Stonefields by the Seasons

Description

'To live a life led by the seasons is to live one closely tied to a garden, and Stonefields is mine.' Paul Bangay's celebrated Victorian property, Stonefields, has now been under his expert care for 15 years. Today, the garden is mature and more beautiful than ever - from the vibrant autumn colours in the woodland and evocative dormancy of winter to the jubilant flowering of the crab apple in springtime and perpetual rich harvest of produce. In Stonefields by the Seasons, Paul takes the reader through the garden at different times of year to highlight the design principles he has applied to various parts of it, and the wide-ranging inspirations for his choices. Along the way, he gives practical advice on seasonal planting and outlines essential quarterly tasks. Reflecting on his time in this treasured space, Paul muses on creativity, experimentation, achievements and disappointments, his shifting attitude to landscaping, the universal cycle of life and the impact of climate change on his surroundings. More than just an intimate tour around Stonefields today, this book is an invitation to contemplate the essence of gardening and the intense rewards we can all gain from it.

Paul Bangay is one of Australia's most high-profile landscape designers. His working life is divided between Australian and overseas commissions; his spare time is spent at Stonefields, the garden he is building in the country. Paul's influential previous books, Paul Bangay's Country Gardens, The Garden at Stonefields, Paul Bangay's Guide to Plants, Paul Bangay's Garden Design Handbook, The Defined Garden, The Boxed Garden, The Balanced Garden and The Enchanted Garden, continue to find new readers. In 2001 he was awarded the Centenary Medal for his contribution to Australian landscape design. In 2018 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to landscape architecture.