Customer Reviews

Balinese Gardens

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are some very nice glossy photos in here, but once I got it home and started studying it, the disappointment set in. The book heavily features hotel gardens, and I mean the massive gardens like the Bali Hyatt, not the intimate, small hotel gardens like the Tandjung Sari's.

It is good that the editor includes photos of some of Bali's most interesting gardens, such as Tirta Gangga, Walter Spies' Tjampuhan residence, and several sites designed by Made Wijaya, but these photos do not always do the places justice (strange angles, views of the gardens that do not show their best aspects). I concede that the exception to this is the section devoted to the gardens of the Batujimbar estate, which is the second best part of this book. But many of the photos left me wanting more variety, smaller margins (larger actual photos), and better angles.

The best chapter is Traditional Gardens in Bali, but again the photos are often disappointingly small. And, from this chapter, conspicuously absent, were photos of Ubud's Agung Rai Museum gardens and any number of single-family (not sacred, public, or hotel) Balinese gardens.

Somewhat useful is the chapter on Balinese plants, but because it lacks stats like height and shade / sun preferences, it is not great as a reference for the person interested in some serious landscaping or plant identification.

Text does have interesting tidbits about garden history, thanks to contributor Adrian Vickers (and, for the Ubud text, William Warren).

Visually, not as bold as "style" books can and should be. I put other books on my coffee table.

This richly illustrated production captures the natural landscape and manmade gardens of Bali in 250 sumptuous color photos by renowned international photographer Luca Invernizzi Tettoni. The first half of the book walks us right through the Garden of Eden, past rushing rivers and volcanic mountains to Bali's flourishing profusion of plants, flowers, fruits, palaces, temples, pavilions, and traditional village gardens. Landscape designer William Warren calls in specialists to provide ecological and cultural information to complement the riotous, full-page photographical/geographical orgies. Bali's natural beauty leaps out at you from every page--exotic hothouse hibiscus, bougainvillea and frangipani flowers, sacred springs, rice paddies, and ornamental sculptures. The book uncovers the Balinese people at home in their lush green environment: we see the deeply engrained Balinese reverence for nature and its role in and impact on their culture. Nature informs and underlies the widespread (animist-based) religious beliefs and practices on Bali: as an example, the waringin or banyan tree, as the sacred abode of spirits, is considered to be an auspicious spot to construct a temple or shrine.
The rest of the book shifts focus to explore contemporary residential, restaurant, and hotel garden construction, plant life, and decoration (the Bali Hyatt at Sanur has its own chapter). The authors also do full justice to the island's naturally spectacular ravines, lotus ponds, waterfalls, and sacred pools. Balinese Gardens gives us a special final treat: a tour of modern horticultural masterpieces in Ubud, the island's center of art and creativity. These new gardens (of wealthy expatriates) exude special charm and beauty with jungle-like plantings of teak, mahogany, tamarind, avocado, mangosteen, durian, and breadfruit. Warren proves that landscape art can successfully imitate (and compete) with nature in a superb Balinese dance of visual perfection

This is the source of book if u need a good reference of Bali gardens (or any TROPICAL LUSH gardens). Enough for someone who wants to make the garden looks tropical. Plenty of pictures and good text. Anyone interested in the tropical garden style should buy this one.

Very few books are available giving information on the Balinese style of gardening. This is strange as flowers and gardens are so much part of the Balinese culture. Balinese Gardens, text by William Warren and others and wonderful photographs taken by Luca Invernizzi Tettoni, is a perfect coffee table book. But after reading the vivid accounts of the famous gardens of both hotels and private gardens, I realise that it is more than a coffee table book. There are wonderful pictures also of the natural areas of this Island Bali, the Garden of Paradise

Bali's challenging and wild landscape nonetheless lends to cultivated gardens, with its abundance of rain making for a natural watering system and its hot climate encouraging many flowers. Landscape gardener/author William Warren introduces Bali and its landscapes: while one might think his gardening observations largely specific to the region, any who live in a hot, humid, rain-abundance climate will find plenty of insights and tips for both design and Balinese influence - tips easily transportable to a similar environmental condition, making this a top pick for Florida and other areas with tropical environments and libraries strong in gardening inspiration.

Diane C. Donovan

California Bookwatch

This very large and beautifully printed book is a stand out in our library of tropical paradises. It offers a very nice overview of the entire country, the culture and some of the exotic gardens, both large and small, that grace what must be a real Garden of Eden. Many of the photos also identify some of the plants in the image but to do so entirely would dictate another page of descriptions because of the sheer number of varieties shown. There is also a great deal of very informative information about the people who created and/or designed not only the gardens but also some of the homes and resorts. I have actually only skimmed over the text of the book but the photos alone are well worth twice the price. If you're planning a tropical garden, greenhouse or just a room, this book will give you ideas and inspirations to nearly overpower your dreams. An absolute visual feast!

Reflects everything that you will see Bali. From it's rich culture to the spectacular gardens.