The Secret Meaning of the Plants and Flowers in Taylor’s Engagement Garden According to an Expert Horticulturist
Plus how to evoke the enchanted garden in your own backyard.
Love is in the air for Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, evidenced by their engagement announcement that has nearly 29M likes on Instagram as of now. And the lush fairytale garden that served as the backdrop has fans in a tizzy, speculating the location (did Travis transform his backyard?) and searching for Easter eggs (is the garden a nod to her "Lover" album?). Whether or not the garden is a reference to her 2019 studio album, the keys to a deeper understanding of this enchanted space are right before our eyes in details of floral design and garden architecture. And the master gardeners at HGTV are here to shed light on them. Now, exactly what those abundant roses, peonies and boxwoods mean, plus how to bring some of this blushing garden energy into the, er, blank space in your own backyard.
Tiered Garden Beds Feature Bright Flowers, Manicured Shrubs and a Flagstone Column
Everything in Taylor’s engagement garden evokes romance and collected, vintage charm. This backyard nods to her garden with lush pink garden beds surrounded by greenery and an old world stone planter.
Everything in Taylor’s engagement garden evokes romance and collected, vintage charm. This backyard nods to her garden with lush pink garden beds surrounded by greenery and an old world stone planter.
The Flowers Tell a Tale of Love
In the language of flowers, the floral finery surrounding Travis and Taylor sings a love story. Either the Kansas City Chief’s tight end did a deep dive on the meaning of flowers, or he has a florist who really knows their stuff. Here’s a quick summary of the meanings behind 10 of the stunning blossoms and greenery in this proposal-worthy garden:
'Miss America' peony unfurls lovely white blooms. Great for borders, accents or hedges along fences, sidewalks, driveways or walls, this herbaceous peony produces large semi-double creamy white blooms with golden yellow centers. Hardy from Zones 3 to 8.
- ‘White Duchess’ peonies—happy life, happy marriage
- Ivy—wedded love, fidelity
- Roses—love
- Lilies—purity, it’s heavenly to be with you
- Pink Secret Garden Roses—perfect happiness
- Delphinium—big-hearted
- Pink resurrection lilies—rebirth, unexpected joy
- White scabiosa—pure love, new beginnings
- Ferns–magic
- Boxwood—strength
Image courtesy of Angela Price of Eden Condensed
No flower says "love" like a rose, with its rich perfumed blooms. Adding a rose-covered arch to a garden creates the romantic ambiance so apparent in Swift's engagement garden.
The Gazebo Creates an Intimate Garden Escape
Even the smallest space can offer an oasis that’s big on style, like the cozy metal dome hideaway in Swift's engagement garden. Clothed in Southern smilax vines (which symbolize loveliness, clearly a nod to the beautiful bride-to-be) adorned with garden roses, anemone and lilies, the dome offers a big-enough-for-two bench made comfy with overstuffed pillows.
Image courtesy of Proven Winners
Bobo is a dwarf panicle hydrangea, a smaller version of the 'Limelight' hydrangeas in Swift's engagement garden. Grow this 3-foot-tall hydrangea in full to part sun in Zones 3 to 9. This dwarf shrub bears abundant white blooms that stay white in any soil.
Urns Add a Classic Touch
The timeless lines of concrete urns embellish Swift's engagement garden with traditional beauty. When choosing urns, be sure not to undersize the container for the garden space. The height of this urn pair extends approximately one-third of the metal dome height—the perfect size for an eye-pleasing scene that ticks all the right boxes.
Filling the urns follows this design rule: The tallest item in the container should equal one to one-and-a-half times the height of the container. Lavish stems of ‘Limelight’ hydrangeas and pink resurrection lilies hit this mark with blooming beauty.
Don’t Miss the Bricks
Laid in a circular pattern, even the bricks in Swift's engagement garden speak of enduring love. The radiating circles of bricks echo the wedding ring itself, with no ending or beginning, which hints at an unending, eternal love that extends beyond time.
What's more romantic than a fence full of roses? The abundance of cottage garden style turns any yard into a fairy tale flower fest.
Ready to Tell Your Own Love Story?
While you might not be able to duplicate the lush abandon of Swift's engagement garden (after all, it looks to our expert eyes that many of these flowers were brought in and arranged by florists), you can re-create the look in a corner of your own garden—or in a vase on your favorite counter. Zero in on an aspect of the garden that touches your own heart, and weave that thread into your life’s love story. Try a few of these ideas to get started.
Like in Swift's engagement garden, this vine-covered arbor defines a romantic getaway complete with a custom bench. A combination of annual morning glory and moonflower vines set the scene with gorgeous color from sunrise to moonrise.
Create an Intimate Space for Conversation
A simple bench tucked beneath overhanging tree boughs can extend a warm welcome for relaxing, romance and maybe even a proposal. Prioritize comfort with outdoor cushions and night lighting for snuggling beneath the stars.
Bring In Containers Filled with Seasonal Blooms
Add containers brimming with blooms and a rose or two for lovely fragrance. Oriental lilies fill summer evenings with sweet perfume, as does flowering tobacco.
Creating a circular paver pattern is a subtle way to capture a little of the magic in Swift's engagement garden.
Incorporate a Floor Pattern
If you don’t have room for a full circle of bricks, design a half circle or a small circle bordered with traditional right-angled patterns. Pavers come in so many different sizes, colors and shapes that you can easily use them to make a statement about your own one-of-a-kind love story.
A Formal Cottage Garden with Gazebo
Climbing pink roses spill over a wood gazebo in this formal cottage garden, framing the entryway towards the shingled home. A simple rope fence intersects the garden and defines the entry garden from the large expanse of lawn framed by silvery lavender Russian sage.
Photo by: Andrew Grossman
Andrew Grossman
Curate Greens and Dusty Pinks
The garden inside a forested setting is filled with green foliage, dusty pinks, whites and a few lavenders. These colors are classically used in wedding floral arrangements and really evoke romantic energy. Whether you're filling a planter or simply arranging a bouquet on your counter, focus on foliage and flowers in this color palette.
