Winter is not so much a time for gardening. The plants go dormant, and we trade our time tending the garden for our own hibernation inside (preferably with a cup of hot tea and a good movie playing). However, some plant lovers out there don’t miss a beat and are just as busy as ever with new plantings in their winter gardens. What is a winter garden, you ask?

 

As I mentioned in a previous blog, biophilic design has come back into the interior design conversation like a perennial. The idea behind this design principle is that all humans are biophiles or lovers of nature. We all possess a desire to connect to the natural world, and we do so in our homes by establishing indoor-outdoor connections, decorating with botanical patterns, and, yes, planting winter gardens. 

 

So, is it time we bring the garden inside? 

 

What is a Winter Garden? 

A winter garden is a general term for an interior garden that is able to be maintained year-round, even in the wintertime. Winter gardens can be housed in conservatories, sunrooms, Florida rooms, three-season rooms, atriums, and orangeries—all similar structures with small differentiators and their own histories. 

 

In the 19th century, which was the height of winter garden popularity, it was universally accepted that a winter garden should provide a place to grow warm-climate plants year-round, offer space for relaxation, and take full advantage of the views and sunshine with large glass panels. These design principles still hold true today. 

 

The basic structure required for a winter garden includes walls of windows on at least three sides, a glass ceiling, and a connection to the main house. Of course, these spaces need to be temperature-controlled to make the plants (and the homeowners) comfortable. Additional considerations include built-in planting beds or designated space for potted plants and durable flooring such as brick, tile, or stone.    

 

While winter gardens are incorporated into residential design plans for homeowners in warm and cold climates alike, there are also many public winter gardens constructed for visitors. Examples include the Crystal Palace exhibition hall by Sir Joseph Paxton in 1851, Victorian British seaside resorts, and modern botanical garden conservatories. 

 

A Brief History of Winter Gardens 

Winter gardens date as far back as the 17th century and were popular among the European nobility. For example, the Romanovs had their sixteen-hundred room Winter Palace in St. Petersburg filled with tropical plants and crawling vines that offered a lush green escape from the harsh winter. Many other elite European families had conservatories or orangeries, which served as places to collect and grow rare tropical plants (as a sign of wealth) and extend the livable space of the main home. 

 

By the Victorian Era, winter gardens became more accessible. Many upper-class families were participating in the fern craze, which was made possible by shipping advancements that made it easier to acquire tropical plants. While some were happy with a potted plant indoors, others decided to add to their homes, creating large conservatories off the backs of their properties. This is still the course of action for homeowners looking to build a conservatory today. 

 

The popularity of winter gardens coincided with the Victorian Era in England as well as the Belle Époque in France, which began after the end of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871 and continued until World War I in 1914. “The Beautiful Era” was a celebration of art and culture in France. It gave birth to the Art Neauvou style, which influenced the opulent design of many winter gardens. Many had elaborate steel structures accented with stained glass window patterns and other decorative elements. It wasn’t enough to be practical; winter gardens also had to be strikingly impressive. 

 

The winter garden tradition continues today. Although mainly in the form of simpler sunrooms and three-season rooms. 

 

The Victorian Influence on Interior Design Movements 

I never tire of delving into the weird minds of our closest historic counterparts in the Western World: the Victorians. The Victorian Era ended a little more than a century ago, which in the span of human history isn’t that far back. They’re just modern enough to share interests with us, like building a conservatory addition onto their homes, but far enough removed to puzzle me to no end. On the one hand, they had a disturbing obsession with death and macabre accessories like taxidermy hats. On the other hand, they appreciated a nice houseplant and recognized the impact nature has on our well-being. 

 

One thing they did get right, in my opinion, is their appreciation of plants and incorporating natural elements and light into their homes. For those Victorians who had the means, building a glass conservatory to house a winter garden was money well spent. It offered a cozy place to escape the cold winter, especially when traveling to warmer climates was a challenge. 

 

Creating a Home Conservatory for Today’s Home

Historically, winter gardens and conservatories were reserved for the noble elite to enjoy nature year-round, even in the cold depths of winter. However, these spaces have transitioned from over-the-top and showy grandeur to more practical, family-oriented spaces like sunrooms and Florida rooms. If you have the space and eagerly await the return of spring every year to get back in the garden, why not add a conservatory to your home?

 

The more ways you can enjoy your space, the better.