Extraordinary Gardens of the World - Hardcover

Monty Don is one of the UK's most respected gardeners and gardening writers. Formerly the main presenter of BBC TV's GARDENER'S WORLD, he has been gardening correspondent for the OBSERVER since 1994. He is at the forefront of the environmental and organic gardening debate and is the new President of the Soil Association.

As a companion piece to his BBC production, Around the World in 80 Gardens, Don offers a lush homage to those gardens that speak to an essential sensitivity or ecumenical theme. From the personal to the communal, spiritual to natural, botanical to edible, examples of the best public and private gardens are appraised from an aesthetic as well as horticultural point of view. Roland Emmerich’s Hollywood garden exemplifies tropical opulence, while tranquil enclaves throughout Japan, India, and China demonstrate the inherent synergy between gardening and religion. Australia’s Alice Springs Desert Park epitomizes the quintessential “un-garden” just as James van Sweden’s Chesapeake Bay home showcases the serendipitous harmony of location and architectural vision. Alpine gardens in South Africa and cactus gardens in Mexico celebrate the vibrancy found within specific plant cultures, just as Villandry in France’s Loire Valley and Thuthuka in Johannesburg demonstrate the extremes to be found in food-producing gardens. Opulently produced yet with an understated narrative, this global exploration will delight armchair and actual gardeners. --Carol Haggas