The Wild GardenThe Wild Garden

First published in 1870, The Wild Garden challenged the prevailing garden style of the day and advocated a naturalistic style, in which hardy plants, both native and exotic, are arranged in groupings that mimic wild landscapes. Thanks to Robinson’s passionate advocacy, the naturalistic style triumphed, and Robinson's urgent message continues to resonate today. For this newly designed edition, Rick Darke has written an introductory essay that not only underscores Robinson’s importance in the evolution of garden design and ecology, but also explains his relevance for today’s gardeners, designers, and landscape professionals. The book contains over 100 stunning photographs taken by Darke, including images of Gravetye and of modern “wild” gardens.
This beautifully produced volume offers the complete 1895 5th edition of Robinson's landmark work, which established the concept of natural garden design now so prevalent. Darke supplements the original edition (which is reproduced in facsimile, with the original color watercolors and b&w woodcuts) with color photos of Robinson's garden at Gravetye Manor as it looks today. Darke, a landscape designer based in Pennsylvania, introduces the volume with a lengthy essay describing the concepts of Robinson's work, illustrated with copious color photos of gardens in the US and the UK that embody Robinson's design aesthetic. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Featuring new chapters and photography, a rerelease of an 1870 classic on naturalistic gardens that blend hardy native and exotic plants in groupings that mimic wild landscapes incorporates modern explanations of the original author's vision and its relevance to today's world.
A rich combination of original text, modern commentary, and lush photography makes this new edition essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how we have arrived at our present assumptions about gardening and where we still need to go.