Landscaping Design for Victorian Architecture

[DB]

The landscaping of our 1896 Victorian has seen better days and I am interested initiating a major overhaul this Spring. Except for a few large, mature trees, the front yard is essentially a blank slate. I am resigned to "doing it right the first time" and have been researching landscape design a bit. Eventually, I plan on hiring a local landscape architect/designer to help with the layout and selection of plants, lighting, etc.

Can anyone recommend a good resource for landscape design that emphasizes harmony with Victorian architecture? I have purchased a few design books but none mention more than backyard "Victorian Gardens". Also, I live in suburban Philadelphia in case anyone can recommend any good designers.

Thanks!
DB

[dpsours]

There are probably books on the subject, but there are frequently articles in such mags as Old House Journal and Victorian Homes.

[bookish]

Garden and Forest was "the first American journal devoted to horticulture, botany, landscape design and preservation, national and urban park development, scientific forestry, and the conservation of forest resources", according to the Library of Congress. It was published weekly, in the late 19th century, by the Garden and Forest Publishing Co.
1888-1897
browse the issues at
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpcoop/mo ... _vols.html
also
1871 articles
http://www.countrylovers.co.uk/hort/vicgardn.htm
and
From the Fall River Historical Society
http://www.lizzieborden.org/pdf%5CSpring_2004.pdf
Gardening was a new hobby in Victorian times. Many then new and exotic plants were availabel from all over the world, and people bought them.
The Beach Rose, or Rosa Rugosa, so widely seen in New England is thought by many to be a native plant. Actually, they were imported in Victorian times from Japan, for people's gardens and over time they ran amuck. If you were a Victorian and could afford it, more and lush was better.

[Sarahdea]

I checked this out of my local library, it has a lot of landscape designs for different style victorians (italianate, cottage, farmhouse, gothic, etc...) and was originally written during the time period...

Victorian cottage residences / by Andrew Jackson Downing ; with a new preface by Adolf K. Placzek Downing, A. J. (Andrew Jackson), 1815-1852.

[poplancaster]

DB,
You may be dissapointed in the victorian era landscaping information. I own several of Downings' books. He and his partner were working on plans for Central Park when he died. Landscaping of that era was more about planning uses of the land around the "estate". Literature of that era is however very interesting. You will probably get some good ideas from a visit to well maintained estates. The original landscaping for most 100 year old structures will be either wildly overgrown on long since removed. My advice would be to look at something you like that is similar to your home relationships and adapt it to fit your needs(like the Home Network model room program where a real expensive room is copied, cheaply). You get the benefit of kind of seeing what it will look like before spending the money on the plants.

[bookish]

The lack of "real yard" info in Downing's and other books is why I posted my previous links.
It's hard to find out much about the yards of regular folks, everything is geared to grand estates and parklike settings.
Garden and Forest is a lot to wade through, but I've read that it was the definitive guide for any garden lovers of the day.
Some old photographs of houses can be helpful, in so far as how they liked to plan things. Architects renditions are no good for the most part. They tended not to draw too many plants around the house so as not to obscure the details.
I do have some photos of houses that show plantings in some of my books. I'll look though them and see if there's anything helpful.
I can tell you that if you have a porch, they loved to festoon them with Dutchman's Pipe. It's that vine with the big leaves that goes climbing up and over the porch. I've got one and I love it. It gives great shade, I can see out and no one can see in unless I wish it.

Had some free time, DH was asleep in front of the TV
Here's a link to a few pictures I found, lots of shrubbery, lots of strings for growing vines. In the other photos, they apparently hadn't gotten around to planting yet.
http://picasaweb.google.com/grazhe/Exam ... andscaping

[KSR]

Also, I live in suburban Philadelphia in case anyone can recommend any good designers.

Does Philadelphia have a botanical garden? You may be able to find out more there from an expert on staff, and they may have some mature examples of things used in Victorian landscaping.

[andriarassell]

I think for best landscape designs you can search books online.

[ratie]

I think that on the site you can find examples of landscape design works and make an order for such assignment. I can say that I used this method in the university and it helped me to master some interesting moments that can not be found elsewhere.

[Sofianeo]

First Thanks a lot.
Have a long time i research many Landscaping Design site. Many of site i reached and contact but not compatible for my requirement but now i saw this site when i click on aforementioned site link i really feel so easy and relax because you are the best site for my requirement and landscaping.