Charlotte Jewell is the founder and the force behind Jewell Gardens. It was her vision, inspired by Skagway’s history as the “Garden City of Alaska”, and numerous Skagway gardeners who lead the way as mentors and friends.
Charlotte was born in Southeastern Pennsylvania and raised on a dairy farm about an hour west of Philadelphia. Both of her grandmothers, who loved flowers and gardens, were raised in England, the most garden-loving country in the world, with more gardens open to the public than anywhere else.
After graduating with an Art degree from Kutztown University, Charlotte came north with friends to Alaska in 1974. She lived in Anchorage where she worked as a whale bone and Ivory carver until she came to Skagway in 1976, wholesaling her work.
In 1980, Charlotte opened a gift shop in the center of town selling her work and also bedding plants for the local gardeners. She planted and maintained flowers in the business district in front of shops, the bank, the post office, the bars, and at the cruise ship docks. In the early 80’s Charlotte organized the Skagway Garden Club and was the President for several years.
In 1996 Charlotte leased a portion of the original Henry Clark Homesite to create Jewell Gardens and provide Skagway with the beauty of flowers and fresh organic vegetables. Jewell Gardens has never used a synthetic non organic herbicides or pesticides on the site.
Charlotte called Skagway home for 38 years, she met her husband Jim here and raised their son Max in this beautiful Alaskan paradise.
Max is the current owner of Jewell Gardens and is keeping Jewell Gardens the thriving environment his mother envisioned with new, fresh, and inventive ideas.
A few of our favorite links:
Charlotte always said - gardening is in her blood. She could not imagine living without plants, surrounded by them, propagating and enjoying them in her home.