Robinson, William

An Irish gardener and horticultural writer. William Robinson was born in Ireland and was a student at Glasnevin. In 1861 he moved to London and worked in Regent's Park. In 1867 William Robinson visited France and wrote a book of Gleanings from French Gardens (1868) which criticized the formality of French gardens but praised the naturalness of the 'sub-tropical' bedding. This led him to write on using hardy plants in natural arrangements and then to a successful book on The Wild Garden (1870). William Robinson became friends with Gertrude Jekyll and an advocate of using exotic plants in a naturalistic 'Arts and Crafts' manner. Robinson also admired J C Loudon. William Robinson's own garden at Gravetye Manor became the best example of his taste. It is now an exclusive hotel. There are five chapters from William Robinson's Wild Garden on the Garden History Reference Encyclopedia CD.