The well designed garden - Garden Plants and Gardening Forum

A Caribbean Garden · 07-06-2008, 07:30 PM

This content is syndicated via RSS from the blog: Caribbean Garden

Ten years ago, in anticipation of having a garden a few years later, I bought John Brookes's Garden Design Book. I am glad I kept this on on my bookshelf, as a few weeks ago when I once again opened the book and browsed the chapters it was such a revelation-here was no coffee table book with mere pretty pictures, but an actual course in garden design. I realised that in using this book one actually could learn how to design a garden, as opposed to merely copying arrangements and vignettes. It doesn't matter what your climate or topography or type of plants-this book is a TOOL.
I dug around the Internet and learned that John Brookes is among the most highly regarded and innovative garden designers; having designed over 1,200 gardens worldwide. He ran design courses from his own garden in Sussex, England, as well as in the South of France and Japan. He has won numerous awards throughout his career, including Gold Medals at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show, and he is a member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to horticulture in the United Kingdom and overseas.

Indeed, going through his books I see how the new the generation of garden designers were inspired by his work-dozens of “new” ideas and designs were derived from his. I ordered several of his books and all are superb. Like Room Outside.

Formerly “Garden Masterclass, the Essentials of Garden Design is rightly touted as “The definitive sourcebook of garden ideas from the "godfather" of contemporary garden designers”. Each chapter is devoted to a single design concept eg Context, Pattern, Shape, Scale, Proportion, Dynamics, Hard materials.

The Well-Designed Garden is crammed with instructional sketches and garden ideas

The book that started it all. See the use of instructive grid and diagrams.

On arelated note, a fabulous idea book for those in arid regions-this book by Debra Lee Baldwin is chock full of not only design ideas, but plant, soil and propagation info.

I love the look of bold, architectural agaves

07-06-2008, 07:30 PM	#1
A Caribbean Garden Green Thumb Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 67	The well designed garden This content is syndicated via RSS from the blog: Caribbean Garden Ten years ago, in anticipation of having a garden a few years later, I bought John Brookes's Garden Design Book. I am glad I kept this on on my bookshelf, as a few weeks ago when I once again opened the book and browsed the chapters it was such a revelation-here was no coffee table book with mere pretty pictures, but an actual course in garden design. I realised that in using this book one actually could learn how to design a garden, as opposed to merely copying arrangements and vignettes. It doesn't matter what your climate or topography or type of plants-this book is a TOOL. I dug around the Internet and learned that John Brookes is among the most highly regarded and innovative garden designers; having designed over 1,200 gardens worldwide. He ran design courses from his own garden in Sussex, England, as well as in the South of France and Japan. He has won numerous awards throughout his career, including Gold Medals at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show, and he is a member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to horticulture in the United Kingdom and overseas. Indeed, going through his books I see how the new the generation of garden designers were inspired by his work-dozens of “new” ideas and designs were derived from his. I ordered several of his books and all are superb. Like Room Outside. Formerly “Garden Masterclass, the Essentials of Garden Design is rightly touted as “The definitive sourcebook of garden ideas from the "godfather" of contemporary garden designers”. Each chapter is devoted to a single design concept eg Context, Pattern, Shape, Scale, Proportion, Dynamics, Hard materials. The Well-Designed Garden is crammed with instructional sketches and garden ideas The book that started it all. See the use of instructive grid and diagrams. On arelated note, a fabulous idea book for those in arid regions-this book by Debra Lee Baldwin is chock full of not only design ideas, but plant, soil and propagation info. I love the look of bold, architectural agaves Read more at Caribbean Garden...

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