Lawrence Johnston

Lawrence Johnston was an American-born British gardener and garden designer, best known for creating the renowned Hidcote Manor Garden in Gloucestershire, England. Johnston's work was influenced by his travels to France, Italy, and South Africa, where he drew inspiration from the gardens of Villa Medici, Château de Fontainebleau, and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. His experiences during World War I, particularly his service in the American Expeditionary Forces alongside General John J. Pershing and General Douglas MacArthur, also shaped his approach to garden design. Johnston's connections to notable figures like Gertrude Jekyll and Vita Sackville-West further solidified his position within the gardening community.

● Early Life

Lawrence Johnston was born in Paris, France, to an American family, and spent his early years traveling between Europe and the United States. His family's connections to New York City and Boston exposed him to the works of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, designers of Central Park and Prospect Park. Johnston's interest in gardening was sparked by visits to Chatsworth House, Blenheim Palace, and Highclere Castle, where he admired the gardens designed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown and Humphry Repton. His education at Cambridge University and Trinity College, Cambridge further broadened his knowledge of botany, horticulture, and landscape architecture, with influences from Joseph Dalton Hooker and Charles Darwin.

● Career

Johnston's career as a gardener and garden designer began in the early 1900s, with commissions from British aristocracy and American expatriates in France and England. His work was characterized by the use of topiary, perennials, and shrubs, often inspired by the gardens of Versailles, Château de Chantilly, and Giverny. Johnston's collaborations with Nancy Astor, Waldorf Astor, and Osbert Sitwell led to the creation of notable gardens at Cliveden, Hever Castle, and Renishaw Hall. His experiences during World War I, where he served alongside Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George, also influenced his approach to garden design, with a focus on formal gardens and memorials.

● Hidcote Manor Garden

Hidcote Manor Garden, Johnston's most famous creation, is a Arts and Crafts movement-style garden in Gloucestershire, England. The garden features a series of room-like spaces, each with its own unique character and plant palette, inspired by the gardens of Sissinghurst Castle Garden and Great Dixter. Johnston's use of yew, boxwood, and holly topiary, as well as his incorporation of sculpture and ornamental features, created a sense of intimacy and drama throughout the garden. The garden's design was influenced by Johnston's travels to Italy, where he visited Villa d'Este and Villa Lante, and France, where he explored the gardens of Château de Villandry and Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte.

● Personal Life

Lawrence Johnston's personal life was marked by his relationships with notable figures like E.M. Forster and D.H. Lawrence, who often visited him at Hidcote Manor. Johnston's interests in botany and horticulture led him to become a member of the Royal Horticultural Society and the Linnean Society of London, where he interacted with Charles Sprague Sargent and William Robinson. His love of travel and exploration took him to South Africa, where he visited Table Mountain and Cape of Good Hope, and Australia, where he explored the Blue Mountains and Great Barrier Reef.

● Legacy

Lawrence Johnston's legacy as a gardener and garden designer continues to inspire landscape architects and horticulturists around the world, including Piet Oudolf and Dan Kiley. His creation, Hidcote Manor Garden, is now a National Trust property, attracting visitors from Europe, North America, and Australia. Johnston's influence can be seen in the gardens of Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Great Dixter, and Iford Manor, which reflect his emphasis on formal gardens, topiary, and ornamental features. His contributions to the world of gardening have been recognized by the Royal Horticultural Society, which awarded him the Victoria Medal of Honour in 1937, and the American Horticultural Society, which honored him with the George Robert White Medal in 1955. Category:Gardeners