Evelyn, John

English diarist, author, garden designer and friend of Charles II. John Evelyn's own garden was at Sayes Court in Deptford and it is possible that he advised Charles II on the design of Greenwich Park. John Evelyn travelled in Italy and wrote famous accounts of Italian Renaissance gardens in his diary, published long after his death. The garden John Evelyn designed for his brother, at Wooton, was influenced by Italian gardens. John Evelyn's Sylva or Discourse on Forest Trees (1664) encouraged estate owners to plant timber for the navy. Evelyn designed a 'natural philosopher's garden' at Albury Park. See Evelyn's diary descriptions from his garden tour in Italy.