1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die »

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Publishers Weekly

This gorgeous volume is like porn for horticulturists. Gardens from all around the world in every possible climate, style and size fill this book to bursting. Here are public spaces everyone knows like Central Park in New York City, Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens in Canada and Les Jardins des Tuileries in Paris as well as gardens only the most well-traveled ever get to see; such as Bagh-e Eram in Iran or Jargu Jui Sculpture Park in Romania. Many privately owned, rarely viewed gardens are featured as well, such as Brook Cottage Garden in Oxfordshire, England; Vico Morcote in Ticino, Switzerland; and Rustenberg Farm Gardens in Western Cape, South Africa. Whether one prefers modern sculpture gardens, formal flower gardens or Japanese Zen landscapes, Spencer-Jones's impressive team of 70 photographers, writers and horticulturists have captured them all in concise detail. While some readers might have preferred more and bigger photos (sadly, some entries don't come with pictures at all), most garden lovers will appreciate the comprehensive history, design and climate information that accompanies each entry. (Mar.)