I’ve been working on my garden and watching gardening shows (more important than ever to combat climate change!), so wondered how women fared in landscape gardening history. As you might expect, although women did much of the informal gardening since time immemorial (Eve planted those apple seeds — Or so some say!), the profession of landscape architect has been mostly men and rewarded the best of them, such as Frederick Law Olmsted (Central Park, Biltmore Estate, etc.), with fame and fortune.
Women, on the other hand, were first ignored, then no landscape firms would hire them so they founded their own, then they were refused public projects so did private ones, then finally women have become accepted more or less.
Both men and women preferred residential work before 1930. During the 1920s and 30s, women started to design domestic environments, especially in the United States.
During the Great Depression, the general practice of landscape architecture was dominated by men. In the past, we commonly perceived landscape architecture as tedious, physical work hence unsuitable for women. In particular, men doubted women’s ability to survey sites and do construction work. Men began to compete with women in the area of outdoor design though some of these women had superior knowledge in garden and yard planning.
…. Even after World War II, women were not encouraged to be involved in any planning, designing, and constructing public projects. Despite contributing significantly to the landscape architectural industry, there were few renowned female practitioners.
[Diarist corrected a few typos in the above. Can’t help myself.]
Famous(ish) female landscape architects include (dates of birth provided for officebss!):
Beatrix Ferrand (born June 19, 1872): “One of the founding members and notably the only female in the American Society of Landscape Architects.” Between the start of her career in 1895 and her death in 1959, she designed about 110 gardens.
Amy Cogswell (DOB unknown): She graduated from the first US landscape architecture school from women in 1916. Little else is known about her personal life. She has no Wikipedia page! Also no reprint permissions on photos of her gardens, but her typical Colonial Revival style garden can be seen here, webb-deane-stevens.org/…
Ellen Biddle Shipman (born November 5, 1869): Known for a lush planting style, “there are not many of her works left today due to the labor-intensive style of her design.” That’s a shame. Something to remember if you want your garden to continue after you’re gone! (No worries here, I’m all about low-maintenance.) Her gardens were widespread throughout the US during her lifetime.
Marian Cruger Coffman (born September 16, 1876): Wealthy, home tutored, then admitted to MIT, graduating with a degree in architecture and landscape design. Due to her social connections and NYC business, she was one of the most sought-after landscape architects in the US in the 1920s. She chose her career over a husband. She eventually designed about 130 gardens.
For more of these stories and others, please see the links above and/or their Wiki pages. There have been pioneering women in landscape architecture and garden design around the world.