The English Country House Garden

Description

The English country house is most often conceived as a private, intimate place, a getaway from working life. A pergola, a sundial, a croquet lawn, a herbaceous border of soft planting; here is a space to wander and relax, to share secrets, and above all to enjoy afternoon tea. But even the most peaceful of gardens also take passion and hard work to create. This new book takes a fresh look at the English country house garden, starting with the owners and the stories behind the making of the gardens. Glorious photographs capture the gardens at their finest moments through the seasons, and a sparkling and erudite text presents twenty-five gardens - some grand, some personal, some celebrated, some never-before-photographed - to explore why this garden style has been so very enduring and influential. From the Victorian grandeur of Tyntesfield and Cragside, to the Arts & Crafts simplicity of Rodmarton Manor and Charleston; from Scampston, in the same family since the 17th century, to new gardens by Dan Pearson and Tom Stuart-Smith; and with favourites such as Hidcote and Great Dixter alongside new discoveries, this book will be a delicious treat for garden-lovers.

George Plumptre is an author, journalist, and lecturer, acknowledged as an international authority on gardens and gardening. A former gardening correspondent for the Times, he has been Chief Executive of the National Gardens Scheme since 2010. He has lectured on a wide range of garden subjects in Britain, the USA, and South Africa, and has contributed articles to such publications as Country Life, Homes & Gardens, the Daily Telegraph, Architectural Digest (USA) and Conde Nast House & Garden (South Africa). George's gardening titles include Collins Book of British Gardens, The Latest Country Gardens, Garden Ornament, The Garden Makers, Great Gardens, Great Designers, Classic Planting and Royal Gardens of Europe.MARCUS HARPUR began his career in book publishing before joining his father, Jerry, to form Harpur Garden Library in 1992. He is a contributing photographer to the RHS Garden Plant Selector and the Colourful Gardening series and principal photographer on titles such as How to Garden, Dream Gardens of England and The Winter Garden.

Gardening Book of the Year 2014 * Daily Telegraph * 'This book will inspire and delight ... the stories of these gardens so compellingly capture by George Plumptre make the reader stop and tarry awhile, marvelling at the energy, the vision and the passion of the people who created gardens such as Hidcote, Sissinghurst and Great Dixter.' * The English Garden * 'Lively, authoritative text...photographs by Marcus Harpur significantly enhance the pleasure of this handsome book...consistently inspiring and informative.' * Historic House Magazine * 'A feast of horticulture and Englishness.' * House & Garden * 'Tells the tale of the English Country House Gardens over the past 500 years expertly and informatively' * Countryside Magazine * 'Sure to become a classic.' * Garden Design Journal * "appealing..." * Evening Standard *