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1,000 Garden Ideas: The Best of Everything in a Visual Sourcebook
THE BEST OF EVERYTHING A GARDENER COULD WISH FOR
In more than forty years of travel, Stafford Cliff—designer and gardener—has gathered a planet’s worth of inspiration on elements to enhance a garden. The result is 1000 Garden Ideas , a visual encyclopedia bursting with just about every garden idea ever invented by man or inspired by nature, artfully presented in more than 1000 photographs.
Plantings may be the essence of the garden, whether it’s a tiny patch in the backyard or acres of land extending for as far as the eye can see. But elements worthy of the planting can take a garden to unique and exciting new heights.
With a designer’s eye and a gardener’s heart, Cliff has assembled an endless array of ideas, from all over the world, to make a garden more fences and pools, paths and benches, statues and waterfalls, borders and bridges— even birdhouses and follies. Within each category are hundreds of illustrated examples, ranging from traditional to contemporary; from simple to complex; from homey and rustic to downright Byzantine. It’s all here, whatever your taste, your need, or your fantasy.
And if you’re breathless with so many choices, Stafford Cliff is there to help you arrive at the best decisions for your own particular space, through a series of
•Do you want privacy or maximum light?
•Do you envision a contrast to the style of your home or neighborhood, or complete harmony?
•Do you prefer peace and quiet, or the soothing sounds of rustling leaves, bubbling water, and bird song? There’s glorious visual advice on plants and what kinds of containers to put them in; how to use them in your space; what to surround them with; and much more. In addition, an extensive list of suppliers makes it possible for you to turn inspiration into reality. If you’re a seasoned gardener, or even if you’re an aspiring one, this is a book for you, lush with ideas for the garden of your dreams.
In more than forty years of travel, Stafford Cliff—designer and gardener—has gathered a planet’s worth of inspiration on elements to enhance a garden. The result is 1000 Garden Ideas , a visual encyclopedia bursting with just about every garden idea ever invented by man or inspired by nature, artfully presented in more than 1000 photographs.
Plantings may be the essence of the garden, whether it’s a tiny patch in the backyard or acres of land extending for as far as the eye can see. But elements worthy of the planting can take a garden to unique and exciting new heights.
With a designer’s eye and a gardener’s heart, Cliff has assembled an endless array of ideas, from all over the world, to make a garden more fences and pools, paths and benches, statues and waterfalls, borders and bridges— even birdhouses and follies. Within each category are hundreds of illustrated examples, ranging from traditional to contemporary; from simple to complex; from homey and rustic to downright Byzantine. It’s all here, whatever your taste, your need, or your fantasy.
And if you’re breathless with so many choices, Stafford Cliff is there to help you arrive at the best decisions for your own particular space, through a series of
•Do you want privacy or maximum light?
•Do you envision a contrast to the style of your home or neighborhood, or complete harmony?
•Do you prefer peace and quiet, or the soothing sounds of rustling leaves, bubbling water, and bird song? There’s glorious visual advice on plants and what kinds of containers to put them in; how to use them in your space; what to surround them with; and much more. In addition, an extensive list of suppliers makes it possible for you to turn inspiration into reality. If you’re a seasoned gardener, or even if you’re an aspiring one, this is a book for you, lush with ideas for the garden of your dreams.
- GenresGardeningNonfiction
208 pages, Hardcover
First published September 7, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 30, 2009
First, I just want to mention that it is kind of ridiculous that the 100th book I read this year is a giant book of pictures of various garden features. I hope that doesn't diminish my dedication to young adult fiction, Oprah's book club authors, and quality graphic novels.
Secondly, about this book. First of all, the title is completely a lie. There are far more than 1,000 ideas for a garden in this book. How many ideas can you fit in one picture? Well, then, it's a lot. There are pages and pages and pages of fences, paths, edging, color, hedges, water features, steps, containers, benches, statues, vistas and so on. There is no shortage of fancy "estate garden" formality in this book. There is the occasional nod to "Modernism" in the garden, and even less recognition of urban or small space gardening. Allegedly 40 years of garden tours produced this book - I believe it. Some of these pictures look like they were taken in 1961 (in a charming way, not a dated way). So, yes, most of the ideas won't suit your home garden at all, but I found value in the vast diversity of fences, gates, paths, etc. It is interesting to bath your mind's eye in 100 different kinds of pavers and patterns. And I loved the section on benches, but what can I say? I am totally gay for garden benches. By the time they got to water features, though, forget it. I was asleep from boredom. The hedges and statuary were also majorly boring sections. Also, how can a section on COLOR in the GARDEN be so boring?! What the heck!
There were some cool pictures, a few goood ideas, and I do think that the diversity of so many gardens is valuable, but there was very little direct/practical information that I could bring to my own yard. Also, if you are the kind of person who NEEDS sources for various materials, please do no read this book. It will drive you completely insane when you cannot locate the manufacturer of some exquisite container or a specific type of rhododendron, or whatever other crazy thing catches your eye. If you are reading this for the garden porn, skip it. The pics are too small to really satiate your hunger for lush, verdant, creative garden pr0n.
Secondly, about this book. First of all, the title is completely a lie. There are far more than 1,000 ideas for a garden in this book. How many ideas can you fit in one picture? Well, then, it's a lot. There are pages and pages and pages of fences, paths, edging, color, hedges, water features, steps, containers, benches, statues, vistas and so on. There is no shortage of fancy "estate garden" formality in this book. There is the occasional nod to "Modernism" in the garden, and even less recognition of urban or small space gardening. Allegedly 40 years of garden tours produced this book - I believe it. Some of these pictures look like they were taken in 1961 (in a charming way, not a dated way). So, yes, most of the ideas won't suit your home garden at all, but I found value in the vast diversity of fences, gates, paths, etc. It is interesting to bath your mind's eye in 100 different kinds of pavers and patterns. And I loved the section on benches, but what can I say? I am totally gay for garden benches. By the time they got to water features, though, forget it. I was asleep from boredom. The hedges and statuary were also majorly boring sections. Also, how can a section on COLOR in the GARDEN be so boring?! What the heck!
There were some cool pictures, a few goood ideas, and I do think that the diversity of so many gardens is valuable, but there was very little direct/practical information that I could bring to my own yard. Also, if you are the kind of person who NEEDS sources for various materials, please do no read this book. It will drive you completely insane when you cannot locate the manufacturer of some exquisite container or a specific type of rhododendron, or whatever other crazy thing catches your eye. If you are reading this for the garden porn, skip it. The pics are too small to really satiate your hunger for lush, verdant, creative garden pr0n.
February 22, 2019
This book is full of pictures. It is amazing! Pathways, edging, fences, gates, fountains, bridges, pools, gazebos, hedges, topiary, pots, vistas, color schemes, benches, etc. The multitude of pictures helps one develop an idea of what one would like to see in one’s own garden.
More European and international in style than American, yet they apply to anyone anywhere with any budget. What you really need is forethought and some muscles to carry out your plans. There are plenty of designs in these gardens to replicate or for me, to choose ideas from many gardens and make an original design.
Thank you so much for this book! I highly recommend this book for gardeners, landscapers and dreamers.
More European and international in style than American, yet they apply to anyone anywhere with any budget. What you really need is forethought and some muscles to carry out your plans. There are plenty of designs in these gardens to replicate or for me, to choose ideas from many gardens and make an original design.
Thank you so much for this book! I highly recommend this book for gardeners, landscapers and dreamers.
October 16, 2021
These really aren’t garden ideas. This is closer to a catalog of outdoor stuff, but without sources. A lot of the things weren’t even in a garden. It was just a creek somewhere or a tropical island with a big rock on it. Um, okay?
The written pages were poorly written and the book’s format was… also not great. Most of the pages had eight or even fifteen photos on a theme jammed together in a grid, with no margin or dividing line. There was really no way for a reader to enjoy or process it. White space, people!
I was hoping for a section on plants, but I didn’t get one. The last section was “color,” and those were fifteen-unlabeled-pictures-to-a-page of plants in whatever color: yellow, white, pink, etc. That… isn’t gardening. That’s a mood board. It would have helped to at least caption what plant was pictured.
The written pages were poorly written and the book’s format was… also not great. Most of the pages had eight or even fifteen photos on a theme jammed together in a grid, with no margin or dividing line. There was really no way for a reader to enjoy or process it. White space, people!
I was hoping for a section on plants, but I didn’t get one. The last section was “color,” and those were fifteen-unlabeled-pictures-to-a-page of plants in whatever color: yellow, white, pink, etc. That… isn’t gardening. That’s a mood board. It would have helped to at least caption what plant was pictured.
June 17, 2018
A large picture book for things found in a garden setting. I ordered this book online based on the book description. I was looking for inspiration for my own garden. This book does provide a wide variety of pictures of different things found in gardens like gates and such. I enjoyed looking at the different types of ways garden items can be represented, however, this book wasn't exactly what I was looking for. It's a good coffee table picture book, but not the best one for those individuals looking for more detailed ideas on how to decorate a garden.
December 20, 2021
I wanted a book with pictures of gardens and found this one to fit the description nicely
September 21, 2025
Like pinterest in paper form.
January 24, 2008
Not as good as I thought it would be. I would have liked to see the ideas and how they worked in an overall garden plan. Rather, 2 X 3 inch snapshots are shown for pavers, fences, ponds, etc. There is no way to see how these items would look in an actual garden.
June 20, 2008
This is a beautiful book full of ideas for accessorizing your garden. It won't tell you anything about gardening. Copiously photo-filled, it can be overwhelming. I could have used some white space between the pictures.
March 28, 2009
Visually lovely but devoid of useful information. For instance, if one sees a statue on page 198, one might expect sourcing information in an index. No love here, just a rudimentary photo credit and then a jumble of sources with no links to individual pictures. Frustrating!
June 28, 2009
This book is exactly what it says it is: 1000 garden ideas, from topiaries to paving stones. It's almost entirely pictures, and pictures of expensive estates that you can't afford, but it does provide inspiration.
September 21, 2011
I love this book so much that I am tempted to steal it from the library. (For shame!) But I will control myself and renew, renew, renew. Endless photographs of garden details. A feast the the eyes and creative spirit.
February 24, 2012
Ah...now I know where the PINTEREST idea of collections may have started. This book is chockfull of garden picture collections...no words. Pots, pools, benches, birdhouses, fountains, follies, gates, sundials, statutes...you name it. Perfect book to dream with on a snowy day.
February 9, 2009
1000 tiny pictures, no real ideas.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews