In the Footsteps of Giants
In the Footsteps of Giants brings together the current custodians of gardens created by Gertrude Jekyll, Vita Sackville-West, and Beth Chatto for intimate interviews and a wide-ranging panel discussion. Through personal insights and never-before-revealed stories, these current guardians of horticultural history: Claire Greenslade, Rebecca Lemonius and Jula Boulton, explore how each woman shaped the way we think about garden design and planting, and why their influence is as vital today as ever.
- Gertrude Jekyll and the mixed border: Discover how Jekyll revolutionized the English garden with her painterly approach to planting design, transforming the way gardeners think about color, texture, and the art of the border.
- Vita Sackville-West and the romantic garden: Explore the origins of the romantic style and the perennial planting philosophy that made Sissinghurst one of the most celebrated gardens in the world.
- Beth Chatto and “right plant, right place”: Learn how Chatto’s groundbreaking ecological approach to gardening challenged convention and gave gardeners a new framework for working with their site rather than against it.
Recorded at Charleston Festival of the Garden in July 2025