The Art of Gardening: Design Inspiration and Innovative Planting Techniques from Chanticleer

by R. William Thomas

“Delightful!” — The New York Times Book Review

Discover a world of beauty and creativity! Chanticleer has been called the most romantic, imaginative, and exciting public garden in America. It is a place of pleasure and learning, relaxing yet filled with ideas to take home. And now those lessons are available for everyone in this stunning book! You’ll learn techniques specific to different conditions and plant palettes; how to use hardscape materials in a fresh way; and how to achieve the perfect union between plant and site. And Rob Cardillo’s exquisite photographs of exciting combinations will be sure to stimulate your own creativity. Whether you’re already under Chanticleer’s spell or have yet to visit, The Art of Gardening will enable you to bring the special magic that pervades this most artful of gardens into your own home landscape.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Plants

340 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2015

Reviews

[Joanne Leddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book about a fabulous garden …. Chanticleer. I whole heartedly recommend both a visit to the garden and this book. So many ideas that can be achieved in your home garden without 15 Horticulturist and a gardening staff. 5 Stars!!

[Helen Yoest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chanticleer is my most favored garden I've ever visited, and I've seen a lot. I want to go again and again, but his book allows me to see the fantastic photos by Rob Cardillo as often as I want. Do both: visit the garden and get the book. You will have a cherished memory for a lifetime.

[Irma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite book about my favorite garden. Full of lush photography.

[Sharron · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Adrian Higgins’ book on Chanticleer is very good, this one is better both for its prose and its photography. Visiting this garden is definitely on my list of must see things.

[Emily Pryor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Art of Gardening is as close as a book can come to capturing the soul of Chanticleer—but nothing compares to seeing it in person. Having walked its winding paths and marveled at its artistry myself, this book felt like a homecoming. The photography is breathtaking, the prose thoughtful, and the garden design insights are both inspiring and instructive.

What sets this book apart is the reverence it shows not just for the land, but for the people who shape it. The gardener profiles at the end are a beautiful touch—each one a testament to the immense talent and quiet passion that make Chanticleer what it is.

A joy to read, and a reminder that gardens, like books, are living things—meant to be returned to again and again.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subtitle is key here, "from Chanticleer". This is really not a gardening design book as much as a celebration of place in Pennsylvania. That is not to say that gardeners won't find ideas in this book but if you are going to buy one book this isn't the one I would recommend. Gorgeous photos show many plant combinations.

[Linda Ingersoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this “tour” through Chanticleer and the obvious passion of the gardeners there. Can’t wait to visit next year and see it for myself.

[Stacyj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photos and interesting behind-the-scenes info about Chanticleer gardens. Wonderful inspiration!

[Jennifer P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning photos and gardens. I’ll admit I skimmed much of the text in favor of the gorgeous photography.

[Estee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Garden envy. Sigh.

[Jean Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encouraging to look over the photos from this established garden; inspiring as the gardening season begins.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something unique is happening at Chanticleer as we find from the opening pages as the director takes us on a close and intimate tour of the gardens, their history, and its present day individual gardeners. Many moments in the text are heartwarming including personal essays that each of the individual gardeners contributes about how they have helped one another or grown personally as designers through their gardening craft. Chanticleer purposes to create something that visitors can replicate in their own homes and the core value is to delight visitors. The photographs throughout the book sensitively capture the essence of the garden and its plants and show how well it achieves the ‘why’ of the garden’s existence. The plant section of the garden is technically advanced, which may be daunting for some readers who do not garden in the mid-Atlantic, but everyone can glean something of value from it. The overall structure of the book is loose and inclusive of various ideas, but holds together well enough to avoid a sense of chaos. Instead it feels like a delightful behind the scenes look at something distinctive in contemporary garden design.

[Krista Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great. It's full of ideas you could apply to your own yard. I'm not an expert gardener, by any means, yet this book makes me want to be. I see different possibilities that I hadn't remotely thought of for a few projects I had in mind. The photos are great and Chanticleer is quite grand, but it's taken care of by creative and intelligent folks. The Chanticleer website even has downloadable plant lists. They want to encourage others to enjoy the art of gardening as much as they do. I highly recommend this book.

[Carla Bayha]

Chanticleer is a "pleasure garden," and perhaps America's finest small public garden. It's also only a day's drive from Ann Arbor. Almost unique among historical gardens, Chanticleer has curator/designers allowed great latitude in their planting choices and design. And every few years they switch out who is responsible for which garden within a garden, which keeps it all fresh and inspirational to home gardeners. Filled with plant selection and cultivation advice, and beautiful photographs, I think this is the gardening book of the year

[Margo · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book, I cannot wait to see this garden!

[Tina Panik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous and informative.

[Skyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A glorious book. I'd give it ten stars if I could.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty pictures.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book about a garden that is NOT in Europe, NOT in California, NOT in the south. There is hope for the rest of us "gardeners" trying to make the best of it elsewhere.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh the photos in this book! Many latin names are given so you can make a wants-list. I cannot travel here, this book is the next best thing.

[Julaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful images!
I love their plant combinations and smart use of trees.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, inspiring design book about Chanticleer, a home and garden in Pennsylvania.