Gertrude Jekyll (Shire Library) by Twigs Way

by Twigs Way

Almost eighty years after her death, Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932) is still one of the most influential of all English garden designers. Best known for her superb use of colour schemes in her hallmark flower borders, she combined an early training in art with self taught horticultural skills. Early influences included William Morris, John Ruskin and William Robinson but it is her partnership with the architect Edwin Lutyens that produced some of the most distinctive of Edwardian houses and gardens. From her house (and nursery) at Munstead Wood, Surrey, Jekyll designed over 400 gardens across Britain and Europe, and some in America - where her archive of designs and drawings is now held.Alongside her close friend Ellen Willmott she was one of the first women to gain the coveted RHS Victoria Medal. Through her articles and books she became the defining voice of early to mid 20th century garden design, creating a style many gardeners still aspire to today. This book will explore her life, influences on her early work in art and crafts, the transfer to Munstead Wood and working relationship with Edwin Lutyens, as well as her own writings and achievements. Her involvement with early women?s gardening schools, and worker?s movements will also be examined afresh. A final chapter will examine her legacy and recent re-assessments and restorations of her work in England and abroad.

Paperback

First published April 17, 2012

Reviews

[Sarah Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an informative , well written and lavishly illustrated introduction to Gertrude Jekyll. From it I got a sense of her many talents, the width of her knowledge and her seemingly limitless energy. But I did not get a clear idea of just why she is considered so significant in garden history. I found the illustrations did not really help with this but perhaps there are no real remnants of her planting left.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful little book and a very interesting biography of the great artist/garden designer, Gertrude Jekyll.

[Karen Floyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at the Boston Flower and Garden Show yesterday. It is a brief biography of artist, writer, gardener, and garden designer Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1942). Very good as far as it goes, but very brief. A good place to start. Fortunately there is a list for further reading at the back, of books both by and about Jekyll, for the reader who wants to know more. Few people had more influence on garden design than Jekyll, moving us away from the stiff, formal beds of the Victorian era to a more naturalistic approach. One of Jekyll's brothers, by the way, was a friend of RLS, who used his friend's name for Dr. Jekyll, of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."
And "Twigs Way" must be either a nickname or a pseudonym, right?