The Gardens of Gertrude Jekyll
Bisgrove, director of the Landscape Management degree course at England's Reading University, has selected 47 plans of the British gardening doyenne Gertrude Jekyll, most of which have been unpublished until now. Introductory chapters provide historical data on Jekyll, who was an active garden maker from the late 19th century until her death in 1932. Her designs are divided and discussed by garden types (formal, rose, wild, or shrub gardens) or by a particular gardening challenge (steps and walls, sun and shade, or color combinations). A concluding chapter lists favorite "Jekyll plants" with descriptions and cultural information. The plans themselves have been enhanced with watercolor and clear plant labeling. Color photographs of Jekyll gardens, modern gardens in the Jekyll tradition, and individual plantings futher illustrate her skill at balancing discipline with generosity and harmony with contrast. Although much has been written about Jekyll, and happily many of her own writings have been reissued, actual plans of her garden designs are not as easily found. Recommended for most landscape design collections.- Virginia A. Henrichs, Chicago Botanic Garden Lib., Glencoe, Ill.Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.