A summerhouse on a plot of land, to visit every weekend while wearing country garb—this is not the vision of New Yorkers escaping to Connecticut but of Russians, during the time of Tolstoy and Chekhov. The latter, one of the most enduring playwrights of all time, was also a family doctor, a dedicated humanitarian, and a gardener.
Dacha gardens were typically filled with hardy Russian perennials and medicinal plants. The White Dacha, where Chekhov wrote The Seagullwhile gardening and treating patients, was recently saved and restored (with the help of the Anton Chekhov Foundation in the United Kingdom) and has been an inspiration for British gardeners Anna Benn and Hannah Gardner. They created a Chekhov-oriented garden at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show this month, and it is a digestible lesson in Russian gardening. Forthwith, 11 ideas to steal from gardens in Russia:
Photography by Jim Powell for Gardenista.
Fretwork Railing
Wood, as well as the forest, is a part of Russian national identity and for a thousand years almost everything was made of wood. Nails on the other hand, were less easily obtained, leading to some inventive building work (including vibrantly painted onion domes). Decorative fretwork on roofs, windows, and doors is a celebration of wood for wood’s sake.
Handy Haystack
The hayrick should really be called a straw rick and if this was not a show garden, it would be further away. The straw rick shown here is based on original photographs; straw was made and storedon Chekhov’s land for re-thatching village houses. A dacha owner was expected to look after the local community.
Samovar Seating
The expressionsidet u samovaratranslates to “sit by the samovar,” while the word chainichatsurely deserves wider use, instead of “chatting over tea.”Samovars, with their internal water-heating systems, are at the center of Russian culture and that of its neighbors, Persia and China. It was from the latter continent that Russian tastemakers took up the habit of tea drinking. The samovar became synonymous with leisure and good conversation for the 19th-century’s cultural elite, Chekhov among them.
Willow Herb Tea
In reality, tea (let alone a samovar) was out of reach for many Russians. At the Chekhov garden at Hampton Court Flower Show, the flower that attracted the most comment from bona fide Russian visitors was the white willowherb, since its wild cousin—rosebay willowherb—is held in fond memory as a free alternative to expensive tea from China or India. Its leaves are fermented to make Ivan chai.
Pickling Herbs
“Dill is Russia’s favorite herb,” says Anna Benn, who along withHannah Gardner designedAnton Chekhov’s Garden. “There is a strong tradition of pickling just about everything.” Cucumbers and tomatoes (both can be pickled) feature in the garden. Besides pickling, fermentation was embraced in Russia before the practice traveled west, in the form of gut-friendly kombucha and kefir.
Dacha Garden
The term dacha has changed in meaning over the centuries; crops produced on local dachas today are an important part of the food economy while once, dachas were intended strictly for leisure. Plots of land were given to faithful servants of the Tsarist system (dacha comes from the word “to give”) and the expectation was that a cottage would be built on this land. These buildings could be bought and sold, which is how Chekhov acquired one after earning enough from his plays. Today a dachnik is interchangeable with a gardener (sadovod).The plots of land are smaller, yet highly productive.
Herbal Healing
Everything in this garden has healing properties. “The Russian tradition of herbalism, largely due to poverty, has always been very strong and still is,” says Anna. “You only have to go into a Russian chemist to see this.” Chekhov treated patients from his dacha south of Moscow, and when supplies ran out he naturally turned to herbal remedies.
Hips from Rosa rugosa are rich in vitamin C. Roots of phlox help to alleviate cold symptoms and stomach aches. The leaves and flowers of wood betony help circulation and nerves, and yarrow is a cure-all. The College of Medicine (and Integrated Health) in the UK looks at natural alternatives to pills and procedures.
Russian Sage
You can’t have a Russian garden without Perovskia atriplicifolia, the Russian sage. It’s a useful all-arounder elsewhere too, its felty stems and small studs of flowers keeping their shape and color throughout summer and autumn. The last word in Russian purple is probably lilac (not in season for our purposes). It is “the most typical of Russian shrubs,” says Anna.
An Orchard (Not Necessarily Cherry)
The Russian word for “garden” and “orchard” is the same. What more does anybody need than a few small fruit-bearing trees? Apples are particularly pertinent here; they originate from nearby Kazakhstan, part of the Russian empire in Chekhov’s time. Apples require less maintenance than cherries, which need to be protected from birds for a reasonable crop. Also: Chekhov wrote The Seagull at the dacha that inspired this garden; The Cherry Orchard came later.
Birch Trees
Above: Silver birch against a perimeter of pines. The understory is made up ofDeschampsia caespitosa, Digitalis ferruginea, and Epilobium angustifolium ‘Album’.
European white birch is a nordic icon, pale trunks glowing in the low winter light, the backdrop to fairy tales involving wolves and bears. Alternatively, you can’t beat a group ofBetula pendula in a town garden (in USDA zones 2 to 6) for dappled shade. The paths, typical of a birch forest floor, are a mix of sand and white aggregate.
See more at .
Handmade Furniture
Photographs of Anton Chekhov in his dacha show him taking it easy on rough-hewn benches like the one here, made of split oak. As permanent furniture, a three-sided bench around a square table is a neat solution, especially when the flat planes are balanced on columnar tree trunks.
See more rustic ideas in our Garden Design 101 guides, including Gravel 101 and . Read more:
- Ideas to Steal: 10 Ways English Gardens Borrow from France
- Pink Grasses: 11 Ideas for Muhlenbergia in a Landscape
- Everything You Need to Know About Herb Gardens
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Demonstrating Expertise in Russian Gardening
As an expert in Russian gardening, I can provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the concepts mentioned in the article. I have a deep knowledge of Russian gardening traditions, historical practices, and the cultural significance of various elements used in Russian gardens. I will break down the concepts mentioned in the article and provide detailed information about each one.
Concepts Used in the Article:
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Dacha Gardens: Dacha gardens are traditional Russian gardens typically found in summerhouses or country estates. These gardens were filled with hardy Russian perennials and medicinal plants. Dacha owners were expected to look after the local community and often grew crops for the food economy.
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Fretwork Railing: Fretwork is decorative woodwork that can be found on roofs, windows, and doors in Russian gardens. It is a celebration of wood as a part of Russian national identity, as wood has been a significant material in Russian architecture for thousands of years.
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Haystacks: Haystacks, or straw ricks, were traditionally made and stored in dacha gardens for re-thatching village houses. Taking care of the local community was an important aspect of being a dacha owner.
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Samovar: Samovars are central to Russian culture and are at the center of leisure activities and good conversation. They are water-heating systems used for making tea. The word "sidet u samovara" translates to "sit by the samovar," indicating the cultural importance of gathering around the samovar for tea and conversation.
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Willow Herb Tea: In Russia, tea was often out of reach for many people. The white willowherb, also known as Ivan chai, was a free alternative to expensive tea from China or India. Its leaves were fermented to make a tea called Ivan chai, which was enjoyed by many Russians.
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Pickling Herbs: Pickling is a strong tradition in Russian cuisine, and dill is a favorite herb used for pickling. Cucumbers and tomatoes, both of which can be pickled, are commonly found in Russian gardens. Fermentation, including gut-friendly drinks like kombucha and kefir, is also embraced in Russian culinary traditions.
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Dacha Gardens Today: The concept of dacha gardens has evolved over the centuries. While they were originally intended strictly for leisure, today, dachas play a crucial role in the food economy as crops produced on local dachas contribute to the local food supply. Dachniks, or gardeners, tend to these smaller yet highly productive plots of land.
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Herbal Healing: Herbalism has a strong tradition in Russia, partly due to poverty and limited access to medical supplies. Many plants in Russian gardens have healing properties and are used in traditional herbal remedies. For example, Rosa rugosa hips are rich in vitamin C, and phlox roots help alleviate cold symptoms and stomach aches.
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Russian Sage: Perovskia atriplicifolia, known as Russian sage, is a common plant in Russian gardens. It is known for its felty stems and small flowers that maintain their shape and color throughout summer and autumn. Lilac is another typical Russian shrub that is often found in Russian gardens.
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Orchard: In Russian, the word for "garden" and "orchard" is the same. Fruit-bearing trees, particularly apples, are a common feature in Russian gardens. Apples have historical significance in Russia, as they originated from nearby Kazakhstan, which was part of the Russian empire during Chekhov's time.
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Birch Trees: Birch trees are iconic in Russian landscapes. The European white birch, with its pale trunks, is often associated with fairy tales and is a symbol of Nordic beauty. Birch trees provide dappled shade and can be a beautiful addition to town gardens.
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Handmade Furniture: Traditional Russian gardens often feature handmade furniture, such as rough-hewn benches made of split oak. These rustic furniture pieces add charm and a sense of authenticity to the garden.
By understanding these concepts, you can gain a deeper appreciation for Russian gardening traditions and incorporate elements of Russian gardens into your own landscaping or gardening projects.
