Could you garden for the Queen?

Tending the Queen’s many large and varied gardens is no easy task. Here are six tips from John Anderson, Keeper of the Gardens at Windsor Great Park, on how to match regal gardens to royal tastes.

Frogmore House and Gardens in Windsor Great Park - Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2017.

1. Work with history

Many royal gardens, including the Queen’s private gardens at Frogmore, have designed structures or follies and period features that you’ll have to integrate into your designs.

Not only will these historical structures have to look picturesque themselves, the views from within them also have to please the eye.

2. Team work is key…

Tending the royal gardens is not a task you can handle by yourself. Each one has a dedicated team of gardeners and requires everyone’s expertise in order to keep it in shape.

Lots of ideas are needed to keep them tidy, so don’t be afraid to put your opinions forward.

3. …but the Queen has the final say

Be prepared to pitch your ideas directly to the Queen herself!

When John Anderson proposes ideas to Her Majesty at Frogmore, they go on a walk together around the grounds and discuss the ideas in the proposed sites. Ultimately, the Queen has the final say about what goes ahead: it is her garden after all!

4. Aim for a bright colour palette

The Queen likes a broad range of colours, but her preference for bright colours can be seen in both her choice of clothes and her gardens. One of her favourite plants include primroses, if you’re looking for a starting point.

These gleditsia trees were a gift to the Queen from the Duke of Westminister.

5. Be prepared to plant gifts

The Queen receives presents on a regular basis, some of which are plants.

Whether from foreign dignitaries, horticultural societies or other well-wishers these gifts have to be tastefully integrated into the royal grounds. Be flexible and use your keen eye to find a new home for these unexpected additions.

6. Take a holistic approach

Having a healthy population of wildlife in the royal gardens is very important to the Queen.

Wild flowers are planted in many of the royal gardens to encourage bees and butterflies. The lakes are home to a large variety of ducks, coots and fish.

It’s a balancing act of exotic flowers, wildlife and wild flowers, but if you want to garden for the Queen, that’s what it’ll take.