Gardening writer Ursula Buchan has combined forces with garden photographer Andrew Lawson to explore the English garden and capture its richness and diversity. Focusing on gardens that are open to visitors, she explains the historical trends and the work of garden makers of the past that have shaped the English gardens we see today. With a wealth of outstanding examples, illustrated with 350 photographs, she describes many garden styles – formality, the landscape tradition, the Arts and Crafts style, the cottage garden and recent phenomena such as New Naturalism. Color, water, ornament and foreign influences are among the themes she considers, as well as such defining characteristics as the very English urge to grow flowers and the nation's love of roses.
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Editorial Reviews
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Buchan has done a brilliant job in boxing and coaxing the vast sweep of English garden history into an engaging narrative. -- Anna Pavord Independent This immaculately produced survey of the country's most beautiful gardens is armchair garden-visiting at its best. Sunday Telegraph Captures the essential delight of the English garden in its now myriad forms ... for anyone planning a gardening tour of England, this book would be invaluable. Washington Post A beautiful milestone of a book ... an excellent capture of the English garden at the turn of the 21st century. Old House Interiors
About the Author
Ursula Buchan is an award-winning garden journalist and author of more than 20 years' experience. After Cambridge University, she trained as a gardener at the Royal Horticultural Society's gardens at Wisley and at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. She has presented two series on flower shows for Channel 4 and has appeared on BBC radio. She writes regularly on gardens for the Daily Telegraph and the Spectator and has published many books. As well as being a distinguished garden photographer - he holds the Royal Horticultural Society's Gold Medal for photography - Andrew Lawson is a painter, a passionate and knowledgeable gardener, and author of several successful gardening books. To visit Andrew Lawson's website click here
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
For the price (even at Amazon's discount) I expected the photos to be a better quality, perhaps a little glossy too. The photos are beautiful but they actually look better on line when you view Amazon's peak inside. In the book the pictures look like the copies I get from an in-jet printer of my old family photos. Not as sharp and clear as the original.
If you are looking for inspiration and excellent instructions on how to create an English Garden then I recommend Ursula's other book- "The Ultimate Garden Book For North America."
This one is a great coffee table book. You and your guests will enjoy looking at it once in a while. There are phtotos on almost every page. However, I don't think it will be very useful if you want to update or create a new room in your garden.
At the end of each chapter there is a list of gardens in England that you can visit for the particular theme.
The Chapters are titled as follows:
1. Formal Bones (60 pages)
2. Floral Exuberance (52 pages)
3. The Landscape Tradition (30 pages)
4. The Country Garden (36 pages)
5. Gardening with Nature (26 pages)
6. Influences from Abroad (22 pages)
7. Ornament in the Garden (32 pages)
8. Water, Water Everywhere (30 pages)
9. The English Rose (20 pages)
10. The Kitchen Garden ( 28 pages)
11. The Contemporary Garden (28 pages)
Notes (20 pages)
If you are looking for inspiration and excellent instructions on how to create an English Garden then I recommend Ursula's other book- "The Ultimate Garden Book For North America."
This one is a great coffee table book. You and your guests will enjoy looking at it once in a while. There are phtotos on almost every page. However, I don't think it will be very useful if you want to update or create a new room in your garden.
At the end of each chapter there is a list of gardens in England that you can visit for the particular theme.
The Chapters are titled as follows:
1. Formal Bones (60 pages)
2. Floral Exuberance (52 pages)
3. The Landscape Tradition (30 pages)
4. The Country Garden (36 pages)
5. Gardening with Nature (26 pages)
6. Influences from Abroad (22 pages)
7. Ornament in the Garden (32 pages)
8. Water, Water Everywhere (30 pages)
9. The English Rose (20 pages)
10. The Kitchen Garden ( 28 pages)
11. The Contemporary Garden (28 pages)
Notes (20 pages)
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Benedictus
Format:Hardcover
I bought this book at a discounted price.
In my view, it offers very good value for money. Not only Andrew Lawson's photograph are very inspiring, but the entire book is meant to intruduce the reader to the idea that an English Garden can be much more varied and original than the conventional "idea" of garden most of us have.
Several types of garden are described, from more traditional to very modern ones, from relatively modest to sumptuous, and also focusing on the use of particular elements like, say, water.
I found most interesting (for English residents) that the book is mainly focused on gardens open to visitors. This makes the beauty and glory of such places truly, because physically, "accessible" to the reader, more accessible in fact than the book could ever achieve.
I do not have many books on gardens, I like them but they are not one of my main interests. Still, this and another book I have bought on the subject are enough to plunge me in the world of gardens everytime I feel like it, with great personal satisfaction. The fact that I did not feel the need to look for additional books is the testimony that I have already found what I was looking for.
Whilst I do not know whether this book would completely satisfy the expert or avid connoisseur, in my eyes it certainly addresses all the needs of the non-specialised reader, providing a pleasant experience both in the text and in the (beautiful) photographs.
In my view, it offers very good value for money. Not only Andrew Lawson's photograph are very inspiring, but the entire book is meant to intruduce the reader to the idea that an English Garden can be much more varied and original than the conventional "idea" of garden most of us have.
Several types of garden are described, from more traditional to very modern ones, from relatively modest to sumptuous, and also focusing on the use of particular elements like, say, water.
I found most interesting (for English residents) that the book is mainly focused on gardens open to visitors. This makes the beauty and glory of such places truly, because physically, "accessible" to the reader, more accessible in fact than the book could ever achieve.
I do not have many books on gardens, I like them but they are not one of my main interests. Still, this and another book I have bought on the subject are enough to plunge me in the world of gardens everytime I feel like it, with great personal satisfaction. The fact that I did not feel the need to look for additional books is the testimony that I have already found what I was looking for.
Whilst I do not know whether this book would completely satisfy the expert or avid connoisseur, in my eyes it certainly addresses all the needs of the non-specialised reader, providing a pleasant experience both in the text and in the (beautiful) photographs.
By Babs
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
A larger coffee table-size book with beautiful, colorful photographs of a variety of English gardens, it has interesting, easily readable descriptions/details of each garden and its history. For all who love England, gardens, and inspiring ideas, it's the perfect book!
By Tom West
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book I purchased from Amazon is exactly as advertised. It is not a scholarly work, but the author knows her subject well, and discusses and explains it in easy-to-read language. Her remarks are appropriate to the purpose of the book. The illustrations fit well with the text and are remarkable in their scope and beauty. It is a very good price for a book of this quality.
By cat-bear
Format:Hardcover
anyone interested in garden design will love this, Andrew Lawson's photos are artfully composed and printing of high quality, Ursula Buchan's narrative is informative and piques interest in further exploration of various gardens. Together they've produced a beautiful work highlighting both the tradition and whimsy of English gardens. highly recommended for gardeners, Anglophiles, or anyone who enjoys fine photography.
By A. M. Wagner
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The only thing lacking were photos of Renishaw Hall's gardens! Especially the follies! But a great start on a broad subject. :)
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I received my book the day prior to the projected delivery date in top class condition.
I must let everyone know if you happen to love gardens then this is one book you must have. The pictures are just astonishingly beautiful and those who put this book together have taken great care in ensuring the location of these incredible gardens (true works of art) is clear for the reader to see.
A wonderful wonderful book!!!
I must let everyone know if you happen to love gardens then this is one book you must have. The pictures are just astonishingly beautiful and those who put this book together have taken great care in ensuring the location of these incredible gardens (true works of art) is clear for the reader to see.
A wonderful wonderful book!!!
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By S. C. Karim
Format:Hardcover
gorgeous book - made the perfect gift to my sister-in-law who is an avid gardener and loves english garden design
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 92
books:
See all 92 books this book cites
- Gertrude Jekyll: A Vision of Wood and Garden by Judith B. Tankard on page 33, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Wood And Garden by Gertrude Jekyll on page 156, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The English Flower Garden by William Robinson on page 83, page 100, and page 175
- Wood and Garden by Gertrude Jekyll on page 156, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- We Made a Garden (Royal Horticultural Society Classic Garden Writers) by Margery Fish in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 92 books this book cites
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