Synopses & Reviews
(back cover)
A remarkable guide to the most stunning gardens in the world, 1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die contains inspirational designs by the most successful gardeners and designers. From the famous gardens of Granada's Alhambra to the private, hidden gems known only to the privileged few, this magnificently illustrated guide will inspire both gardeners and garden lovers.
(front flap)
A guide to inspiring landscapes designed by the world's most outstanding gardeners, architects, and garden designers, 1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die is a stunning selection of the most magnificent gardens in the world.
From the contemplative, tranquil spaces of the Japanese temple gardens to the surreal Las Pozas in the Mexican jungle, these are gardens that are sometimes startlingly unusual, but always interesting and beautiful. Whether it's the traditional European floral display of Monet's garden at Giverny or the exuberant diversity of the lush tropical gardens of Bali, gardens speak of the intimate relationship between man and the environment. Arabic and Persian gardens celebrate water, providing a haven from the harsh realities of desert life. Zen gardens were designed to replicate the perfection of the natural world in miniature--a single garden encompassing the entire world. These and hundreds more gardens are shown and described for your reading pleasure.
Lavishly illustrated with stunning photography, 1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die provides inspiration for those who enjoy gardening, and fascinating reading for those who simply enjoy gardens.
(back flap)
Rae Spencer-Jones studied horticulture before joining the editorial team of Gardens Illustrated magazine in the U.K. Now a freelance horticultural journalist and author, she has written on all areas of horticulture for a wide range of publications, including London's Daily Telegraph and The Times, Gardener's World magazine, and Gardens Illustrated. Her own book, Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland, was published in the U.K. in 2005.
Dr. Elizabeth Scholtz is Director Emeritus of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a major urban botanic garden founded in 1910. She is on the boards of the Horticultural Society of New York, the American Society of Botanical Artists, and the Screening Committee of the Garden Conservancy. She has led 98 tours for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden since 1966.
Review
"Vast compendiums are often best avoided, but 1001 Gardens You must see before You Die, is an exception Original and far ranging, this Edenic grouping stretches across nearly every continent.‚"
Town & Country, December 2007
‚"Most of the entries have pictures, though to me the most interesting gardens are those that cannot be captured in one image. The landscapes that seem to give their all in one sitting, or rely on a lot of bedding annuals for color, those are the one that I will try to live without. In that sense, the book is valuable as well.‚"
Washington Post, May 6, 2007, Adrian Higgins
‚"‚…the latest book fad is‚…the ubiquitous ‚'1,001 things to see before you die‚' category. It‚'s Chicken Soup for the Crazed Urbanite soul.‚"
New York Post, July 23, 2007, Mackenzie Dawson
‚"From the publishing house that already has brought us 1001 Natural Wonders You Must See Before You Die and 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die comes this sumptuous, 960-page ode to the great gardens of the world. Even those without green fingers will relish the book‚'s bright photography and, more so, the love and dedication show throughout by horticulturists and garden-lovers.‚"
Car & Travel, June 2007
‚"Eye candy for anyone awed by natural beauty‚… Simply flipping through these pages will have you planning ways to incorporate various styles into your own garden, and maybe even making a few vacation plans. A great Mother‚'s Day gift for moms who like to dig.‚"
Newsday, May 20, 2007, Jessica Damiano
‚"This beautifully designed if hefty resource serves as the ultimate garden-based vacation-planning guide for lovers of paradise landscapes and flourishing green space. ‚….Surely the best compendium to date for both the botanically inclined armchair traveler who likes to dream and the intrepid sojourner preparing for a tour.‚"
Booklist, March 15, 2007
‚"It‚'s not quite a life list, of the sort that birders keep, but 1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die‚…fees the same sort of drive to go out and look. Its immediate effect on me: I really, really want to go to Kyoto. ‚…organized geographically, a benefit for readers plotting a grand garden tour.‚"
Bookpage , March 2007
Synopsis
Garden lovers and discriminating travelers will relish this armchair tour of the most beautiful and interesting gardens around the world. Succinct descriptions with stunning color photos showcase the creations of the world's outstanding landscape gardeners, architects, and garden designers. From Spain's famous gardens of the Moorish Alhambra at Granada to San Diego's Healing Garden, created for patients at the San Diego Children's Hospital, this lavishly illustrated guide will delight both lovers of natural beauty and hands-on gardeners. Among the many gardens pictured and described in this beautiful volume are--
In the United States and Canada: Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Boscobel in New York's Hudson Valley, Williamsburg Gardens in Virginia, Magnolia Plantation and its Gardens near Charleston, South Carolina, Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin in Wisconsin, the Toronto Botanical Garden, Pacific Undersea Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia, and many more. . . In England: The Japanese Garden in London's Holland Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, Shakespeare's Garden in Stratford, London's Victoria and Albert Museum Gardens, and many more. . . In France: The Gardens of Versailles outside Paris, the Garden of Claude Monet at Giverney, Chateau de Vauville in Cherbourg, and many more. . . The rest of the world: Boboli Gardens in Florence, Italy, Potsdam Gardens near Berlin, Germany, the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, Japan, and hundreds more.
In addition to photos and a textual description, each entry cites special features such as fountains and architecture, the garden's size in acres, and the names of the garden's designers. The garden descriptions are organized geographically by country. More than 800 breathtaking color photos and illustrations.
Synopsis
Young Genius is a bright little boy who escorts children through the pages of this amusing and instructive color-illustrated book. Kids will discover answers to many interesting questions about their brains. For example: How can you look at your brain without taking it out of your head? Where do headaches come from? What is imagination? Does having a big brain make you more clever? Young Genius books explain different parts of the human body to children, showing and telling kids how each part works. In each book, Young Genius also talks about nourishing foods to help keep those body parts in great condition, and he asks questions that will prompt boys and girls to giggle—but also to get a clearer understanding of how their bodies function. The language is easy enough for children in early grades to understand, and the information is sound and reliable. One illustration in each book features tabs for kids to lift, look, and better understand how their bodies work. Cartoon-style color illustrations on every page.
Synopsis
(back cover)
Hello! I'm Young Genius.
This book is about the amazing machine inside your head called your brain. I'm here to tell you all about it . . .
This hugely funny book covers everything you need to know about brains, such as:
How can you look at your brain without taking it out of your head?
Where do headaches come from?
What is imagination?
With vibrant illustrations and easy-to-understand text, this is a must-have book for budding brain surgeons!
Your child can be a Young Genius, too, with this fun-filled
fact-packed book!
About the Author
Rae Spencer-Jones studied horticulture before joining the editorial team of Gardens Illustrated magazine in the U.K. Now a freelance horticultural journalist, Ms. Spencer-Jones's articles appear in a wide range of publications, including London's Daily Telegraph and The Times.