Creating a Garden Retreat: An Artist’s Guide to Planting an Outdoor Sanctuary

by Virginia Johnson

A garden is more than the sum of its parts—a garden can be anything one wants it to be. What’s important is that it have a heart. Through ethereal illustrations, textile designer and artist Virginia Johnson takes the reader on her own garden journey, from blank slate to dreamscape. Over the years, she has transformed a small, narrow city lot into a garden that is personal, carefree, wild, and welcoming. It all began with a fence to allow her children to play freely but safely, and over the years has turned into a city-dweller’s “secret garden.” Hornbeams, with their elegant shape, are the heroes of her garden, and the overall palette reflects an  artist’s lens—peonies, hollyhocks, roses, and hydrangeas abound. Johnson explains her process with ease and clarity, bringing her ideas to life through words and illustrations so that readers can be encouraged and empowered to start their own garden journeys. The book is organized into clear chapters—Trees & Shrubs; Vines; Flowers; Seasons; Edibles; and more.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

Published May 10, 2022

About the author

Virginia Johnson is a Toronto-based textile designer and artist. Her collections of colorful prints on clothing, shawls, and home accessories have been sold around the world in stores including Anthropologie, Barneys, Holt Renfrew, J.Crew, and Liberty London. She is the author of Travels Through the French Riviera, and she also illustrated a series of books for Kate Spade and The Perfectly Imperfect Home for Deborah Needleman.

Reviews

[Christine Dabbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did not fully read, but browsed and will keep in mind for later.

Excellent example of part-resource, part-art. If I successfully maintain a couple plants this year, I might pick it up for ideas on iterations of yard planning. It helped me realize I don’t need to start with one grand idea and cross my fingers.

Also, I loved how she showed how she LIVED and USED her yard and garden. It is part of her life, not just a thing she made. And I really appreciate being exposed to that idea and think more carefully how projects can add to my life, rather than just a thing to execute.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely watercolor illustrations throughout enhance Johnson’s take on what she thinks a Garden Retreat should look and feel like. I would’ve liked it a little bit more in depth on actually creating the sanctuary, but still found it fun and informative.

[HeatherD · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was disappointed by this book - I purchased it online after reading a review, and I was surprised when it turned out to only have sketches not pictures. There are no before/after pictures.

But I kept reading and ended up being charmed by her breezy description of the evolution of her Toronto garden. I once had a narrow Toronto backyard and it brought back great memories. I liked that she also mentioned her favourite hotel and artist gardens.

This isn't really a garden book (she never mentions sun!) but the sketches are lovely and her garden sounds like a wonderful oasis. It is an easy and pleasant escapist read.

[Megan]

it didn't quite meet expectation but offered a very gentle voice to starting without experience and learning from mistakes.
- colour coordinate your garden
- pull swatches, 'decorate' first then figure out botany
- clearer watercolours will create a clearer image of what it looks like. keep practicing.

[Daphney Winters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even as a professional landscape designer, I found myself dog-earring pages. While this book isn't going to turn you into a master gardener, it's a great insight to see how an artist looks at their garden. I loved the viewpoint and it never hurts to look at something you're familiar from a different angle. It was a quick and fun read with beautiful watercolor pictures as well.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more of an inspiration than how-to with lovely watercolor illustrations.

[Trudy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read, with nice watercolor illustrations, and some good ideas for creating a backyard sanctuary for rest, relaxation, and family gatherings.

[Lexi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The paintings in this book are stunning. If only I had a green thumb...