In the same accessible format as the other books in the Talk About series, this volume illuminates, explains, and showcases some of the most important trends and issues in gardening today. The book defines what constitutes a contemporary garden and examines the latest innovations, practices, and approaches that have contributed to its development.
Talk About Contemporary Gardens makes it easy for novice gardeners to identify different gardening styles and place them in a clear historical context, from the wasteland redevelopments of Simone Kroll, to contemporary Japanese landscaping which embodies the spirit of Zen, and the natural feather gardens of Sylvie and Patrick Quibel.
Since the art of landscaping is tied to nature and the elements, a chapter on the relationship between gardening and the seasons looks at the life cycles of plants, the importance of light, rain, and the seasons, and how gardens behave when the sun goes down.
The book demonstrates the relationship between landscape gardening and contemporary art, architecture, design, and urbanism, examining the rich influences that tie them all together. From Brancusi's sculpture-filled spaces, to Gaudi's natural curves and buildings, the text and illustrations highlight the many ways in which these practices inform each other in the modern world. Entirely pink gardens, the sweet perfume of Arabian jasmine, the tang of lemons and the gentle tinkling of fountains in the Imaginary garden: such sights, smells, tastes, and sounds take the reader on a journey to some of the world's most exotic gardens. A list of international gardens to visit, biographies of thirty great landscapers and their signature gardens, a list of key words, and a glossary complete the volume.
