The Life and Legacy of Rosa Gertrude Jekyll

Rosa Gertrude Jekyll: Who Was She?

Rosa Gertrude Jekyll was a British horticulturist, garden designer, artist, and writer. She was born on June 29, 1843, in London, England, and died on December 8, 1932, at the age of 89. Jekyll is considered one of the most influential garden designers of the 20th century, known for her use of color, texture, and form in garden design.

Early Life and Career

Jekyll grew up in a well-to-do family but was limited in her education due to her gender. Despite this, she showed an early interest in gardening and began experimenting with plant combinations in her father's garden at the age of 15. She went on to study art and painting in London, Paris, and South Kensington, where she met fellow artist Edward Burne-Jones, who became a lifelong friend and collaborator.

In the 1860s, Jekyll suffered from poor health and spent several years living in the countryside to recuperate. It was during this time that she began studying botany and horticulture and experimenting with garden design. In 1881, at the age of 38, Jekyll moved to Munstead Wood, a property in Surrey that would become her home for the rest of her life.

Collaboration with Edwin Lutyens

One of Jekyll's most famous collaborations was with architect Edwin Lutyens, whom she met in 1889. Together, they designed over 100 gardens, including Hestercombe in Somerset, Lindisfarne Castle in Northumberland, and Castle Drogo in Devon. Lutyens designed the structures, while Jekyll created the planting schemes, resulting in a harmonious fusion of architecture and nature.

Garden Design Philosophy

Jekyll's garden design philosophy was based on her belief that a garden should be a "living work of art" that is in harmony with its surroundings. She believed that color, texture, and form were the most important elements of garden design and used them to create naturalistic plant combinations that looked effortless but were carefully planned.

Color Schemes

Jekyll was known for her use of color in garden design. She believed that colors should be grouped together in harmonious combinations rather than scattered randomly throughout the garden. Her signature color scheme was the "Jekyllian rainbow," a sequence of colors that progressed from white to pink, red, yellow, blue, and back to white.

Textures and Forms

In addition to color, Jekyll also paid close attention to texture and form in her garden designs. She used a variety of plant shapes and sizes to create interest and contrast in the garden, combining spiky plants with soft ones and tall plants with short ones. She also incorporated elements such as water features, paths, and walls to create structure and define garden spaces.

Legacy and Influence

Jekyll's influence on garden design can still be seen today, over 100 years after her death. Her ideas about naturalistic planting, color theory, and garden design as a "living work of art" have become foundational principles of modern garden design. Many of her gardens are still open to the public, including Munstead Wood, which is now owned by the National Trust.

List of Notable Gardens Designed by Gertrude Jekyll

• Hestercombe, Somerset
• Lindisfarne Castle, Northumberland
• Castle Drogo, Devon
• Folly Farm, Berkshire
• Abbotswood, Surrey
• Upton Grey Manor, Hampshire

Rosa Gertrude Jekyll was a pioneering garden designer whose legacy can still be felt today. Her innovative use of color, texture, and form in garden design has influenced generations of gardeners and designers around the world. Jekyll's gardens are testaments to her vision of the garden as a "living work of art" that is in harmony with its surroundings.

FAQs

1. What is the "Jekyllian rainbow"?

The "Jekyllian rainbow" is a sequence of colors used by Gertrude Jekyll in her garden designs. It progresses from white to pink, red, yellow, blue, and back to white.

2. What is the Munstead Wood garden?

Munstead Wood was Gertrude Jekyll's home and garden in Surrey, England. The garden is now owned by the National Trust and is open to the public.

3. Who was Edwin Lutyens?

Edwin Lutyens was a British architect who collaborated with Gertrude Jekyll on over 100 garden designs.

4. Where can I see Gertrude Jekyll's gardens?

Many of Gertrude Jekyll's gardens are open to the public, including Hestercombe in Somerset, Lindisfarne Castle in Northumberland, and Castle Drogo in Devon.

5. What was Gertrude Jekyll's garden design philosophy?

Gertrude Jekyll believed that a garden should be a "living work of art" that is in harmony with its surroundings. She used color, texture, and form to create naturalistic plant combinations that looked effortless but were carefully planned.