From Dirt to Décor: The Colourful History of Gardening

Ah, gardening. Whether you're coaxing tomatoes out of clay soil, lining your walkway with lavender, or trying to make your front lawn look like something out of a Better Homes & Gardens cover shoot, you're participating in a tradition that dates back thousands of years.

But how did we get here—from survival farming to planting for the ‘gram? Buckle up (or should we say, “glove up”), because the history of gardening is as layered as a well-mulched bed.

 

First Came the Veggies: A History Rooted in Survival

Before gardening was beautiful, it was purely practical 

The earliest “gardens” weren’t garden-party ready. They were about survival. Over 10,000 years ago, in the Fertile Crescent (modern-day Middle East), humans began domesticating wild grains, legumes, and fruits. This was the beginning of the agricultural revolution, and it marked our shift from nomadic foraging to settled farming.

But here’s where it gets interesting: even those early gardens had some method to the madness. Ancient Egyptians grew vegetables in neatly irrigated plots. The Greeks had kitchen gardens. And the Romans? They went full Martha Stewart with elaborate villa gardens that combined edible plants with ornamentals and statues. Garden envy, anyone?

By the Middle Ages, monastery gardens were the gold standard. Monks grew herbs, vegetables, and medicinal plants in tidy quadrants, complete with stone borders and gravel paths. These weren’t just for eating—they were the original healing gardens.

Fast forward to the cottage garden

In Europe, particularly England, the “cottage garden” emerged around the 16th century. These were modest plots packed with edible plants, herbs, and flowers—not for aesthetics, but because every inch of soil had to earn its keep. Yet, despite their practicality, they had an effortless beauty. (Kind of like that friend who claims she “woke up like this.”)

Enter the Flowers: A Blooming Obsession

Now we get to the frilly stuff. While veggies were the OG garden staple, flowers were hot on their heels.

The first recorded ornamental gardens were in ancient Persia, which gave rise to the concept of the "paradise garden"—walled enclosures designed to be earthly representations of heaven. Water features, symmetry, and aromatic flowers were all the rage. (Honestly, we’re still into this.)

In Asia, particularly China and Japan, garden aesthetics evolved into an art form. Chinese scholar-gardens emphasized symbolism and reflection, while Japanese Zen gardens focused on simplicity, balance, and a little raking-induced soul-searching.

 

Royal Gardens and Flower Power

By the Renaissance, flower gardening became a full-blown status symbol in Europe. Think Louis XIV’s Versailles—not so much a garden as a flex of horticultural and political power. These gardens were massive, manicured, and symmetrical to the extreme.

In the Victorian era, ornamental gardening went mainstream. With the rise of the middle class and improvements in transportation (hello, plant imports), homeowners could now dabble in gardening for pure enjoyment. Enter the Victorian flower garden, a sometimes over-the-top mix of exotic plants, formal layouts, and very competitive neighbours.

Landscaping: When Lawns Took the Lead

You know that pristine lawn you mow every Sunday? Thank the 18th-century English aristocrats. They were the first to turn rolling grassy lawns into a status symbol. And why not? If you didn’t have to use all your land to grow food, you were clearly doing well.

Landscaping as a design element exploded in the 1700s, with naturalistic layouts, winding paths, ponds, and “follies” (those random garden structures that serve no purpose but to look cute).

Fast-forward to post–World War II North America, and the suburban lawn became the front-and-centre star of home landscapes. With the rise of single-family homes, nurseries, and garden centres, everyone wanted curb appeal. Green turf became the canvas, and foundation shrubs the brushstrokes.

 

Fads That Came, Went, and Came Back Again

Just like shoulder pads and disco, gardening trends are cyclical. Here are a few fads we’ve seen come and go—and sometimes come back stronger:

1. Rock Gardens (1900s–1960s, then again now) Once considered the height of sophistication, then ignored, now beloved again by xeriscapers and succulent fanatics.
2. Topiary (Roman era, Renaissance, 1980s Disney, now TikTok chic) Snipping hedges into animal shapes? Timeless.
3. Victory Gardens (WWI, WWII… and 2020's) This era brought these practical home gardens roaring back, proving once again that food security never goes out of style.
4. Grass Lawns (Still going, but falling out of favour) Once seen as the ultimate suburban dream, grass is now under scrutiny. Enter bee lawns, no-mow zones, and native plant landscaping.
5. Indoor Jungle Trend (Houseplants on every shelf) Your grandma had a spider plant in the '70s. You have 12 Monstera cuttings in vintage mugs. Same vibe.

The Modern Garden: A Place of Purpose

Today’s gardens are a beautiful mash-up of the past. We’ve gone full circle—from survival to aesthetic, and back to function-meets-beauty.

People now garden to:

• Grow food organically
• Attract pollinators
• Create mental health oases
• Connect with heritage or culture
• Be sustainable and eco-friendly 

Urban gardening, raised beds, native plant gardens, permaculture, and regenerative landscaping are some of the modern trends that show how our gardens are changing to match our values.

And honestly? That’s a good thing. Because whether you're composting like a champ or arranging perennials by bloom time, your garden tells a story—your story, rooted in a rich global history.

 

So, What Can We Learn From the Past?

Gardening is one of the most enduring expressions of humanity’s connection to nature. Across cultures, continents, and centuries, people have bent over beds of soil and thought, “Let’s grow something here.”

Here’s what the history of gardening teaches us:

• Gardening adapts: to climate, culture, and circumstance.
• It reflects who we are: a veggie plot says “self-reliant.” A wildflower patch says “nature lover.” A cactus corner says “I forget to water things.”
• Trends may change, but the joy of growing something never goes out of style. 

So whether you’re mulching like a medieval monk or landscaping like a 21st-century minimalist, take pride. You're part of a long, muddy, beautiful tradition.

Final Thought: Let the Past Inspire the Plot

So there you have it, the next time you tuck a tulip bulb into the ground or prune your tomatoes, remember—you’re not just gardening. You’re echoing millennia of growers, dreamers, and backyard philosophers. And if your garden doesn’t look like Versailles? That’s ok, you do you!

Happy gardening!