Arts and Crafts, 1890-1915

The turn of the century gave rise to an increasingly complex world, and Americans responded with a desire for simplicity. In quiet revolt against Victorian excesses, the new trend was to unify architecture with the land. Gardeners used a combination of perennials, shrubs, vines, and the newly popular ground cover to smooth the transition from structure to nature. Early ecologists promoted a love of indigenous plants, and "wild gardens" began to replace carefully tended flower beds. Backyard terraces and patios became "outdoor rooms" for socializing or retreating from the world. The gloomy appearance of treeless suburban developments and crowded cities spurred local groups to organize tree plantings and urban beautification campaigns.

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