“The lesson I have thoroughly learnt, and wish to pass on to others, is to know the enduring happiness that the love of a garden gives.” Gertrude Jekyll
Sometimes the universe points you in a certain direction. Lately, for me, the direction has been to learn more about Gertrude Jekyll, a renowned British garden designer and influencer. In the past couple of weeks, I have listened to the Plant a Trillion Trees Podcast episode about Gertrude’s home Munstead Wood and participated in the Garden Conservancy webcast on the topic. Add to that, my friend Louise’s Facebook post highlighted her recent visit to Munstead Wood. See what I mean about the universe inspiring me to write about Gertrude? How could I not?
As I started to learn more about this amazing gardener and designer, I realized how much in parallel my life is to hers:
She never married and had no children. Yep, me too.
She was an artist first and loved photography. She frequently photographed her garden to study its evolution. I studied Graphic Design and painted watercolors that I sold to friends in corporate America. And I love photography. Like Gertrude, I regularly record what’s going on in my garden and even make a garden calendar each year that features my favorite images.
Gertrude didn’t start designing gardens until she was in her 50s. I started doing design full time at 55.
And there’s more.
Gertrude liked making gardens sustainable. She enjoyed utilizing common plants and native plants with ornamentals for the best effect and used combinations to create a connection to place. She understood the concept of the ‘right plant, right place’ and shared practical and attainable advice, always working in collaboration with nature. She utilized texture and color combinations in a remarkable way and with careful orchestration and attention to detail. Generous in spirit, she inspired many others to give gardening a go and happily shared plants and knowledge with others. She viewed herself as a working amateur and learned by doing, using her own garden as a trial space. In her writings she employed a conversational style. Check. Check. Check.
Gertrude designed many of her gardens without ever visiting a site. Garden design by mail order if you will. Funny then (or perhaps just expected), that I have also designed gardens remotely for folks in Virginia and Massachusetts.
Gertrude designed over 400 gardens, yet hardly any remain. Even her own is in a state of disrepair and overgrown. How wonderful it is that the National Trust utilized its own funds to purchase Gertrude’s home in 2023 and plans to make it available to the public at some point in the future.
Katherine Mills, who manages the property and project said about $9 million in funds are needed to restore the home and garden and make it into a place that will instill a spirit that includes learning, collaboration, creativity, influence and equality. The vision includes using the space to offer internships for aspiring gardens and places of refuge for those needing to restore mental health through a career that involves interacting with nature. You can follow their progress here or donate if you feel so inclined.
Gertrude Jekyll, I thank you. Thank you for inspiring me to learn about you and your far-reaching influence. Thank you for validating my path. I appreciate that you instilled in me ‘the love of gardening as a seed that once sown never dies.”