Today we’re going behind the scenes of the sunken Knot Garden.
Our gardens team, volunteers and members of the project team have been working hard for months - planting properly started back in February! Their first job was to plant thousands of Euonymous japonica plants, commonly known as “spindle”. These form an integral part of the knot garden, but they’re just the beginning!
The sunken Knot Garden on this site began life only 100 years ago, but its heritage and influences stretch all the way back to Shakespeare’s time. Ernest Law, designer of the original knot garden at Shakespeare’s New Place, was a leading exponent of the Tudor knot garden revival in the early 20th century. He created this design as part of an effort to make the pleasure gardens on the site look more appropriately Tudor, and it was implemented in 1919-1920.
As Chris tells us in the video, the newest planting scheme includes more authentic species, based on Law’s original plans. Culinary herbs, medicinal herbs and edible flowers will all feature in the summer display. The Knot Garden has been a treasured element of Shakespeare’s New Place ever since it was first planted, and it’s going to be wonderful to see it in full bloom this summer!
Shakespeare’s New Place opens Summer 2016. Come and walk in Shakespeare's footsteps and meet the man behind the works in a fascinating new exhibition. Discover beautiful gardens and specially-commissioned artworks.
Find out more about Shakespeare's New Place.