The History of Landscape Design in 100 Gardens

by Linda A. Chisholm

The History of Landscape Design in 100 Gardens explores the key moments in garden design. Through profiles of 100 of the most influential gardens, Linda Chisholm explores how social, political, and economic influences shaped garden design principles. The book is organized chronologically and by theme, starting with the medieval garden Alhambra and ending with the modern naturalism of the Lurie Garden. Sumptuously illustrated, The History of Landscape Design in 100 Gardens is for garden designers and landscape architects, design students, and gardening enthusiasts interested in garden history.

Genres: Gardening, History, Nonfiction

536 pages, Hardcover

Published July 10, 2018

Reviews

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 2 out of 5]

The theme is a great idea - show famous and historic gardens in order of establishment to demonstrate how gardens were used from medieval times and what they contained. Alhambra, Winchester are among the early ones. Therefore it seems odd that 'Thomas Jefferson' are the first two words of the book.

While the choices seem lovely and text is just enough detail about each one, I am afraid almost all the photos did not display in my e-ARC and so I am unable to give a proper review. Each page has one or more photos and this is clearly a major incentive to buy the book. I would be willing to look at this again with photos.

I downloaded an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more than the history of landscape design - it's HISTORY, period. Of civilization, of art and science, of exploration and colonization, of famous people and famous places, of changing tastes and ever-expanding knowledge; all laid out through the natural and cultivated spaces surrounding homes, settlements and cities over the past millennia-plus. From Hadrian's Villa to Versailles; from Kyoto's centuries-old "moss garden," Saiho-ji, to San Diego's mission-inspired Balboa Park; from George Washington's Mount Vernon to modernist sculpture gardens and Prince Charles' organic farm - this book is full of so much interesting and inspiring history, photographs and information that it took me a few months of savoring to get through it.

My only criticism is that most of the book was centered on Europe and North America, and it would've been great to see more representation from the other continents and cultures around the world.

*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, provided by the author and/or the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Patrice Todisco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps, like me, you fantasize about spending a year traveling the world visiting every garden, park and landscape you long to experience. Giverny? Sissinghurst? Katsura Imperial Villa? Please send me there.

And then there are books, such as The History of Landscape Design in 100 Gardens by Linda Chisholm, which start that journey for us. Written for those who love gardens, gardening, history, literature and art, The History of Landscape Design in 100 Gardens profiles one hundred of the world’s great (not greatest) gardens, providing inspiration for future travels.

The distinction is important. Chisholm, who teaches the history of landscape design at the New York Botanical Garden, curates the gardens profiled as an illustration of the history and principles that underlie the evolution of landscape design. Using a personal filter, her goal is to reveal why a style became dominant at a specific time and place in history.

Focusing on developments from around the world that most impacted North America and the United Kingdom, The History of Landscape Design in 100 Gardens, ambitiously examines how plants, horticulture and garden design changed the world. Its approach, which illustrates important evolutionary and revolutionary moments in the history of garden and landscape design, implores the reader to consider the ideas, beliefs and hopes expressed in the designs we choose for our gardens, be they humble or grand.

Chisholm views landscape design as an art form, intimately tied to the unique biography of its creator. These visionaries and experimenters were a diverse lot with differing motives. Fortunately for the reader their stories intrigue and inspire, brought to life through Chisholm’s comprehensive research and engaging prose.

Seventeen chronological and thematic chapters are presented. Within each a series of gardens is explored. At the beginning of every chapter an overview provides context to the content that follows. Some of the garden pairings are more successful than others and I often found myself going back and forth to fully understand the relationship between each.

A chapter is devoted to the impact of sea voyages on horticulture, science and botanical gardens during the age of discovery. Titled a “A World of Wonders,” it profiles L’Orto Botanico in Padua, Hortus Botanicus in Leiden, Chelsea Physic Garden in London and Bartram’s Garden in Philadelphia.

In “The Poppies Grow,” garden creators that found solace in opposing the industry that led to war and their gardens are profiled. These include Lawrence Johnson (Hidcote), Vita-Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson (Sissinghurst), Mildred and Robert Woods Bliss (Dumbarton Oaks), Harvey LaDew (LaDew Topiary Garden) and Christopher Lloyd (Great Dixter). In contrast to the devastation of war, each viewed the garden as a source of comfort, renewal and resurrection in which the ravages of industrialization and destruction could be ameliorated.

The History of Landscape Design in 100 Gardens is beautifully designed. Evocative, color photographs by Michael D. Garber adorn almost every page, complement the text and artfully convey a sense of place for each garden. An index, compiled as a toolkit, includes concepts, principles, design techniques and garden features. There are extensive source notes and a bibliography for each chapter.

This is an ambitious book about a complex and multi-dimensional topic, which I very much enjoyed. I do wish, however, that instead of The History of Landscape Design in 100 Gardens it had been titled A Selective History of Landscape Design in 100 Gardens as there is so much more on the subject to reveal and the book's focus on influences on North America and the United Kingdom is, in itself, a limitation.

And as for garden travel, Chisholm reveals that while she has read about the great gardens and used a variety of sources for each period of history she has visited most, but not all, of the gardens included. This led me to want to know more about the criteria for the 100 gardens selected while providing me with a renewed impetus for my own explorations.

Patrice Todisco writes about gardens and parks at the award-winning blog, Landscape Notes.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a retired Landscape Architect I wish this book was available when I was in school. It was big on history and the significance that gardens played in the development of civilization, art and science.

[Heidi]

This book is very well written and the photos are great, with some original photos of standard gardens that are always in every garden history book. However, at my first cursory glance, and as an amateur lover of garden history, I found a glaring factual mistake, and a significant oversight in the description of a famous garden..

The books describes a photo of Monticello as showing a 'small reflecting pond.' This is an important error. Monticello was first and foremost a complete farm, where everything from nails to artichokes were produced for the family and slaves..The 'reflecting pond' is actually a pond that held fish for the few days before they were served up for meals. Calling it a 'reflecting pond' is an error that seems to indicate a misunderstanding of the entire heart and soul of Monticello.
This is a significant error, and makes me leery of the rest of the book! It IS very well written, the photos are great, but I am going to have trouble trusting it for facts.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating and comprehensive study of gardens from ancient to modern, highlighting famous examples from each period. I read this book with my 6 year old son, who is interested in gardening. We talked about past ideas and fads (Ha-ha, I'm looking at you), and

When you string landscaping concepts together in a historical spectrum, the ideas flow together and you see how one garden idea flowed into another, or sparked a contrasting reaction. This has enabled me to look at a modern garden and place the individual concepts into their prospective periods. Very fun book.

[Claire Hardwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The photos of the 100 different garden feature are beautifully compiled together and rich in description. I will agree with a previous reviewer that some times the chapters fell short of tying the garden to the premise, but besides that, a very enlightening landscape history book.

[Whitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hold a degree in Art History and this book still helped me parse the progression of western aesthetics. There’s even more background on eastern influence. Art History texts often note when an idea came from somewhere else, but are reluctant to give equal weight to the influence and influenced.

[Tara Weiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

For garden lovers and world travelers - this book had me taking notes on garden design while simultaneously planning our next vacation. I want it for my personal collection as well as my library!

[Steve Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a Best of the Best for the month of September 2018, as selected by Stevo's Book Reviews on the Internet. http://forums.delphiforums.com/stevo1...

[Mills College Library]

712.2 C5424 2018

[Trish Remley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview of landscape design history through example. Have MANY I want to visit.

[Trish Remley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview of landscape design history through example. Have MANY I want to visit.

[roxi Net · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book that inspires travel! It was lovely to break down the history of gardens in an easy-to-follow manner; split in 17 chapters that describe major historic gardens I was able to read information without becoming overwhelmed (as I tend to be when reading non-fiction). Whenever I travel I try to visit botanical gardens but hadn't even thought of visiting individual famous gardens -- this book has brought that desire to the forefront. A great book for those who love gardens, history, and travel.

[Keri-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a lovely overview of the world's gardens but sometimes the essays fell short of tying the garden to the premise, to become simple descriptions. It was a large undertaking that tends to run away from the author. That said, I can see it on the bookshelves of every gardener and garden historian.
Thank you to the publishers for the advanced readers copy in return for an honest review.

[Kerrific Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing photos of gardens across the world! I perfect read for anyone interested in landscape design.

[Beth Tabler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reviewing this book for Linda A. Chisholm, Timber Press and NetGalley who gave me a copy of their book for an honest review.
This is such a lovely book, full of rich stories and even better pictures. I have a history with Landscape Architecture, and this hearkens me back to my college days. This book is both good for the layman garden lover or the professional looking for inspiration. It is also wonderful for the traveler looking to plan their next trip or getaway. I love that I can look through this book and learn something new everytime I read it. A wonderful coffee table book! Check it out. Definitely worth it.