Synopses & Reviews
For any gardener who is unsure of what to grow or how to put plants together in coherent planting schemes, this book provides answers. Many of the garden plans and plantings included are simplified versions of those created by great gardeners such as Vita Sackville-West, Margery Fish, and Piet Oudolf. The author's extensive knowledge of period plants, and how they were put together to look beautiful, has enabled him to re-create historical classics, like the Renaissance parterre or the Monet water garden, from contemporary planting lists and plans. Each garden is given a brief historical context, and its best qualities, seasons, and times of day are explained. Planting plans are given for each scheme, together with a shopping list that can be taken to a nursery. The book includes suggestions for adapting each plan to the limitations of a given space, and how to adapt the shopping list as well. Classic Garden Plans will be invaluable to any gardener who wants to design a garden with powerful historical associations, filled with authentic plants.
Review
"With such vivid inspiration, creating an intimate version of any of these classic gardens falls into the range of possibility."—Lili Singer, Los Angeles Times, March 4, 2005 Lili Singer
Review
"Introduces 16 classically-inspired garden plans scaled for smaller home gardens ... Includes historical context, color plans and photos, and a flexible plant shopping list."—Reference and Research Book News, August 2005 Los Angeles Times
Review
"Stuart's elegant study of historic garden plans balances clear explanation with explicit diagrams listing walkway materials and plants by their Latin names."—Mary Ellen Snodgrass, American Reference Books Annual, 2005 Reference and Research Book News
About the Author
David Stuart earned his doctorate at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, and went on to a career in horticulture and landscape design. He was curator of Longstock Park Gardens for 14 years, during which period it held the national collection of Buddleja, a plant that he first grew to screen tennis courts. He now works as an independent horticultural consultant. He has judged shows for the Royal Horticultural Society and is a committee member and council member of the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens.