by Gertrude Jekyll 1843-1932

The Artist Gardener

Gertrude Jekyll explains the difference between a garden and a collection of plants.

1908

King Edward VII 1901-1910

Introduction

Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932) provided designs for over four hundred gardens across the country, often in collaboration with architect Sir Edward Lutyens (1869-1944). In ‘Colour in the Flower Garden,’ Jekyll explained the difference between a mere collection of plants and a true garden.

by Gertrude Jekyll 1843-1932

abridged

I AM strongly of opinion that the possession of a quantity of plants, however good the plants may be themselves and however ample their number, does not make a garden; it only makes a collection. Merely having them, or having them planted unassorted in garden spaces, is only like having a box of paints from the best colourman, or, to go one step further, it is like having portions of these paints set out upon a palette.

This does not constitute a picture; and it seems to me that the duty we owe to our gardens and to our own bettering in our gardens is so to use the plants that they shall form beautiful pictures; and that, while delighting our eyes, they should be always training those eyes to a more exalted criticism; to a state of mind and artistic conscience that will not tolerate bad or careless combination or any sort of misuse of plants, but in which it becomes a point of honour to be always striving for the best.

❰

1 2

❱

Précis

Gertrude Jekyll distinguished between gardening and merely collecting plants, likening the difference to that between an oil painting and colours waiting on an artist’s palette. She urged that true gardening should produce a picture that not only delights the eyes but also refines the taste, so we are always aiming for something better.

Sevens

Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.

To what did Jekyll liken a plant collection?

Suggestion

To paints waiting on an artist’s palette.

Clay Lane The Copybook