Foreign & Colonial Investments' Garden
16 May 2010 | 1 min read
By garden designer Thomas Hoblyn. Candide's final words in Voltaire's satire Candide, ou l'Optimisme are "… il faut cultiver nôtre jardin" implying that the only way to reach fulfilment is through hard work.
The 18th century French classic is the inspiration behind the Foreign & Colonial Investments' Garden.
The field-like layout of the garden is suggestive of the Turkish smallholding where Candide's famous words were spoken.
The pools and scalloped flowform mimic the river that wrecks his canoe upon entry to El Dorado, and the stone-clad planted walls symbolise the steep cliffs that surround it.
Love interest Cunégonde is depicted in the sculpture series, representing Candide's lusty thoughts during his trans-global pursuit of her.
The garden has been developed in partnership with Homebase, who are supplying all planting and accessories for the garden.
Plants list
Click any of the plant names below to learn more and to add to your own plants lists.
Santolina chamaecyparissus
Dryopteris wallichiana
Polystichum setiferum
Selaginella helvetica
Equisetum hyemale
Aquilegia canadensis (was skinneri)
Asarum europaeum
Asphodelus aestivus
Echium pinnaniana
Erigeron karvinskianus
Escholtzia californica
Glaucium corniculatum
Geranium madarense
Phlomis tuberosa Amazone
Polygonatum multiflorum
Polygonatum odoratum
Soleirolia soleirolii
Sesleria nitida
Echium pininana
Echium fastuosum
Echium webberi
Euphorbia x pasteuri
Euphorbia mellifera
Geranium maderense
Aeonium arboretum Zwartskop
Aloe saponaria
Aloe arborescens
Beschorneria tubiflora
Beschorneria septentrionalis
Echeveria elegans
Sempervivum calcareum
Sempervivum rubin
Kalanchoe thysiflora
Crassula falcata
Sedeveria lutea
Yucca rostrata
Agave
Camassia leichtinii
Eremurus Jeanne - Claire
Fritillaria imperialis Aurora
Leucojum aestivum
Lilium tenuifolium Pumilum or Lilium martagon
Tulipa Orange Emperor
Agapanthus africanus
Cyperus Papyrus
Nymphaea Albida
Acanthus Spinsous
Asphodeline Lutea
Asplenium Undulata
Centranthus Ruber Coccineus
Euphorbia Martina
Hosta Halcyon
Iris Action Front
Iris Deep Black
Iris Kent Pride
Iris Sable
Iris Sibricia Cambridge
Iris Sibricia Tropic Night
Nepeta Govaniana
Panicum Dallas Blue
Panicum Prairie Sky
Salvia Caradonna
Stipa Tenuisima
Anemanthele Lessoniana
Schizachyrium scoparium
Aquilegia Canadensis
Asphodeline Liburnica
Lunaria Rediviva
Tulip Sprengeri
Polygonum Scoparius
Santolina Serratifolia
Seslaria Caerulea
Arbutus Unedo multistem
Largestroemia Indica Rosea
Quercus Cerris
Parrotia persica