Chasing Eden: Design Inspiration from the Gardens at Hortulus Farm

Description

Using their garden, Hortulus Farm in Bucks County, PA, as an example, celebrated gardeners and tastemakers Jack Staub and Renny Reynolds explain the principles of garden design, and give gardeners the courage to know when to break them. Hortulus Farm, one of the most celebrated private gardens in America, is known as for its opulence and evocative mix of classical design and modern sensibilities. It has been featured in publications like House & Garden, House Beautiful, and Country Living and the New York Times called it "formal, intimate, and grand." In Chasing Eden, Jack Staub and Renny Reynolds use their Pennsylvania-based garden to teach home gardeners the principles of garden design. And more importantly, how and when to break those rules to create a unique, attention-worthy landscape. Readers will learn about vistas and focal points; hardscape; garden furnishing and decoration; and plant palette. They'll also learn more conceptual approaches, like the use of reveal and surprise, and how to beautifully incorporate a kitchen garden into a designed landscape. Equal parts inspirational and practical, this lavishly illustrated book, featuring photography by Rob Cardillo, will help gardeners create their own personal Edens. AUTHORS: Jack Staub, popular Garden Club of America lecturer, playwright, and avid gardener, is widely considered one of the country's leading experts on edible gardening. He has written for Garden Design, Fine Gardening, Country Living Gardener, and Food & Wine. His celebrated vegetable, herb, and fruit gardens at Hortulus Farm have been featured in House & Garden, House Beautiful, Quest, Organic Gardening, Horticulture, Country Living, and the Time-Warner series on organic gardening. Renny Reynolds, founder of Renny & Reed in New York City, is one of the nation's most renowned entertaining, gardening, and lifestyle experts. His definitive book, The Art of the Party, is known widely as the "party-planner's bible." His event and garden designs have been featured in all major shelter, garden, and lifestyle magazines, including Architectural Digest, W, House & Garden, House Beautiful, New York Magazine, Horticulture Magazine, Town & Country, and Garden Design. 240 colour photographs

Jack Staub, popular Garden Club of America lecturer, playwright, and avid gardener, is widely considered one of the country's leading experts on edible gardening. He has written for Garden Design, Fine Gardening, Country Living Gardener, and Food & Wine. His celebrated vegetable, herb, and fruit gardens at Hortulus Farm have been featured in House & Garden, House Beautiful, Quest, Organic Gardening, Horticulture, Country Living, and the Time-Warner series on organic gardening. Renny Reynolds, founder of Renny & Reed in New York City, is one of the nation's most renowned entertaining, gardening, and lifestyle experts. His definitive book, The Art of the Party, is known widely as the "party-planner's bible." His event and garden designs have been featured in all major shelter, garden, and lifestyle magazines, including Architectural Digest, W, House & Garden, House Beautiful, New York Magazine, Horticulture Magazine, Town & Country, and Garden Design. Rob Cardillo has been photographing gardens, plants, and the people who tend them for more than 20 years. A former director of photography at Organic Gardening, he now works for publishers, horticultural suppliers, and landscape designers throughout the United States. Visit him at www.robcardillo.com.

"Jack Staub and Renny Reynolds embody all the traits that one sees in the very best gardeners--fearlessness, passion, and an indefatigable desire to create a very personal version of paradise. Hortulus Farm is set squarely and joyfully at the intersection of man and nature." --James Brayton Hall, president and CEO, The Garden Conservancy "Vision, tenacity, and a perfectionist's eye are the qualities that shine out from this account of a paradise garden created by one of America's foremost stylists. This is a thrilling and inspiring story." --Anna Pavord, author of The Curious Gardener and Landskipping "A fabulous adventure in armchair gardening--all of the pleasure and none of the backache!" --Jinny Blom, landscape gardener and author of The Thoughtful Gardener "Jack and Renny have set the stage for others to be inspired by their design excellence and story. Chasing Eden is not only a beautiful book; it will serve as a template for generations of future gardeners to create their very own Garden of Eden." --Paul B. Redman, president and CEO, Longwood Gardens "Gorgeous."--Antiques Gardens Birmingham "A true story that will make your heart sing and your thumb itch to begin planting...read this and reap the enthusiasm, and you'll be ready to chase your own Eden right from your backyard." --The News Tribune "Staub and Reynolds provide gardening inspiration, entertaining reading, and horticultural education in a title that a wide range of hobbyists, garden historians, and design professionals should enjoy." --Library Journal "A rich and thought-provoking exploration of the why and how of garden making that will interest anyone whose spirits soar with a good garden visit." --The Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries "The book's advice is generous, and it's authors put forth that it is meant for gardeners of any ability and gardens of any size." --Horticulture