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Discover how to recreate Japanese garden design and detail in either urban or country settings, with practical advice and stunning color photography.

*Gold Medal winner in the 2014 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award for Home & Garden* "Just flipping through the pages of Quiet Beauty: The Japanese Gardens of North America will instantly lower your blood pressure."--The New York Times Book Review Quiet Beauty: Japanese Gardens of North America is an extraordinary look at the most beautiful and serene gardens of the United States and Canada. Most Japanese garden books look to the gardens of Japan. Quiet Beauty explores the treasure trove of Japanese gardens located in North America. Featuring an intimate look at twenty-six gardens, with numerous stunning color photographs of each, that detail their style, history, and special functions, this book explores the ingenuity and range of Japanese landscaping. Japanese gardens have been part of North American culture for almost 150 years. Quiet Beauty is a thought provoking look at the history of their introduction to the world of North American gardening and how this aspect of Japanese culture has taken root and flourished. Japanese gardens include: Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California Nitobe Memorial Garden, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Japanese Garden, Fort Worth Botanic Garden, Texas Garden of the Pine Winds, Denver Botanic Gardena, Colorado Japanese Garden, Montreal Botanical Garden, Quebec Tenshin'en (The Garden of the Heart of Heaven), Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts Roji'en (Garden of Drops of Dew), The George D. and Harriet W. Cornell Japanese Gardens, The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Delray Beach, Florida Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix, Margaret T. Hance Park, Arizona Garden of the Pine Wind, Garvan Woodland Garden, Hot Springs, Arkansas

"Why do some gardens make us feel so wonderful, relaxed and refreshed? Professional landscape designer Jan Johnsen shares her passion for creating serene, enticing gardens that become outdoor havens for our spirit. Heaven is a Garden is a thoroughly entrancing garden design book that you will refer to over and over. Johnsen draws on her 40 years of experience to explore far-ranging ideas, some new, some ancient like, why a gate facing East is considered auspicious, why a sheltered corner is so alluring and why certain trees can impart a special atmosphere. Richly photographed with inspiring landscapes, this guide is written with thoughtful prose and practical advice. It reveals how, with a new/old design approach, you can create a delightful outdoor haven that everyone will enjoy. Jan Johnsen writes the popular Serenity in the Garden blog www.serenityinthegarden.blogspot.com and Facebook page." --Publisher's description.

Over the course of ten years Chris chronicles the creation of her cool-climate garden on the edge of the Blue Mountains in Hartley NSW, from bare paddock to established garden. Through flooding rains and hailstorms, droughts, impending bushfires and heat waves she takes us through the challenges and the successes, peppering the story with detailed growing advice. She describes how with an artist’s eye, hard work, passion and perseverance she designed and cultivated a flourishing environment with a perennial border, orchard, vegie patch, woodland, wisteria arbour, lavender garden, cutting garden, native heath, ponds, deciduous and flowering trees, a fairy garden, rose arbour and a rose garden with over 450 roses. Following the story of the transformation of the garden, the reader witnesses the creation of a beautiful, peaceful garden sanctuary abounding with birds, frogs and other local wildlife.

What makes a garden special? Focal points that attract the eye turn each area into a habitat of graceful beauty, and make a strong first impression. Using dozens of inspiring photographs, plus detailed drawings that provide a map of all the elements, horticulturist Tara Dillard reveals her secrets for creating dazzling arrangements that are elegant (not overdone) and maintain their loveliness all year long. Find out how to choose a theme, make a splash with color, add garden art, install effective architectural pieces and furnishings, and generate a big impact with just a little input. From trompe l’oeil (including faux doors and windows) to recreating the first garden you loved, every idea here is top-quality.

Serene Gardens reveals how the Japanese approach to design & detail can be adapted to create peaceful, contemplative gardens. A finely illustrated volume, ranging from trees & shrubs, grasses & bamboo to waterfalls, bridges, ponds, paths, & fences.