The French gardens of the 17th century, unlike the English gardens of the 18th century, came about as a result of top political figures who desired to display their wealth and power by seemingly subduing nature.
Garden Style Series: Part 1 – Introduction & The English Garden
Throughout history, gardens were planted to give civilizations places of beauty, to make a political statement, or to showcase rare or interesting plants, or simply to have a location where one could escape the rigidity of everyday life and relax... The English garden is certainly a strong reflection of British culture. During the early 18th century, the English wanted to distance themselves from the culture of the autocratic French through their approach to garden design. This meant that formal gardens gave way to more naturalistic-looking gardens.