Fiction, Fact & Fashion in Garden History
Picturesque cottage gardens, with towering hollyhocks in front of thatched cottages. Formal herb gardens like tapestries, with box-edged compartments overflowing with culinary herbs. Colourful ornamental potagers. Rambling wilderness tamed to romantic wild gardens. Are these the reality of our garden heritage or are we being deceived by a rose-tinted view?
This book examines aspects of garden history and fashion. It traces the development of some key themes from their earliest origins to their present-day manifestations. Along with the cottage garden, the potager and the natural garden, it delves into the history of the lawn, investigates walled pleasure gardens and outdoor rooms, and discusses the love-hate relationships gardeners have with variegated plants.
