Shocking Beauty [Hardcover]

Thomas Hobbs (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1999

"Portable Drama," "Staging Incidents," "Zonal Denial" - all these and more concepts presented by iconoclastic and trend-setting garden visionary Thomas Hobbs in this challenging, cutting-edge book on innovative garden design. Using examples from exceptional gardens throughout North America and Europe, Hobbs shows how freeing up the mind from the bonds of conventional garden design concepts can result in gardens of singular allure. Hobbs attests that we can learn from Nature how best to blend color, texture, and species of plants to create beauty in the garden. Luxuriantly illustrated with over 190 striking four-color photographs, this thought-provoking book is a fount of ideas you can use to invigorate your garden's visual appeal.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...illustrated with scores of photos...jaw dropping moments can be caused by gardens that look deceptively simple and natural." -- Knight Ridder Newspapers

"More than 200 photos will keep you turning the same pages again and again...a must see gardening book." -- The Sacramento Bee

"The nearly two hundred color photographs in Shocking Beauty provide plenty of detail, inspiration, and sheer beauty." -- Pacific Horticulture Magazine

"Thomas Hobbs' words are as empowering as the photographs of unexpected plant combinations, striking colors, and unconventional garden scenes." -- House Beautiful Magazine

About the Author

Thomas Hobbs, internationally known impresario of garden and floral design, is proprietor of Southlands Nursery in Vancouver, Canada. His private garden has been featured in many prominent gardening magazines. A frequent media commentator on gardening matters, Hobbs has spoken before gardening groups and professional associations throughout North America.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Periplus Editions; Hardcover with Jacket edition (September 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9625935428
• ISBN-13: 978-9625935423
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 10.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #782,372 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is simply beautiful!, October 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Shocking Beauty (Hardcover)

The photographs in this book live up to the title from the cover photograph that brings out the hortisexual in all of us (uncontrolled lust for plants) to the plants and gardens selected and showcased. Plants of interest are well identified as are the gardens in which they grow. The text is clear and interesting and readable. Many "old" and easily attainable plants are shown in new combinations that will inspire gardeners to rearrange yet again. SHOCKING BEAUTY is a pleasure to read and makes a wonderful gift. Kudos to the photographers, too: Tom Hobbs, David McDonald, Jerry Harpur, Charles Price, Glenn Withey and Allan Mandell. Nice job!

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a book you can judge by the cover, March 7, 2005

By 

Carolyn Rampone "Carolyn D'Amico Rampone" (Plantation, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shocking Beauty (Hardcover)

Shocking Beauty" goes beyond gardening and straight to inspirational.
The unusual pairing of plants and color combinations give you the courage to think out of the box. Thomas Hobbs has a vision that can be a little intimidating at first but that quickly passes when you realize you can re-create this beauty if you keep your mind open and away from the home improvement store's plant shop. Quality gardens like these require quality plants that are rarely found outside of the small nurseries and catalogs. Don't skimp if you want anything that resembles what you'll find between these pages.
Both "Shocking Beauty" and Hobbs' "The Jewel Box Garden" are essential for any gardener.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful gardens, good ideas and a dose of snobbery, December 4, 2004

By 

Doss Woods (Stanford, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shocking Beauty (Hardcover)

Hobbes states on page 4 that "A total lack of inspiration is a sign of laziness" and "Lazy people should not garden because they end up demonstrating their nature publicly." A very harsh judgement indeed - and very sad for the experimental gardener. He continues to congratulate himself throughout the book, which is unnecessary because he designs beautiful gardens.

On the other hand, the photos are beautiful - albeit some with the obvious help of alterations made by a computer and not the gardener.

Hobbes does share lovely ideas that can easily be taken to your own garden and used no matter what your budget and size considerations. I particularly like the good descriptions of the plantings in the photos and the wide variety of settings. Solutions are simple in these gardens and they are beautiful at the same time. He challenges us to try new groupings of colors and shapes (I guess only in the framework of his idea of "vision").

If you love beautiful, expensive books of gardens that can give you good ideas, this book can be worth every penny. I am not sorry I bought it.