Helena Rutherfurd Ely

Helena Ely Fairchild (née Rutherfurd;

September 28, 1858 – May 18, 1920) was an American amateur gardener, founding member of the Garden Club of America, and writer, whose three books influenced American and British gardeners to avoid Victorian formal gardens in favor of plantings that embodied an "informal and sensual style." She focused on planning her gardens around planting "hardy perennial plants found in the agricultural landscape."

Biography

Helena Rutherfurd was born on September 28, 1858, one of five children from the marriage of Charlotte Livingston (1825–1894) and John Rutherfurd (1810–1871), a coal and railroad industry executive, and president of the Board of Proprietors for East New Jersey and the New Jersey Historical Society.

At Meadowburn, she created formal and cottage gardens on five acres of the estate's grounds which served as the basis for a series of three books on gardening in which she favored perennials. Her first book, A Woman's Hardy Garden (1903) sold 40,000 copies and was reprinted 16 times before going out of print in 1930. The book was widely heralded as the most influential practical garden book written by an American woman.

Her books promoted an informal and sensual style, which moved away from the Victorian practice of ''bedding out'' showy annuals in formal gardens. They gave permission to individuals to do physical garden work due to her social position; and encouraged women to garden.

In 1904, Ely was one of the founding members of the Garden Club of America and was one of its first vice presidents.