Florence Yoch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Florence Yoch
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | July 15, 1890 Santa Ana, California
|
| Died | 1972 (aged 81–82) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley Cornell University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Practice | Florence Yoch & Lucile Council |
.jpg)
Florence Yoch (born 1890, died 1972) was a famous American landscape architect. She designed beautiful gardens and outdoor spaces in California for many years, from 1915 to the 1950s. Florence created gardens for homes, parks, and even movie sets in Hollywood! One of her most famous projects was designing the grounds for Tara in the classic movie Gone with the Wind. Many people say Florence helped create a special "California style" for gardens, mixing ideas from old European gardens with California's unique feel.
Early Life and Education
Florence Yoch was born in Santa Ana, California on July 15, 1890. She was the youngest of six girls. Florence spent a lot of time outdoors as a child. Her family owned a hotel in Laguna Beach. They often traveled there by horse and buggy from their home in Santa Ana.
Laguna Beach was a lively place, full of art, theater, and gardening. Florence was inspired by the famous actress Madame Modjeska. Madame Modjeska and her husband, Count Karol Bozenta Chlapowski, were close friends of the Yoch family. Their own beautiful house and garden at Arden encouraged Florence to become a landscape designer.
Florence started college in 1910 at the University of California, Berkeley. She then studied at Cornell's College of Agriculture. She finished her degree in 1915 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Designing Amazing Gardens
After graduating, Florence Yoch immediately began designing gardens. She worked in places like Pasadena and Orange County. She was inspired by the neat, formal gardens of France. She also loved the wilder, flower-filled gardens of England. A designer named Gertrude Jekyll especially influenced her.
Florence traveled to Europe many times to sketch famous old gardens. In 1921, she hired two apprentices: Katherine Bashford and Lucile Council. Lucile Council had studied landscape architecture at both Cambridge and Oxford.
In 1925, Florence and Lucile became business partners. Their company was called Yoch & Council. They set up their office in a garden studio at Lucile's home in South Pasadena. They became very successful, designing landscapes for many clients. These clients included wealthy families in Pasadena and Santa Barbara. They also worked for famous Hollywood figures like Jack L. Warner, George Cukor, and David O. Selznick.
