Post 9

Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyens were two brilliant minds and gardeners who came together to form a partnership that would largely influence the arts and crafts movement. This movement came about out of a need to stray from traditional Victorian style gardening as well as from the industrialized London lifestyle. This approach was naturalistic combined with a high level of craftsmanship.

            Jekyll grew up in London and it was this childhood home that inspired her to start designing gardens. Jekyll was also trained professionally as a painter and because of this she had an understanding of how colors were suppose to play together. This allowed her to excel in combining colors and plants in painting like ways.

            Edwin Lutyens, like Jekyll, grew up around his passion. He was always sketching and drawing the landscape around his home. This passion grew into a business and he became one of the most well-known and greatest British architects. The pair took both of their talents and collaborated them to create outstanding gardens.

            Their gardens inspired a whole new generation of gardens. When they designed together they did it only for a specific locations. Their gardens usually contain certain content like rectangular flower borders and drifts. Jekyll was particularly fond of an herbaceous border and is accredited for its popularity.

            One of their most well known collaborations was the Hestercombe house. This house was known for it’s bold patterned layout and the flower details. The garden uses contrast and patterns as well as a water garden and a pergola to created a harmony of wild and tame, structured and natural and is a great representation of the arts and crafts garden.

For more information please visit : http://www.the-secretgardens.co.uk/lutyens-jekyll/

Picture 1: http://www.edinburgharchitecture.co.uk/edwin-lutyens-house 

Picture 2: http://www.tustinlandscaping.com/16.html

Picture 3: http://jimtheobscuredotcom.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/munstead-plan1.jpg

Picture 4: http://blogmedia.designpublic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/gjtwo.jpg
Picture 5: http://ookaboo.com/o/pictures/picture/13341964/The_Great_plat_in_Hestercombe_Gardens_de