Home and Garden: Notes and Thoughts, Practical and Critical, of a Worker in Both

by Gertrude Jekyll

Gertrude Jekyll (1843–1932), the distinguished and influential garden designer of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, originally trained as an artist but later turned her hand to craftwork, gardening, and plant collecting and breeding. During her career she collaborated with distinguished architects such as Sir Edwin Lutyens and reached a popular audience through the publication of articles in newspapers and magazines such as William Robinson's The Garden. Jekyll's second book, first published in 1890, is a collection of her advice and reflections on a range of topics, particularly those relating to her own home, Munstead Wood. It contains chapters on particular plants, and gives guidance on projects such as building rock gardens, as well as more idiosyncratic pieces on her cats, or the importance of one's own tools. Jekyll's informal tone and the range of topics discussed make this a fascinating work of social and gardening history.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

404 pages, Paperback

Published December 22, 2011

About the author

Gertrude Jekyll was an influential British garden designer, writer, and artist. She created over 400 gardens in the UK, Europe and the USA and contributed over 1,000 articles to Country Life, The Garden and other magazines.

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of book to dip into rather than read straight through. I've been reading two or three chapters a day. Jekyll shares her thoughts on everything from house design to the best plants for dry soils, via articles on potpourri making, spring walks and pet cats! This book has really deepened my appreciation for Jekyll as a person, not just a garden designer. She was clearly a woman of many talents, thoughtful, intelligent and kindly too. I loved her description of the 'cats' tea party' she arranged to entertain a small niece. She must have been a wonderful auntie, although I expect she didn't have much patience with fools!

[Ruth Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun look into English gardening a century ago. The author has no qualms about sharing her strong opinions about certain plants and planting methods. I really liked her idea that certain places need certain plants. She also likes to see large swaths planted in the same plant. The chapter on her cats was delightful!