Nina
Nilsson, Faculty Subjects Coordinator for Conservation, Gardening and
Garden Design, the Department of Conservation/Dacapo at the
University of Gothenburg, is probably the first person in the world
to conduct scientific research on colour composition of flowerbeds.
She bases her research on two standard works: UK gardening pioneer
Gertrude Jekyll's book 'Colour Schemes for the Flower Garden', which
remains a best-seller almost 100 years after first being published,
and Swiss Johannes Itten's 'Kunst der Farbe', which established
'Itten's colour theory'.
Harmony
and beauty
By
applying Itten's colour theory on Jekyll's planting design schemes,
Nilsson is attempting to scientifically document the principles that
bring harmony and beauty to a flowerbed. Nilsson has tested the
theories by for example analysing the colour compositions of a number
of flower borders in the Gothenburg area. 'My research has a
pedagogical purpose. I want my work to provide guidance on how to
choose and arrange flowers in a garden', says Nilsson.
Nilsson's
experience of gardening and garden design is quite extensive, and she
has also worked with biotope studies and park design. In addition,
she has been compiling what she calls 'the gardener's knowledge
portfolio'. Nilsson will present some findings from her research at
an international gardening conference in Bologna in June.