The English Country House Garden by George Plumptre (Frances Lincoln Ltd, 208 pages) $43.99
Opening this beautiful coffee table book is to be transported away to a tranquil place where crisp, neat plantings share their borders with a riot of colour as abundant flowers fill any empty spaces.
George Plumptre guides us through the past century of English gardening with a look beyond those ancient stonewalls and towards the future. In these fabulous historical settings new ideas and horticultural innovations combine with tradition to create a sense of what was and what could be.
Twenty-five properties illustrate the best of design and layout in a variety of settings that range from expansive acreage to smaller enclosed spaces. Plumptre walks through each one and explains its origins and evolution. Every site is shown through the spectacular photographs of Marcus Harpur, who captures the essence and character of the properties so well that you feel you have just wandered through them.
