Synopses & Reviews
Not since Martha Schinz's masterful
Visions of Paradise, published in 1984, has there been such an important survey of garden design and style as
Breaking Ground. Whereas
Visions of Paradise featured classic European garden design,
Breaking Ground takes an in-depth look at the work of ten contemporary garden designers living and working in America and Europe today.
The two hundred glorious full-color photographs by Erica Lennard and the lucid text by garden writer and designer Page Dickey capture the spirit and genius of the ten designers. A chapter is devoted to each designer--his or her sources of inspiration, style, philosophy, and method of creation. From the bold Southern California designs of Nancy Power to the urban geometries of Madison Cox to the updated French formal style of Louis Benech to the romantic country gardens of Nancy McCabe, Breaking Ground profiles the artists who are redefining garden design categories.
Inspirational, informative, contemporary, and beautiful, Breaking Ground is a spectacularly crafted object in itself--sure to be one of the major garden gift books of the season.
Review
"The work here is playful, undaunted by the classical tradition and far more concerned with sensory experience than academic correctness....The excellent text and pictures manage to extract from these gardnes valuable lessons."
—Michael Pollan, The New York Times Book Review New York Times Book Review
Review
"These superb photos of contemporary Edens, created by ten garden designers, offer visions of earthly paradise."
—People magazine
Review
"The work here is playful, undaunted by the classical tradition and far more concerned with sensory experience than academic correctness....The excellent text and pictures manage to extract from these gardnes valuable lessons."
—Michael Pollan, The New York Times Book Review New York Times Book Review
Review
"These superb photos of contemporary Edens, created by ten garden designers, offer visions of earthly paradise."
—People magazine People Magazine
Synopsis
Now, for the first time in paperback, award-winning garden writer Page Dickey and acclaimed photographer Erica Lennard take an in-depth look at the work of ten master garden designers living and working in America and Europe today.
Filled with glorious full-color photographs, sketches, and garden plans, Breaking Ground provides innovative design solutions for a range of gardens to help inspire adaptations for the home gardener. From the bold Southern California designs of Nancy Power to the urban geometries of Madison Cox, and from the updated French formal style of Louis Benech to the romantic country gardens of Nancy McCabe, Breaking Ground profiles the artists who are redefining garden design categories.
Synopsis
Whether it's introducing the soothing sound of water to your garden or choosing plants for graceful winter silhouettes; whether you are landscaping a brownstone backyard or a dry desert retreat, there are lessons to learn from these contemporary garden masters that will forever enhance where you live.
The two hundred glorious full-color photographs by Erica Lennard and the engaging text by garden writer and designer Page Dickey capture the spirit and genius of each artist, his or her sources, inspiration, style, philosophy, and method of creation. From the bold southern California designs of Nancy Power to the urban geometries of Maddison Cox to the romantic country gardens of Nancy McCabe, Breaking Groundprofiles ten artists who are redefining garden design categories.
In addition to the stunning photographs, sketches and garden plans that include ideas for walls, alcoves, borders, planters, ponds, paths, courtyards, and rooftops help inspire ideas and adaptations for the home gardener. In an unusual and practical afterword, Page Dickey describes how she is applying what she learned to her own garden in New York State.
Synopsis
Not since Martha Schinz's masterful
Visions of Paradise, published in 1984, has there been such an important survey of garden design and style as
Breaking Ground. Whereas
Visions of Paradise featured classic European garden design,
Breaking Ground takes an in-depth look at the work of ten contemporary garden designers living and working in America and Europe today.
The two hundred glorious full-color photographs by Erica Lennard and the lucid text by garden writer and designer Page Dickey capture the spirit and genius of the ten designers. A chapter is devoted to each designer--his or her sources of inspiration, style, philosophy, and method of creation. From the bold Southern California designs of Nancy Power to the urban geometries of Madison Cox to the updated French formal style of Louis Benech to the romantic country gardens of Nancy McCabe, Breaking Ground profiles the artists who are redefining garden design categories.
Inspirational, informative, contemporary, and beautiful, Breaking Ground is a spectacularly crafted object in itself--sure to be one of the major garden gift books of the season.
About the Author
Page Dickey is a garden writer, lecturer, and designer. A book about her own garden--Duck Hill Journal: A Year in a Country Garden--was published by Houghton Mifflin in 1991. She has written on garden design for House and Garden, House Beautiful, and Elle Decor. She lectures regularly on garden design and teaches classes at the New York Botanical Garden and the Horticultural Society of New York. Her garden has been featured in HG.Erica Lennard is a photographer based in France who specializes in gardens and interiors. She is the photographer for Breaking Ground, as well as for Classic Gardens, Artists' Gardens, and Writers' Houses. She also participated in the photographing of Gardens of the World. Lennard contributes regularly to international magazines such as Elle, Elle Decoration, French Vogue, and House Beautiful.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
Dan Pearson
A COLORIST IN THE ENGLISH GARDEN
Nancy Goslee Power
BOLD DESIGN IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GARDEN
Madison Cox
URBAN GEOMETRY
Patrick Chasse
EAST MEETS WEST: ORIENTAL INFLUENCES IN THE GARDEN
Alain David Idoux
LAND ART IN PROVENCE
Steve Martino
DESERT GARDENING
Ron Lutsko
NATIVE PLANTS AND PATTERNS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Nancy McCabe
NEW ENGLAND COTTAGE TRADITION UPDATED
Piet Oudolf
THE PLANTSMAN'S GARDEN IN HOLLAND
Louis Benech
RETHINKING THE FRENCH FORMAL GARDEN
AFTERWORD
INDEX