Customer Reviews

On Garden Style

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I first moved into my new house (it was my first house) I read several books on garden design that would give me some kind of orientation about what to do with my back yard. It was a mess. Ms. William's book stood out (and still does) as the book that was most helpful and inspiring at the same time. It is beautifully written and well organized, and takes you through all aspects and stages of garden design, from principle to execution. Threaded throughout the book is a philosophy of restraint that I have learned is so important for the garden or any other designer who aims at the achievement of quiet beauty in his/her environment. Ms. William's book (accompanied with the beautiful prose of Nancy Drew, writer on garden life) is certainly a must have for anyone starting out in garen design, and the photographs make the book worth having for any garden enthusiast. I was shocked to see that no one had given it a five star rating till now!

I own a lot of gardening books and this is one of my all time favorites. I return to it almost every season. It's rare that a book with pretty pictures delivers on the substance and this one really does. Williams gives you a great framework for how to look at your garden, offers tons of beautiful examples and gives you lots of practical tips. Plus she realy has great taste which is unique and special as opposed to generic good taste which a lot of garden tomes support. I finally visited her garden when it was open to the public and it was even better than the book! She's extremely talented.

ON GARDEN STYLE is as fine a volume on understanding the land and the particular space that surrounds our living space and how to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Not a book of exotic places rarely related to the practicalities of even the most dream-oriented gardener, this book lovingly looks at land, at space, and at the personality of the owner and outlines and demonstrates how a space of meaning and contemplation and beauty can be accessed by even the most minimal area.

Bunny Williams, Nancy Drew, and John Roselli combine their talents in sharing ideas mulled by avid devotees of the garden and then divide this fine book into chapters that address flowers and plantings, trees, gateways, sculptural additions, colors, paths, pools - all of the aspects of creating the kind of garden about which we all dream. The photography is splendid and is well accompanied by drawings (Roselli) that transform dream into reality. The running commentary and words of wisdom by Nancy Drew are close to natural poetry.

Yet despite the very artistic aspects of this volume it is in the end a resource for transforming inspiration into reality. That is a trick few writers and illustrators have achieved. This is a must own book for every serious gardener. Grady Harp, December 06

I am an avid gardener and an avid admirer of Bunny Williams. This book was a perfect combination of both. It is filled with gorgeous gardens, but it has ideas and suggestions that will fit any size of garden or budget. I particularly loved the way that the book was organized. For example, if I want to look for ideas garden design, garden walls or containers, I can go to a chapter dedicated to the subject. When you read the book, you also have a strong sense of Ms. Williams' love for gardening and her commitment to a healthly environment. She inspires you to dig in the dirt and enjoy the glories of nature. To top it all off, it's a beautiful coffee table book that, in my house, will show that it is well used!

Bunny Williams' beautiful interior design style carries over into her personal garden style and commentary on general landscaping and garden design. I just finished reading this marvelous book last night; it is a wonderful source of practical and aesthetic ideas and will be my 'bible' when I plan my future garden.

Any book by Bunny Williams is a winner. Her intelligence is evident, her knowledge concerning the book content can't be disbuted, but what I like about her books is her warm delivery of words, You feel that she is a friend talking over the back fence. I would recommend this book to people who want to know about how to balance areas, decoration and what plants to choose for your yard.

This book is a must read. It is fabulous. Lots of helpful information. Makes you see your yard in ways you never thought of before.

I love Bunny Williams but this book is a big let-down. Maybe I was spoiled after reading "Affair with a House".

A typical garden of the rich who are possessed with image and lack of originality. The photos are very nice.