Timber Press

This book is nothing short of revolutionary.


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Media Reviews

This could be one of the best garden books of the first decade of the 21st century. Combining an ecological approach to plant selection with a strong sense of the aesthetic possibilities of plants, it adds an element that is all too rarely considered — that of how plants and gardens fit into and complement their surrounding landscape, and celebrate regional distinctiveness. Noel Kingsbury Gardens Illustrated 01/12/2008

Through gorgeous photographs, the authors demonstrate the glory of intensely-planted spaces and offer valuable suggestions on how to achieve a flourishing garden.

The Garden 01/03/2008
The first chapter sets out to secure a thought process that puts plants first in any approach to design. It then flows effortlessly into a gallery of gardens and plant portraits interspersed with useful listings of plants for every situation ... A great source of inspiration for anyone serious about designing a garden. David Andrews English Garden 01/01/2009
[A] fascinating book. ... The Ogdens explore how a garden can engage the senses, and seduce and enchant one with a sense of arrival and discovery. Through it all, they aim to help gardeners create gardens that play to their plant's strengths. Nancy Schoeffler Hartford Courant 14/11/2008
I devoured this book, and I'm sure I will be rereading portions of it again. Aside from its fresh design ideas, well-written text, and eye-candy photos, the book reminds us of the sensuality of plants, the evocative beauty of a garden, and even why we started gardening. Pam Penick Digging 01/12/2008
As veteran horticulturists and designers, the Ogdens make an argument that is compelling. ... This book is full of inspiring pictures of garden plant communities: plants for containers, perennials that still look good after the flowers fade, the orchard floored with daffodils, herbaceous foundation plantings. The authors also offer sophisticated plant lists that will have even seasoned gardeners Googling away. Adrian Higgins Washington Post 10/12/2008
The must-have (old school) garden book of the season. Dominique Browning New York Times 07/12/2008
A powerful argument for letting the plants lead the design. ... These experienced designers offer a range of suggestions for plant combinations for everything from dry shade to sunny stone walls, hillsides and meadows, woodlands and high chaparral. ... [This book] is meant to be dipped into, savored, consulted for advice and lived with, like an old friend. Anne Raver New York Times 10/12/2008
Champions the 'plant-it-instead-of-pave-it' point of view better than any book to date. Scott Calhoun American Gardener 01/01/2009