Reveals the history and development of garden and landscape design in the 20th century by focussing on the key personalities who have shaped - and continue to form - today's taste in gardens. The 20th century was an important period when garden designers began to apply the same design principles to the smaller private garden or to public spaces as had previously been applied to country houses. From early stars such as Gertrude Jekyll, Russell Page, and Thomas Church to pivotal contemporary designers such as Jacques Wirtz, Kathryn Gustafson, Beth Chatto, and Peter Walker, this overview puts the complete spectrum of garden designers into perspective. The 56 garden and landscape designers whose work is featured in depth are organized by their prime focus - colour and decoration, plants, concept, form, structure, texture, or materials. The book is also full of anecdotes and quotes that provide a unique insight into each designer's work

Influential Gardenersreveals the history and development of garden and landscape design in the 20th century by focusing on 56 key personalities who have shaped—and continue to form—today’s taste. In the 20th century, garden and landscape designers in Europe and the United States began to apply the same design principles to smaller private garden or to public spaces as had previously been applied to country estates. From early stars such as Gertrude Jekyll, Thomas Church, and Geoffrey Jellicoe to pivotal contemporary designers such as Kathryn Gustafson, Peter Walker, and Jacques Wirtz, the garden designers celebrated here put this into perspective. A knowledge of nature and plants, as well as an aesthetic eye for color, scale, and proportion are all needed by any influential gardener. However, the designers whose work is featured in depth are organized by their prime focus—color and decoration (including Vita Sackville-West and Penelope Hobhouse), plants (including Beth Chatto and Piet Udolph), concept (including Isamu Noguchi and Martha Schwartz), form (including Frank Lloyd Wright and Ted Smyth), structure (including Russell Page and Dan Kiley), texture (including Roberto Burle Marx and Vladimir Sitta), or materials (including Gilles Clément and Topher Delaney). Andrew Wilson’s authoritative text is full of anecdotes and quotes that provide unique insight into each designer’s work, while photographs and plans showcase their masterworks. With more than 180 glorious photographs of both historic and contemporary schemes,Influential Gardenersis an essential reference book for anyone—whether a practicing garden designer or an enthusiast—who wishes to know more about the “greats” of 20th-century garden and design.

A stunning gardening book full of inspiration, tips and advice

New trade paperback - Through the stories of twenty-six inspiring figures - from 'Capability' Brown, Humphry Repton and Vita Sackville-West to lesser known figures, and present-day gardeners such as Beth Chatto and John Brookes - this book brings the colourful history of British gardening to life.

With wit and wisdom, an Oxford historian and Financial Times gardening columnist recounts his deep passion and appreciation for gardening.

In this eloquent plea for compassion and respect for all species, journalist and gardener Nancy Lawson describes why and how to welcome wildlife to our backyards. Through engaging anecdotes and inspired advice, profiles of home gardeners throughout the country, and interviews with scientists and horticulturalists, Lawson applies the broader lessons of ecology to our own outdoor spaces. Detailed chapters address planting for wildlife by choosing native species; providing habitats that shelter baby animals, as well as birds, bees, and butterflies; creating safe zones in the garden; cohabiting with creatures often regarded as pests; letting nature be your garden designer; and encouraging natural processes and evolution in the garden. The Humane Gardener fills a unique niche in describing simple principles for both attracting wildlife and peacefully resolving conflicts with all the creatures that share our world.

The Gardeners' Book is a celebration of the wonderful and ancient art of gardening, providing practical advice and inspiration on how to rejuvenate or improve an existing garden. The book includes fascinating facts, gardening lore and history, garden games, tips on how to make your garden the most impressive in the street, how to make and nurture a compost heap, when to sow a lawn and planning your garden to maximum effect. From allotment gardening and tending the topiary to greenhouses and greenfly, The Gardeners' Book will inspire and spur any gardener on to greater things.