Bisgrove: The Gardens of Gertrude Jekyll

Richard Bisgrove

Special photography by Andrew Lawson

This classic book tells you all you would wish to know about Gertude Jekyll's genius as a garden designer. Like Rosamund Wallinger (see review of Gertrude Jekyll's Lost Garden), Richard Bisgrove has gone back to Jekyll's original drawings, many of which are now archived in the USA, and which have been enhanced here as new watercolours.

In this lavishly produced book, the author explains how Gertrude Jekyll set about establishing the character of the garden. By reference to gardens designed by Jekyll. and by gardens inspired by her work, Bisgrove provides a marvellously detailed chronicle of every aspect of her work. There are chapters on the formal garden, such as at Hestercombe, the rose garden (with descriptions of Little Aston and Sandbourne), as well as her designs with shrubs in gardens in London, Surrey and Ohio.

Bisgrove devotes an entire chapter to Jekyll's glorious constructions of borders of hardy flowers and in particular to those at Munstead Wood (‘a masterpiece of artistic imagination and technical skill') with illustrations from Hidcote and Brackenbrough in Cumbria.

Many will be interested in the chapter on wild gardens, with descriptions from Monkswood and Little Aston and may wish to go to Upton Grey (when it is open) to see the only truly restored wild garden by Jekyll in this country. A final chapter gives guidance on plants which Jekyll particularly liked.

SM April 2000
*****
200pp 100 colour photographs, 45 watercolours £25.00
0-7112-0746-1 Published by Frances Lincoln
Published 1992

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Books of related interest: Gertrude Jekyll's Lost Garden - The Restoration of an Edwardian Masterpiece by Rosamund Wallinger