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The plants grown in any area were originally limited by the soil and climate of that area, because transporting materials over long distances was not feasible. So specific types of gardens evolved in particular places of the world. For example, gardens in hot, dry climates provided shade as relief from the heat and dust. Examples are the Moghul gardens of Asia. People used local materials, and plants that were native to that climate and country.

Later, largely due to the trade in coffee, tea and spices, people found ways to transport seedlings and seeds to other countries. And as well as traded plants, people began to introduce attractive plants and flowers.

Garden plants from around the world travelled to other countries and were successfully grown. In England during Queen Victoria's reign there was a massive influx of plants from abroad, and the Victorians had a particular fascination with producing hybrids and new breeds.

Some gardens were reserved for particular uses. For instance many monasteries had an apothecary garden in the grounds where plants for medicinal use were grown. A large mansion often had a herb garden and vegetable garden where plants were grown for use in the kitchens. Formal gardens were built around some of the great houses, the importance of these being the human element in them with their walkways, terraces and mazes where people could socialise and meander.

As it became less important for the ordinary person to grow their food needs at home, they turned to gardens for decorative use.

Different areasin theworld developed at diferent times withgardendesign reflecting the demography and scientific developments of civilisations like the Greeks, Romans and Italians. Inthe East the Chinese and later Japanese took nature as their theme and reflected it in minitature within their gardenusing rocks, dry streams and raked gravel.

In the UK many people have made their name as garden designers. Probably the greatest plantswoman was Gertrude Jekyll, who was the first gar-dener to investigate the colour relationships of flowers and foliage. Since early this century many of her favourite plants have been hybridised to produce even better characteristics, and it is possible to interpret her ideas in modern ways.

Although she died in 1932 the revolution Gertrude Jekyll brought about in gardening has influenced garden designers to the present day. Other designers who had a big impact on design were William Kent, 'Capability' Brown and Humphrey Repton.

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