or as a mentor can have a big impact, and also benefit you in ways you can't imagine, says John Wyer
EARTHLY CONCERN
Weeds, slugs, birds and mice - all are welcome on Birch Farm in Devon, where Joshua Sparkes seeks to respect the local ecosystem and mimic nature in his innovative approach to growing
Gardening is good for you
In the first of his new factual column on the benefits of gardening, Dr Richard Claxton uncovers all the evidence-based ways it can help your physical health.
TANGERINE DREAM
On the edge of one of London's busiest roundabouts, Nigel Dunnett has created exciting combinations of drought-tolerant plants for a roof garden that is as unexpected as it is joyful
GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT
Growing your own edible plants is a great way to boost your gut microbiome. Discover expert picks of edimentals that are both beautiful and beneficial
Waste not, nice plot
Designer Miria Harris gave herself the challenge of a no-skip, zero-waste project, giving away, recycling or reusing everything in this back garden before transforming it into a space her client could love
One for all
A new community garden designed by Sarah Price around an old library turned arts centre in southeast London is a treasured space for local residents and garden lovers alike
Meet our horticultural HEROES
Discover the stories of the extraordinary garden champions who are making a difference to places, people, plants and the planet
SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE
In the culinary world, chefs and food writers sometimes closely guard their recipes, says Nigel Slater. Among gardeners, however, there is a refreshing spirit of generosity
Autumn at Sissinghurst
As the garden slips into a new season, head gardener Troy Scott Smith and his team are busy with tasks from hedge cutting and lawn work to bulb planting and sowing seeds.
