About the Book
A valuable and inspiring resource for advanced and beginner gardeners alike.
"Paging through the exquisite photographs in this coffee-table book is like being given a sneak peek into some of the world's most gorgeous private outdoor space."
-- Publishers Weekly
"If you buy Mom one garden book for Mother's Day, make it this one."
-- National Post
With sales of 25,000 and now back in print, Garden Design is an essential purchase for all retail and library garden collections. It is a must-have visual reference for garden owners, with over 600 images of gardens and garden elements along with incisive advice on garden design. Through the pictures and words, it takes readers from concept to execution of a personalized garden built on sound design principles.
The sample gardens shown are large and small, urban and rural, and in a wide range of styles. Every aspect of designing a garden is explored, from assessing a property to choosing a style, selecting the right components, such as landscaping and boundaries, and tackling more challenging spaces. A gallery of 22 case studies further illustrates how to design a personal paradise.
Each chapter instructs on numerous related topics and presents illustrative case studies:
Basics: Where, Why and What: A Question of Style; Contemporary Design; Classical Design; Natural Design
The Components
Structure: The Backbone of a Garden; Paths and Drives; Patios and Terraces; Enclosure and Barriers
Shaping the Garden: Greenery and Flowers; Furnishing the Garden
Difficult Plots and Tricks of the Trade.
The lavish spreads address topics such as paved patios and offer a variety of photographs in different styles with concise practical text. Case studies inspire with imagery and information.
Garden Design: A Book of Ideas is an ideal resource for the home gardener. It will continue to inspire as the garden matures and changes over the seasons and years.
About the Author :
Heidi Howcroft worked as a landscape architect in Germany for many years. She is the author of over 20 books covering a wide range of garden topics. She lives in Somerset, UK.
Marianne Majerus is one of the world's finest garden photographers. She is a regular contributor to many publications, including House and Garden and The Wall Street Journal. She has illustrated more than 50 books. Her numerous awards include International Garden Photographer of the Year 2010 and Garden Media Guild Garden Photographer of the Year 2011. She lives in London, UK.
Review :
[Review of hardcover edition: ] Filled with [24] real-life case studies, 600 photographs and concise text, Garden Design: A Book of Ideas is the ultimate resource for garden inspiration and practical advice. Giving clear instructions for creating gardens in spaces big or small, urban or rural, tips take you through the entire process from assessing the garden situation, developing a design, installing components and dressing the space. With clearly laid out contents and plant recommendations throughout you will be admiring your personal dream garden in no time.-- "West of the City" (3/1/2015 12:00:00 AM)
[Review of hardcover edition: ] If you buy Mom one garden book for Mother's Day, make it this one. The coffee table book features [24] rarely exhibited real life case studies and over 600 brilliant images of a variety of lush gardens rich with detail, teaching gardeners that there isn't just one way to design. Outstanding photography accompanies Howcroft's advice; luxurious gardens are lit and shaded against sunsets, frost, mist and dew linger vividly against trees and shrubbery, while the scent of moistened soil, fresh grass and bark seem to radiate off the page. From urban to rural this is garden porn fit for any mom with a green thumb.--Sadaf Ahsan "National Post" (5/9/2015 12:00:00 AM)
[Review of hardcover edition: ] If you're dreaming up designs for your garden, there's a new book to help, and it is excellent. It is "Garden Design: A Book of Ideas". All aspects of design elements are covered with loads of beautiful colour photographs. It's a perfect resource book for the landscape architect or garden designer.--David Hobson "Waterloo Region Record" (3/7/2015 12:00:00 AM)
[Review of hardcover edition: ] In an age of sensory overload, authors Howcraft and Majerus found a successful way to reach out to readers. They created a refreshing visual reference book to introduce ideas to a new generation of garden owners, architects and designers who desire to know more, while reading less in order to focus on what is relevant to their needs. The result is an enchanting sourcebook of ideas containing 600 inspiring photographs and 24 case studies. Ms. Howcroft uses comprehensive but lean text to encapsulate each garden design concept while Ms. Majerus adds precise photo-examples to elaborate. Every aspect of garden design is explored from assessing a location, evaluating the soil, choosing a style for inspiration, selecting plants and hardscape elements to tackling challenging spaces. Readers will find useful, effective treatments for their garden design needs regardless where they live. Images of professionally designed settings have been collected and categorized from a wide variety of sources to inspire urban folk, weekend suburbanites and countryside dwellers. The authors include ideas for contemporary gardens, classically defined landscapes and naturalistic meadows. Whether one's home is a cabin or a castle, whether the locale is family friendly, cocktail party serene or BBQ informal, the suggestions offered are adaptable to most locales and budgets. If you're planning a new garden or refreshing an older one, add this book to your must-read list; after it has inspired the creation of the garden of your dreams, place it where it can be admired by gardening colleagues. It's that beautiful.--Allan Becker "Allan Becker Garden Guru Blog" (4/15/2015 12:00:00 AM)
[Review of hardcover edition: ] It is, as the subtitle indicates, "a book of ideas" waiting to be imitated since imitation is believed to be the sincerest form of flattery. Pictorial subjects include, among many other topics, an all-season kitchen garden, prairie homage, contemporary rose parterre, slope gardening, walls and entranceways. The photos are large, lush, color-saturated and worth the price of admission.--William Scheik "Seeds" (5/6/2015 12:00:00 AM)
[Review of hardcover edition: ] The authors of this essential book provide solid content, as well as visual inspiration, to suggest a style of garden that represents our individual tastes. Leaving no stone unturned, the basic aspects of true garden design are touched upon in what I would call a "garden journey" book. Heidi Howcroft and Marianne Majerus give the reader absolutely superb visual content on the options available when considering crafting your personal space... I recommend this book not just because the photos are absolutely stunning, but because the content, from cover to cover provides easy-to-understand, worthwhile information that one can use, no matter the level of gardening experience. Whether you are designing a new garden or enhancing a familiar one, this is a great book to have on the reference shelf.--Teresa Speight "Washington Gardener" (2/1/2016 12:00:00 AM)
[Review of hardcover edition: ] The impact of this gorgeous book rests in the richly lustrous photographs that fill every page. The photos, all numbered and described in concise detail, teach and inspire. They propose replies to key questions: What do I want from my garden? What are my choices in path coverings? Plants featured in the photos are identified, which is important for gardeners with an eye out for new and interesting additions and plant combinations for their landscapes.--Helen Chesnut "Times-Colonist" (3/14/2015 12:00:00 AM)
[Review of hardcover edition: ] This collaboration between U.K.-based Howcroft, a landscape architect and author of more than 20 books, and award-winning garden photographer Majerus will make readers want to take a long walk in a fragrant garden. Without any hint of didacticism, Howcroft presents a wide range of garden spaces with the aim of inspiring gardeners and showing the breadth of possibility for beauty and diversity in outdoor spaces. The text encourages would-be gardeners to consider the location and soil type, the surrounding architecture, and their goals for the garden. It presents a series of case studies, showing different gardens and how and why they achieve their beauty and distinctive style. Paging through the exquisite photographs in this coffee-table book is like being given a sneak peek into some of the world's most gorgeous private outdoor spaces. It includes sections on types of paving, enclosures, garden furniture, and art. This book will inspire readers to envision what is possible even in the smallest, most improbable spaces.-- "Publishers Weekly" (2/3/2015 12:00:00 AM)
[Review of hardcover edition: ] Whether you live in an urban apartment or a country cottage, Garden Design: A Book of Ideas will help you effectively plan the space you have. You'll find guidance on everything from selecting plants for soil type and seasonality to materials for paths, walls, and garden art. A series of case studies further illustrates how to design your personal paradise.--Amy G. McDermott "American Gardener" (9/1/2015 12:00:00 AM)
A vital book for all your gardening needs and questions. You will refer to it often during the growing season for inspiration... Every page boasts a new idea and concept you will enjoy duplicating, giving you challenges in your own garden. No matter where you live, the book will inspire your green thumb and garden know-how, giving you a yard that will be the envy of the neighborhood. You don't have to tell them this book was the catalyst for your creative genius.-- "Shelf Life Magazine" (11/1/2017 12:00:00 AM)
I love this book because there are over 300 pages of beautiful ideas for the garden with a little description of each photo and to me a picture is worth a thousand words... I really recommend this book.--Carolyn Aiken "Aiken House and Gardens Blog" (2/18/2017 12:00:00 AM)
This book is a dream for garden photographers, simply beautiful to flip through the pages, enjoying the pictures and reading garden design ideas... I encourage any gardener to pick up a copy.-- "Blogging in Myrtle Glen Blog" (2/19/2017 12:00:00 AM)
This is a book of coffee table quality beauty, as well as being an overview of classic garden elements and styles, and a survey of current trends... The text is easy to read and offers many helpful ideas even to a relatively experienced gardener. The photos are gorgeous... I think this is an excellent book.-- "Piece of Eden Blog" (3/5/2017 12:00:00 AM)
This book is filled with gorgeous gardens that will send your imagination into overdrive!!--Bella Rogers "Bella's Rose Cottage Blog" (2/21/2017 12:00:00 AM)
