Synopses & Reviews
Christopher Lloyd (1921-2006) was one of the twentieth century's most influential and adventurous ardeners.
Exotic Planting for Adventurous Gardeners tells the story of his exotic garden at Great Dixter, which has delighted, and sometimes shocked, summer visitors since it replaced an eighty-year-old, Lutyens-designed rose garden.
The bold foliage of palms was combined with handsome, cut-leaved sumach and arching New Zealand flax; statuesque cannas and bright dahlias, threaded with mauve verbena and infilled with annual climbers, added dazzling color from June until the first frosts; and the whole feeling created was one of being wrapped in a voluptuous living community.
For everyone who loves Christopher Lloyd, this book is an unexpected bonus. His last and most adventurous work was almost complete at the time of his death in 2006, and a handful of his gardening friends gladly finished the task.
Illustrated with stunning photographs by Jonathan Buckley, Exotic Planting for Adventurous Gardeners both inspires and instructs. Few gardeners will be able to resist Lloyd's call to "do something outlandish, to splash out, and be freer than ever."
Review
"The ambitious, insouciant, and gloriously extravagant directives of Christopher Lloyd. His last? Here's hoping they find another manuscript tucked away." Garden Rant
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"Covers structure as well as content, hardy as well as tender, foliage as well as flowers. The book features extravagant plantings in the borders and pot displays that delight, and sometimes shock."Michigan Gardener
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"This book is truly an embarrassment of riches for the garden geek. ...The photography is drool-worthy, pure garden porn." Buffalo Spree
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"Exotic Planting is an inspiring and informational guide that will have you trading cabbage palm for chrysanthemums any day." Romantic Homes
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"An ebullient farewell to the mundane."Garden Compass
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"This is [Lloyd's] valedictory book, almost completed when he died, and designed to give courage to the faint of heart." Chicago Tribune
Synopsis
Christopher Lloyd was one of the world's most outspoken and adventurous gardeners. In this, his last book, he offers his unique perspective on creating 'hot and steamy' planting schemes wherever you garden. It features his most extravagant plantings in the famous borders and pot displays that delight and excite, and sometimes shock, visitors to his garden, Great Dixter.
Covering structure as well as content, hardy as well as tender, foliage as well as flowers, Exotic Planting for Adventurous Gardeners is a worthy successor to Succession Planting and an exuberant swansong for one of the most respected and beloved gardeners ever.
About the Author
The late Christopher Lloyd (1921-2006) lived in the 15th century half-timbered manor house of Great Dixter his entire life. He is the author of a string of bestselling garden classics, and in 1979 the Royal Horticultural Society conferred on him its highest award, the Victoria Medal of Honour."