By Peg St. Clair
Enquirer contributor

Jan Benson was born in England, but has lived in the United States for 20 years. A Boone County resident and an airline executive, she has taken her English gardening roots wherever she has lived - Philadelphia, Miami and Dallas before here.

Friends admire her garden and ask, "Who does your yard?" Benson simply says she gardens the way she did in England. Informal cottage- or border-style gardening is common in Great Britain, where most everyone seems to garden.

Dating to medieval Europe, cottage gardens were created for practical purposes, including medicinal needs, with patches of herbs and vegetables. Later, flowers, such as roses and perennials, added romance to these often-enclosed spaces.

Hardy plants passed down from one generation to the next grow along walkways and hedges. Straight lines and hard surfaces help to provide a sense of design.

Some Americans, Benson says, like to plant everything in rows.

"In England," she says, "we plant in drifts, we scatter things, we like to be adventurous."

Without a lot of space, it is common to grow vines on existing trees, or "telegraph poles," as she calls them. Clematis and Virginia creeper are used frequently.

The British don't watch as much TV or go out to dinner as frequently as Americans, Benson says. They work in their gardens evenings after work. It is widely known that gardening is healing work - "Not many of us will see a therapist, but that is what we have the garden for." she says.

Many American gardeners, especially in new subdivisions, are faced with a layer of top soil added onto the top of clay, Benson says. They should choose plants known to survive in tough conditions. Another tip: Start small and plan a garden around existing shrubs or another focal point, such as a fence or wall.

Benson, a master gardener, will bring lists of plants she has found grow well in the Tristate and good plant combinations of perennials and shrubs to an English gardening class she has offered to teach 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at the Boone County Extension Office, 6028 Camp Ernst Road in Burlington. There is no charge, but registration is requested. (859) 586-6101.

Contact Peg St. Clair by phone: 541-4680; Web site: www.gardenersnetwork.org.