Garden Historian Dr Alley Marie Jordan On Her Favourite Garden (Hint: It’s In Scotland)

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Alley Marie Jordan is a Garden Historian who completed her PhD at The University of Edinburgh with a focus on the history of classical gardens.

Alley’s passion for botanical history runs deep and she has published articles in various literary publications, such as The Mediterranean Lifestyle Magazine.

I spoke with Alley about her love for gardens and how she acquired such a deep interest in the topic.

When Did You First Become Interested In The History Of Gardens?

“I became interested in the history of gardens when I went to work on a Greek farm during my second year of university,” shares Alley. “I was studying Classics at the time.

“When I came back to Seattle to finish my studies, my Classics advisor created an independent study for me on classical gardening and farming, based on my experiences.

“That is when I first started to read Virgil, Horace and others seriously, not just for translation. I also read about classical garden influences in the post-Classical world, which opened so many doors for me intellectually. 

“After living in Greece and being connected to the landscape, garden history opened up to me.”

When Did You Know You Wanted To Make A Career Out Of This And What Led You To This Decision?

“I knew I wanted to make a career out of this almost right away whilst studying it at university because ancient gardens interested me so much.

“It was definitely a niche form of study and I was thrilled to contribute to the field through an academic lens.

“I also just love writing!” Alley says. “I delight in writing and researching. I’ve always known that I wanted to be a writer and I knew I wanted to publish. I went to university to become an academic so that I could do this. 

“I am fortunate to have found two things that I am passionate about and to be able to combine them: gardens and writing.

“The first time I got published was in the Journal of Garden History and to see my research in print made me feel like a real Garden Historian. I am so fortunate to be able to share my research and writing with others.

“I am nowhere happier writing than in a historic garden.”

How Have Gardens & Their History Shaped Your Life And Own Interests?

“I came to know myself through my research in Garden History,” she says.

“It was a place where I could brush off past academic expectations of me and where I could build my own identity as a scholar and as a person, rather than following others’ ideas of what I should become or study.

“Garden History is a subject that is as intellectually stimulating as it is beautiful. I began to see gardens everywhere and I loved that outlook – to seek beauty and greenery in all places.”

Do You Have Any Favourite Gardens In The UK?

“Of course! There are simply too many to count because the UK is world-renowned for its incredible gardens.

“Sometimes it can be overwhelming as a garden historian to choose because there is so much history and interest here. Having said that, Pitmedden Garden in Aberdeenshire is probably my favourite. I absolutely love baroque gardens!

“I love parterres, opulent topiary, ornamentation and such artful displays of structuring nature. Pitmedden feels like a bit of France in Scotland, and I love to see it.”

What’s A Surprising Fact About A Plant Or Garden Not Many People Know?

“You have Plato’s Academy, the first University ever, but did you know that his rival, Epicurus, had his own academy called the Garden School?

“This was the origin of garden philosophy where students, both men and women, studied and philosophised in an actual garden. I like to call Epicurus the Father of Garden Philosophy.

“If you’ve ever visited Chiswick or Jefferson’s Monticello, or walked into a Palladian house, all of their ideological origins stem from Epicurus and his Garden School.

“Epicurus influenced people from Vitruvius to Palladio, to André Le Nôtre to Alexander Pope and beyond.”

What Advice Would You Have For Those With Similar Interests To Yourself In The History Of Gardens?

“Read garden history written by garden historians,” says Alley. “There is a lot of interesting research happening by scholars in the field.

“Garden history is emerging by breaking out of Architecture and entering places like Classics, Literature and History. Through this emerging interdisciplinary, I think that people interested in garden history will have a lot more to choose from outside the obvious.

“If you’re looking to learn more about garden history, check out the Journal of Garden History, which is put forth by the Gardens Trust.

“As a historian, I always look to the bibliography of any garden book or article in order to discover more published work.”

What’s Next For You? Do You Have Any Upcoming Projects You Would Like To Share?

“I am currently writing my first book. It is based on my PhD thesis and is going to be published by Bloomsbury in early 2025 and is called Classical Taste in the Architectural World of Thomas Jefferson.

“Thomas Jefferson was an exceptional gardener and I am excited to share how Antiquity influenced his ideas on it at Monticello.

“I have a column coming out for Blumenhaus, which is a European publication on all things floral. I am also publishing academic articles as well and I have a few articles coming out in 2024.”

You can keep up to date with Alley Marie via her Instagram.