Gardens of Obsession: Eccentric and Extravagant Visions
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
"Gardens of obsession" are "the metamorphoses of dreams, fantasies, ancient myths or allegories made into a physical reality." This stunning book features a breathtaking array of 150 gardens, from the beautiful to the bizarre, from the enchanting to the eccentric, each of them the realization of one person's wildest dreams. And it is the fact that these dreams can be so completely brought to life on the garden's canvas that makes this book so enthralling. Even the most extravagant design has been achieved with great accomplishment; the most extreme idea has become reality. Yet these gardens are also testaments to craft and hard work--only the obsessive bent on creating something truly personal can achieve the sort of visions exemplified in the book.
The locations of these horticultural wonders can be found in the jungles of Mexico, on the lawns of Oxfordshire, in an Ecuador cemetery, and in the surrounds of a Czechoslovakian castle. Some reflect high culture, while others explore surrealist fantasy containing lavish topiary and astonishing sculptural splendor. Within these pages we are taken on a pilgrimage through the minds and souls of people who have striven to realize themselves through the deeply personal space that a garden can be. When so many gardening books remain mired in the utilitarian, this wonderful volume takes a bold leap into fantasy. This is the book for anyone who wants to be inspired to create a garden that goes beyond a tidy lawn with tidy borders. --Nicola Hollins
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
"A fertility sculpture garden in Bangkok and a topiary cemetery in Ecuador are just two of the astonishing stops on this garden-world romp."--Condé Nast Garden. Magical, mysterious, witty, and bizarre: these 150 gardens from countries as diverse as Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Canada, Belgium, Italy, Mexico, and Australia are true originals. Some take their inspiration from myths and allegories from the ancient world; others grew out of a passion for a single type of plant. Still more reflect high culture, while a number take a joyfully folksy or kitsch approach. A creator's dreams and visions have taken on a new life as a formal Renaissance garden in France, giant wooden hands rising from a small hillside garden in California, and a garden of 1500 roses in Somerset planted in date order of their introduction into western Europe. This collection of gardens--each with its own magic--is a treat for the eye and living proof that fantasies can come true.
Gardens of Obsession: Eccentric and Extravagant Visions,Gordon Taylor,Guy Cooper,Seven Dials,1841880930,Garden Design,Gardening,Gardening / Horticulture,Gardening/Plants,General,BG-JUVENILE PROP - BG-JUVY PRESCHOOL,Garden design & planning,Gardening / Garden Design,Gardens (descriptions, history etc)
Book Contents:
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