The Gardens of Gertrude Jekyll

by Richard Bisgrove

Gertrude Jekyll is one of the most influential 20th-century garden designers. This book shows the best of her garden designs and a wonderful collection of her planting plans, made more accessible by extensive analysis and reinterpretation of the originals, accompanied by simple watercolours of the plans and illuminating photographs.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Nature

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 1992

Reviews

[Alyssa Bohon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely just a skim read. I got an acquaintance with the legendary Miss Jekyll and her gardening style, but didn't delve deep as the style was a bit formal and (worse for me, but nothing hard on the book) the growing zone focus was warmer than mine. More useful books with some of her principles have been written since then, but this is for those who want to read about the actual places she influenced. I liked the idea of the "gray garden" - definitely describes a tendency I've been developing in our property's sunbaked front, and it's one of my favorite garden looks.

[Joanna Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone into designing a garden should read this book, particularly if you like The Cottage Garden Style.. Fascinating looking at the plans Gertrude Jekyll created..I particularly like the ones that use colour boldly..

[Karen Floyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

"For Gertrude Jekyll gardening was never a matter of style or fashion. The garden was not an end result but a process, a process inevitably involving the making of mistakes but offering in return that serene satisfaction which comes from tireless dedication to a job well done. It is that quality which ensures for her a lasting place in an increasingly makeshift world."