An Educated Pair

There is a special relationship in gardening between the UK and the USA that has developed ever since the original East Coast colonies were established four centuries ago. While the dominant story may appear to be the exporting of the ‘English’ style of gardens and gardening, in reality the flow of ideas and influences was always a two-way process. The lifespans of British designer Russell Page (1906-1985) and the American Lanning Roper (1912-1983) were almost identical. There are other similarities between these two giants of the garden design world, but some interesting differences too.

Russell Page was born in Lincolnshire in 1906; six years later, Lanning Roper was born in New Jersey, but service in World War II brought him to the UK and he remained here for the rest of his life.