Hello Lisa.

Welcome back to another edition of THE PENCIL CASE! As always, each issue focuses on a theme to encourage a fresh look at garden design and graphics. This week let's learn about GERTRUDE JEKYLL and a bit about her color theories. ♥︎

FROM COLOR EXPLOSION...

The 19th century is considered the point at which horticulture, and in particular, color theories reached their prime (Encyclopedia of Gardens). Prior to this the available color palette was limited, but in the 1800s a combination of plant hunters searching the world for new plants, plus advances in greenhouse technology and plant breeding created an explosion of color in the Victorian Garden. This resulted in bold, bedding-out plant schemes (tender annuals in either mass or intricate patterns). These were intensely controlled monocultural blocks and high maintenance, that made a sharp color statement in the landscape.

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When you don't have access to a lot of color, then suddenly do...why not go all out? This celebration was fabulous for most of the 19th century, then Gertrude Jekyll stepped into the scene with new ways to showcase color in the garden. 

Photo from The Manor House website.

TO COLOR HARMONY

In reaction to this intense use of color, Gertrude Jekyll, started to explore a more artful way of using color in the garden by considering color theories she had learned in art school. She did this using a mix of herbaceous perennials, rather than a monoculture of annuals.

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For instance, to create pleasing color harmony in her perennial borders, Jekyll would combine all warm colors or cool colors (next to each other on the color wheel), rather than looking for the most intense combinations (opposite on the color wheel).

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Jekyll also enjoyed using color to build up to a focal point by using cooler colors at one end of a border, then build up to warmer colors, then finally red to catch your eye in the middle, then continue down the border back to cooler colors again (The History of Landscape Design in 100 Gardens). 

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Jekyll's color theories are only part of the story. What made her impactful was her knowledge of both art and horticulture. Rather than only using a monoculture of tender annuals, she was able to orchestrate an herbaceous perennial border that considered the fleeting nature of color, plus incorporated form and texture. These are common considerations today, but at the time revolutionary.

Image from The Manor House website.

GERTRUDE JEKYLL INSPIRATION

I began this journey towards color in the garden while researching for an upcoming talk for the Association of Professional Landscape Designers called GARDEN COLOR CHRONICLES. It takes place later this month on March 28. Hope you can join me as I continue to learn about this topic.

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Jekyll wrote many books and articles on color theory, but one of her most famous books is: COLOUR IN THE FLOWER GARDEN.

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Two recent books you might also enjoy include:

GARDENS OF THE ARTS + CRAFTS MOVEMENT

THE HISTORY OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN IN 100 GARDENS

Photo from the Hestercombe Gardens website.

LET'S DO THIS! 

How do you incorporate color into your garden? Please share with me via Instagram or hit reply to this email. I'd love to hear from you.

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If you want to explore garden design topics and be part of an awesome community we'd love to have you join us in the GARDEN DESIGN COLLECTIVE when it reopens this May. One of our summer topics will be monochromatic color schemes. Yay!

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If you know someone that needs design inspiration, please feel free to share this newsletter. Anyone can subscribe right here. I also keep a VAULT of past issues in this secret location.

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Thanks for letting me visit your inbox. I can't wait to see you again soon!

Cheers,

Lisa 

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PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP

Thank you to Mandy Orgler for designing the lovely graphics in this newsletter.