Gardens of the Sun

by Trevor Nottle

Mediterranean climates such as California, with hot dry summers and mild wet winters, require a different kind of planting than classic European woodland or cottage styles. Here the author encourages thoughtful planning to create the extraordinary effects possible in sunny environments.

208 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1996

About the author

Trevor Nottle is recognised internationally as an authority on old roses, cottage gardens and Mediterranean-climate gardening. He has published gardening books in Australia, New Zealand and the USA, with each book covering new ground, introducing fresh perspectives and bold ideas to an admiring readership. A popular speaker at international gardening events he uses his travels and engagements to share his knowledge and learn more. In Endless Pleasure he shares his indulgence in garden history and collecting to bring another level of interest to his readers; an interest that includes almost everything from antiquarian books and prints to mistletoe hooks and man traps.

Reviews

[Alison F]

Gardens of the Sun was written nearly 30 years ago & was revolutionary at the time. Australian gardeners were then still largely planting English style gardens. Trevor Nottle, who lives in Adelaide, with its Mediterranean climate, here issues a clarion cry to encourage the design & planting of gardens more suited to the climate of south-western & south-central Australia.

There's been a change in attitude in subsequent years. How much of that was due to this book, I don't know. I suspect that the warming climate & years of drought were responsible, as well as the ABC TV program Gardening Australia. Most plant labels now mention water requirements. I don't live in one of the Mediterranean climate zones of Australia but towards the western edge of the Great Dividing Range at 870 metres elevation, in an area which experiences hard frosts & fairly frequent but erratic summer rainfall. There's been a change in watering habits here. During the drought of May 2017 to Feb 2020 there were severe restrictions on garden watering & nobody in this town waters their lawn anymore, except during the establishment phase (yes, people still plant lawns here, always turf, as they no longer have the patience to grow grass from seed). The 'Mediterranean' areas of Australia are largely at low altitudes so frost isn't much of a problem.

Trevor Nottle's tone is somewhat didactic & the use of commas rather capricious. The garden examples which he cites are mostly in California & the south of France. Presumably there weren't many Australian ones at the time. There are chapters on topics such as horticultural baggage & the use of stone, walls, water & shade. The information is relevant to much of southern Australia. There's not much on plant selection: that was covered in his next book, Plants for a Changing Climate.