Gardening Greats with the Reckless Gardener

INFLUENTIAL GARDEN DESIGNERS - Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932) – "A gardening goddess."

Gertrude Jekyll has become beloved of gardeners all over the world. She is best known for her Edwardian gardens and in particular her partnership with the architect Edwin Lutyens. In her book "The story of gardening" Penelope Hobhouse comments that: "The collaboration between architect Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll became the Edwardian symbol of good taste, the epitome of excellence ……."

Their partnership lasted some twenty years, a period which was to see them design around a hundred gardens. However, Gertrude’s work extends beyond her partnership with Lutyens and it is believed she created hundreds of gardens during her lifetime, not only in Britain but also in America and Europe.

Sadly, very few remain to help us fully appreciate her genius. We are indebted to those who have devoted their time and energy in restoring some of her best. The Manor House at Upton Grey, Hampshire, is one example. (We feature this beautiful garden in our "garden restoration" section). (Pictured right - The Rose Garden fully restored - picture courtesy of The Manor House, Upton Grey, Hampshire.)

Gertrude spent most of her life in Surrey. She wrote books, contributed articles in prestigious magazines such as Country Life and The Garden and was a talented photographer. She painted with accomplishment but sadly her artistic talents were to be affected by poor eyesight, which in a way was perhaps fortunate for gardening, because it led to her diverting her energies in that direction. She became a collector of plants and keenly noted new plants that she saw on her travels.

A devotee of William Robinson, Gertrude combined his naturalistic look with her style which was to become known as "cottage garden" planting. She was also influenced by the Arts & Crafts movement, which has continued to have a strong influence on garden development even to this day. She attended the South Kensington School of Art and no doubt it was there that she made many friends in the arts and crafts movement.

At Munstead Wood, Lutyens designed a house for Gertrude, around a garden which she had already begun. Their success was due no doubt to Lutyens imaginative formal structures, his changes of direction, stonework and water features, softened by Gertrude's planting. Her plants were able to flop over low walls and paths, softening the harsh lines of stone, her borders contained drifts of colour, but from a variety of plants. No doubt she was also influenced by her own artistic training which would give her a greater understanding of colour and form.

Jekyll was at her peak just before the World War I. Sadly, the war had devastating effects on professionally maintained middle-class gardens and it is only the well documented sets of plans which mainly remain in America, which has helped restorers recreate the magic of her gardens.

Gertrude Jekyll (pronounced as in treacle by the way) brought to gardening an enduring style which could be adopted in stately mansions or small cottage gardens. Her American work dates from 1914 and it is to America that we can look for copies of many of her designs which have been preserved in Berkeley, California, thanks to Beatrix Farrand.

She was still writing prolifically in her late 80s contributing no less than 43 articles for Gardening Illustrated. She died in 1932 aged 89. Her gardening legacy is immense and will continue to influence designers and plantsmen/women for generations to come.

An official web site of the Jekyll Estate can be found on www.gertrudejekyll.co.uk

Arnander, Primrose & Tooley's book "Gertrude Jekyll – Essays on the life of a working amateur', can be purchased by clicking here >>:

Pictured of Gertrude Jekyll, courtesy of The official website of the Jekyll estate. For more information please access their web site >>>