Whether by the numbers or through deeply personal journeys, explore plants, gardens and landscapes with these holiday selections.
The Gardens of Bunny Mellon by Jane Holden with photographs by Roger Foley
Vendome Press: New York
Beautifully designed and lavishly illustrated, this is the first book to focus on the public and private gardens designed by the late Rachel “Bunny” Mellon. A passionate gardener without formal training, she designed some of the most iconic gardens in the world, including the Rose Garden and East Garden at the White House, the gardens of close friend, Hubert de Givenchy and the restoration of Louis XIV’s kitchen garden at Versailles. Specially commissioned photographs of Mellon’s gardens, farm and horticultural library at Oak Spring (now the home of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation) complement archival images, garden plans, sketches and watercolor drawings. The text, based on extensive interviews with Mrs. Mellon and the gardeners she worked with, provides an intimate portrait of her creative process bearing witness to her horticultural legacy, impeccable good taste and ability “to find the miraculous in the common.”
Gardenlust: A Botanical Tour of the World’s Best New Gardens by Christopher Woods
Timber Press: Portland, Oregon
“The life of the world is a joy and treasure if you have eyes to see it,” opines Christopher Woods in his introduction to Garden Lust: A Botanical Tour of the World’s Best New Gardens. Woods, the former director and chief designer of Chanticleer Garden, is an enthusiastic guide in this global “quest” to explore the 50 public and private modern (created in the past two decades) gardens from throughout the world. Told in the form of garden stories, each entry, which can be read as an independent essay, profiles both a garden and its designers, or in Wood’s words, those who “have dared to create beauty.” Full- color photographs accompany each entry making this love letter to the planet a visual treat.
City Green: Public Gardens of New York by Jane Garmey with photographs by Nick Hales
The Monacelli Press: New York
Intrigued by an assignment for the Wall Street Journal to write about the reclamation of the Battery in lower Manhattan, journalist Jane Garmey set out to learn about the history and challenges of other public gardens in New York City. The result, City Green: Public Gardens of New York is a selective survey of twenty-five such spaces located throughout the five boroughs of the city. Portrayed in all their idiosyncratic glory, these are not the signature, touristic parks known by one and all, but instead hidden gems of varied size and function whose very existence is the result of passionate efforts by individual citizens and visionary gardeners. Evocative photographs by Mick Hales accompany the text, bringing to life the surprising discovery of these urban sanctuaries.
100 Years 100 Landscape Designs by John Hill 
Prestel: Munich, London, New York
In this international survey of what is deemed the most influential landscape design projects built between 1917 to 2016, John Hill seeks to redefine what a landscape is and can be. Showcasing publicly accessible parks, gardens, promenades, river walks, botanical gardens, cemeteries, memorials, bridges and museums, this is a global perspective that provides insight into the manner in which landscape design has evolved during the past century. Described as a “must-see list” for landscape enthusiasts, this well-designed book features double-paged spreads with color images, paired with text describing each site.
Flora: Inside the Secret World of Plants
DK Publishing: New York
Published in association with Smithsonian Gardens and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, this big, bold and beautiful book reveals the inner workings of the plant kingdom. Exploring the art and science of plants through exquisite full-color photographs, botanical illustrations and easy to read diagrams, Flora is divided into seven chapters, each examining a different plant part and how it relates to the world around it. From the familiar to the exotic, the diversity, mystery and history of the plant kingdom is revealed; inspirational qualities are detailed through individual entries on plants in art. A catalogue of more than 70 significant plant families and a full list of all of the families in the plant kingdom concludes Flora, serving as a field guide for future exploration.
Natural Selection: A Year in the Garden by Dan Pearson
Guardian Books: London
In this compilation of ten years of gardening columns written by British landscape and garden designer Dan Pearson, one is gently led through the seasons as each month unfolds through a series of thoughtfully composed essays. Within its pages, Pearson, one of the most influential garden designers working today, shares his horticultural expertise and deep appreciation for the natural world and the role that landscape plays in creating a sense of place. Beautifully designed and printed in deep green ink with illustrations by Claire Melinsky, this is a book that is both aspirational and inspirational. It can be read over and over again. “Autumn has a tidal pull that touches everything in its path; it can make you feel very small and insignificant,” writes Dan. “Best to stand back, not worry about the leaves on the lawn, and just enjoy the moment.” Whether you have succeeded or not in removing the leaves from your lawn and garden you can find solace in Dan’s thoughtful evocations.
Among Trees: A Guided Journal for Forest Bathing
Timber Press: Potland Oregon
Should you seek quietude in this season of excess, this personal guide introduces you to shinrin-yoku, the Japanese practice of forest bathing. The benefits of spending time in nature are increasingly recognized as an antidote to the stresses of modern life providing tangible improvements to overall health. In this elegantly constructed book, seasonal lessons designed to connect readers with the natural world are paired with an excursion log in which to record observations. Once mastered, the principles of shinrin-yoku can be practiced virtually anywhere and within any time frame, offering the opportunity for spiritual rejuvenation.
This review appeared in Leaflet A Massachusetts Horticultural Society Publication, December, 2018
Copyright © 2018 Patrice Todisco — All Rights Reserved
