Gardening with Light & Color [Hardcover]

Marylyn Abbot (Author), Marylyn Abbott (Author), Clay Perry (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2000

Her experience of nurturing gardens in both Australia and England has helped the author of this book to explore and develop theories on light and colour in the garden. Magenta, for example, a colour too heavy and draining for the garden under the glaring Australian sun, is well-suited to the shady corner of an English garden. The book encourages gardeners to reassess their favourite flowers and how they are planted, describing how a flower bed or border can be revitalized through simple observation of the light patterns and sky colours on a garden plot, and a mixing of colours.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Good gardeners already know how important the quantity of light is in garden planning; this book explores how the quality of light also contributes to landscape design. Abbott has two very different gardens on opposite sides of the world, and while designing for the disparate environments of England and Australia, she discovered how varying intensities of light affect a plant's color, and therefore its landscape uses. Often defying conventional wisdom, she recommends, for example, deep, jeweltoned flowers in dark or small spaces where they surprisingly convey richness and warmth. Her descriptions are equally evocative: massed yellow flowers mimic a "pool of melted butter," while a bed of dahlias, knautias, and lychnis resembles a "late summer Vatican meeting." Such creative imagery does not simply stand on its own merits, however, as Abbott teams with renowned photographer Perry to lavishly illustrate the book with breathtaking images. Like the best of gardens, this book is an inspiring combination of beauty and practicality. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From the Publisher

Marylyn Abbott, one of Britain and Australia¹s finest gardeners, has nurtured two gardens of very different latitudes, leading her to develop innovative theories about light, color, and planting schemes (that also work in America¹s varied climates). Now, in this superbly illustrated guide, she demonstrates the dramatic effect that light (dappled, reflected, sunlight, and shade) can have on color. Magenta, for example, a color too heavy and draining for a garden under the glaring sun, is the ideal choice for a shady plot. Encouraging gardeners to reassess their favorite flowers and how they are placed in the garden, Abbott offers a wealth of suggestions for lighting gloomy corners or intensifying them with colors of jeweled richness. Leading garden photographer Clay Perry illustrates Abbott¹s ideas in a gorgeous array of color images.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Cathie, Kyle Limited (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185626324X
• ISBN-13: 978-1856263245
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 10.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,275,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference for the Color Challenged!, July 22, 2001

By 

Nina Immers "[e-mail]" (Genoa, Nevada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gardening with Light & Color (Hardcover)

The photography in Gardening With Light & Color by Marylyn Abbot, et al is stunning! Great care is taken with the choice of light (such as time of day) the choice of film - (obviously high quality) and the speed at which the image is taken. Truly, a professional photographer, with an eye for color has collected a beautiful journal of some very well planned and groomed gardens.

The artist has an eye for structure and design.

These gardens actually sing!

Because the writer is so conscious of these design elements- they are depicted in the choice of photographs and discussed within the chapters. The size of the garden is discussed and tips to avoid Dull, dreary gardens are discussed chapter after chapter.

These gardens create a mood which will be very helpful to anyone trying to choose what they want to do with their gardening space.

Another book- that I would NOT PART WITH!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Jewel of a Book, August 31, 2003

By 

Valerie Adolph "Coast Journal" (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gardening with Light & Color (Hardcover)

Just when you think there is nothing new in the world of gardening books along comes a book that restores your faith. Marylyn Abbott's "Gardening with Light and Colour" is such a book. Ms Abbott has not one but two world class gardens - at opposite sides of the world. One is a lovly old English garden that she restored and the other is in the highlands of New South Wales, near Sydney, Australia.

The writer stated out gardening in Australia where seasons change abruptly, there are long spells of 30 degree heat and the sunlight is strong and harsh. Given the opportunity to restore an English garden blessed or cursed with the English damp and misty climate she says "I did not even have the sense to be terrified."

Where she found the energy to create and maintain, even with paid staff, TWO such gardens, and write a book I cannot imagine - but I'm glad she did. (Maybe she had nothing to do on the plane flying back and forth.) This is one of those rare boos that delivers exactly what the title promises; in this case how light and colour in two very different locations affect the choices made in landscape design and plant selection.

The writer has organized her material into eight chapters. The first five each feature a colour, or related group of colours and offer ideas on how best to incorporate them. Chapter Six, "A Rainbow Garden" is about potager gardening and working with the colours of vegetables and herbs. The last two chapters, "Light, Shade and Colour" and "Sparkling Light" talk about ways to work with the colours that already exist around the garden - the house walls, the colour of the soil, the foliage of large trees, shady places, winter light and the light reflected from water.

The tone of the book is light and conversational. The writer is knowledgeable without being infallible. She explains some of her mistakes and what she has learned from them so the reader is less likely to spend time energy and money making similar mistakes.

The illustrations are sensational, possibly the best I've seen in a gardening book. Not only are they great photography but they actually relate to he text.

This is a book both to enjoy and to learn from. Buy it for yourself or as a gift for a gardening friend..