In Harmony with Nature: Lessons from the Arts and Crafts Garden

by Rick Darke

“Quoting seminal figures....Darke reexamines the pertinence of arts and crafts ideals for our own gardens...[and] sidebar boxes...suggest[ing] specific plants and planting methods, and types of materials and decorative embellishments. A bevy of beautiful photographs illustrates Darke’s thoughtful and inspiring ruminations.”— Booklist.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Rick Darke is a landscape design consultant, author, lecturer, and photographer based in Pennsylvania who blends art, ecology, and cultural geography in the creation and conservation of liveable landscapes. He has studied North American plants in their habitats for over three decades, and his research and lectures have taken him around the world.
In 1998 he received the Scientific Award of the American Horticultural Society.

Reviews

[Tracee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The photos are quite dull and dingy which is disappointing as I really wanted to take-in the visual aspects of the arts & crafts in the garden. Since the photos are so dull and lacking in vibrancy, I assumed the book was from the 1970s. Turns out the book was published in 2000 which is surprising and disappointing.

It is evident a lot of thought was put into the subject matter, however, the book would have benefited by improving the photo production quality and making the arts & crafts photos the centrepieces. A concept for the next edition, I suggest…

One highlight of the book was seeing the Mohonk Mountain House near Catskills, NY. It’s a spectacular place I’d never heard of before and surprised I hadn’t seen it featured prominently in any films or tv series. Knowing it must have appeared as a filming location, took to the internet to see which those might have been. Nothing too prominent or obvious, surprisingly. Suggest the next Bond or MI film or a film of similar acclaim ☺️

[Tracy]

Primarily a series of profiles of specific gardens. The text was relatively interesting and the book tied in the major characteristics of Arts and Crafts gardens throughout so you could understand what this garden exemplified. Unfortunately the photography too often focused too narrowly on flowers or architecture moreso than giving a sense of the overall design.

[Juli Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a much more we rounded book on this subject to me. A nice mix of historical and biographical information about the Arts and Crafts movement and its key figured, along with practical, regional gardening advice.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative photos/captions.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photos and informative text combine to make this a wonderful resource for gardeners or anyone interested in the Arts and Crafts movement in England and the US. It would have been lovely to have more photographs, especially at wider angles, of the houses featured, but that might be wishing for another book altogether. The histories of the A&C movement and suggestions provided will guide gardeners from any zone or climate who are interested in steering away from the artificial banality of the Victorian-inspired 'flower bed' (or, more precisely, the bastardized Home Depot version thereof) and toward gardens inspired by nature and on nature's own scale. A lush and gorgeous book of substance.

[Brent Braithwaite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love what this book teaches about a time, a philosophy and an aesthetic! This is one resource that has truly shaped how I approach landscape design.

[Meadow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think this is the style I like for a garden.

[Suzan Poisner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice introduction to period gardening.

[Kris Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pergola - check! I need more native plants!!!