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Lost Gardens of the World: An Atlas of Forgotten Horticultural Treasures
A romantic illustrated journey through forty captivating gardens lost to time.
All over the world, once-flourishing horticultural spaces have been abandoned and forgotten. From the once-crumbling grandeur of the Villa d’Este and the magic of the Lost Gardens of Heligan, to the sculptural surrealism of Las Pozas and the colourful rebirth of the Jardin Marjorelle, there are countless gardens around the world with fascinating stories to tell.
Author and journalist Sandra Lawrence takes readers on a tour of 40 horticultural gems from around the world that have been lost either through neglect, abandonment or destruction. Many have been consigned to history, never to be seen again, while others have been revived and restored by the care and dedication of new owners and communities. These marvels of horticulture take many stately homes, floating allotments, roof gardens and more. But all of them have one thing in the romance of paradise lost.
Featuring commissioned illustrations of each garden by renowned artist Lucille Clerc, this book is a celebration of our love of nature, and the importance of keeping these oases of green alive and well – if not in reality, then at least on the page.
These charming gardens are brought back to life,
The Lost Gardens of Heligan, England Las Pozas, Mexico Le Jardin Marjorelle, Morocco The Garden of Dreams, Nepal Villa D’Este, Italy Palais Het Loo, Netherlands Crowninshield Garden, USA
Discover the remarkable stories behind the creation, decline and occasional rebirth of these astonishing spaces, and meet the people and societies that first created and enjoyed them.
The perfect gift for garden lovers, armchair travellers and cultural enthusiasts.
All over the world, once-flourishing horticultural spaces have been abandoned and forgotten. From the once-crumbling grandeur of the Villa d’Este and the magic of the Lost Gardens of Heligan, to the sculptural surrealism of Las Pozas and the colourful rebirth of the Jardin Marjorelle, there are countless gardens around the world with fascinating stories to tell.
Author and journalist Sandra Lawrence takes readers on a tour of 40 horticultural gems from around the world that have been lost either through neglect, abandonment or destruction. Many have been consigned to history, never to be seen again, while others have been revived and restored by the care and dedication of new owners and communities. These marvels of horticulture take many stately homes, floating allotments, roof gardens and more. But all of them have one thing in the romance of paradise lost.
Featuring commissioned illustrations of each garden by renowned artist Lucille Clerc, this book is a celebration of our love of nature, and the importance of keeping these oases of green alive and well – if not in reality, then at least on the page.
These charming gardens are brought back to life,
The Lost Gardens of Heligan, England Las Pozas, Mexico Le Jardin Marjorelle, Morocco The Garden of Dreams, Nepal Villa D’Este, Italy Palais Het Loo, Netherlands Crowninshield Garden, USA
Discover the remarkable stories behind the creation, decline and occasional rebirth of these astonishing spaces, and meet the people and societies that first created and enjoyed them.
The perfect gift for garden lovers, armchair travellers and cultural enthusiasts.
192 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2024
10 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 23, 2024
Arc Review:
Overall Rating: 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cover Rating: 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You can tell that a lot of research went into this book, and it really payed off. I have to say that my favourite thing about this book is all the pictures that go along with the book they just make the whole reading experience better.
Thank you NetGalley.
Overall Rating: 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cover Rating: 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You can tell that a lot of research went into this book, and it really payed off. I have to say that my favourite thing about this book is all the pictures that go along with the book they just make the whole reading experience better.
Thank you NetGalley.
August 23, 2024
Thank you, Frances Lincoln, for the ARC.
The book is highly informative regarding some of the best known gardens of the world including Las Pozas in Mexico, the Garden of dreams in Nepal and some more!
You will be surprised and shocked at the same time reading about these gardens as I am right now.
The illustrations are well done and the descriptions well written.
However, I felt that the illustrations are a bit repetitive otherwise.
Regardless, the book delivers!
The book is highly informative regarding some of the best known gardens of the world including Las Pozas in Mexico, the Garden of dreams in Nepal and some more!
You will be surprised and shocked at the same time reading about these gardens as I am right now.
The illustrations are well done and the descriptions well written.
However, I felt that the illustrations are a bit repetitive otherwise.
Regardless, the book delivers!
February 23, 2025
4✨ History and gardens? garden history? This book easily caught my eye with its subject. A wonderful romp through some of histories lost gardens and the eras surrounding their creation, loss and restoration. My only wish is that each chapter was even longer, I would have loved more of the history of different garden styles and the changes in garden fashionability.
August 20, 2024
The amount of research that went into this book is astounding, it covers such minute details and facts about every place it covers! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, being immersed into the history of man-made and natural green oasis all around the world. Every story is accompanied by beautiful illustrations that add to the ambiance. Anyone interested in gardening, nature or travel will enjoy this book.
September 28, 2025
I really don’t have any interest in gardening so when I was searching for a book to meet the Gardening category for the 2025 Nonfiction Reader Challenge this was one of a few to pique my interest.
In Lost Gardens of the World: An Atlas of Forgotten Horticultural Treasures, Garden Media Guild journalist Sandra Lawrence has selected forty gardens whose magnificence was once lost to time, but have since been recovered, restored or recreated.
Lawrence devotes roughly 2-4 pages to a description of each garden, providing context for their beginnings, loss, and rediscovery. I was not really familiar with any of them except perhaps a handful in name only, and I appreciated being introduced to these cultural treasures. Among them are the Garden of Dreams in Kathmandu, depicted on the book’s cover, a palace garden made up of six pavilions representing each of Nepal’s ritu, (seasons); Sacro Bosco, also known as Parco dei Mostri, or the Garden of Monsters, created in the mid sixteenth century as a surrealist memorial to a lost love; and Le Jardin Majorelle, a garden in the centre of Marrakech which was rescued from its derelict state by noted designer Yves St Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé.
I learned several interesting facts, including how the design of a lost garden can be recreated not only from contemporaneous information and the remains of structures but also by undulations in the earth, stains in the soil, and pollen samples. I was also surprised that at one time landowners were known to hire ‘ornamental hermits’ to grace their estates, as a sort of living garden gnome.
The coloured pencil illustrations in the book, one per garden by artist Lucille Clerc, are lovely, but rather limited in what they depict. Interested in seeing more, I used the list of Garden homepages Lawrence includes, but then moved over to YouTube where I searched for tours of the gardens by name and happily spent a few hours virtually wondering each landscape with other tourists.
As the publisher suggests this would be a lovely gift for not only keen gardeners but also armchair travellers and those interested in cultural history. I enjoyed the path I wandered through The Lost Gardens of the World.
In Lost Gardens of the World: An Atlas of Forgotten Horticultural Treasures, Garden Media Guild journalist Sandra Lawrence has selected forty gardens whose magnificence was once lost to time, but have since been recovered, restored or recreated.
Lawrence devotes roughly 2-4 pages to a description of each garden, providing context for their beginnings, loss, and rediscovery. I was not really familiar with any of them except perhaps a handful in name only, and I appreciated being introduced to these cultural treasures. Among them are the Garden of Dreams in Kathmandu, depicted on the book’s cover, a palace garden made up of six pavilions representing each of Nepal’s ritu, (seasons); Sacro Bosco, also known as Parco dei Mostri, or the Garden of Monsters, created in the mid sixteenth century as a surrealist memorial to a lost love; and Le Jardin Majorelle, a garden in the centre of Marrakech which was rescued from its derelict state by noted designer Yves St Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé.
I learned several interesting facts, including how the design of a lost garden can be recreated not only from contemporaneous information and the remains of structures but also by undulations in the earth, stains in the soil, and pollen samples. I was also surprised that at one time landowners were known to hire ‘ornamental hermits’ to grace their estates, as a sort of living garden gnome.
The coloured pencil illustrations in the book, one per garden by artist Lucille Clerc, are lovely, but rather limited in what they depict. Interested in seeing more, I used the list of Garden homepages Lawrence includes, but then moved over to YouTube where I searched for tours of the gardens by name and happily spent a few hours virtually wondering each landscape with other tourists.
As the publisher suggests this would be a lovely gift for not only keen gardeners but also armchair travellers and those interested in cultural history. I enjoyed the path I wandered through The Lost Gardens of the World.
September 12, 2024
Author and journalist Sandra Lawrence takes readers on a tour of 40 horticultural gems from around the world that have been lost either through neglect, abandonment or destruction.
Thank you Quarto Publishing & Netgalley for making this available on Netgalley as a Read Now book! I enjoyed reading this book and looking at the pictures of the gardens. If you’re interested in reading about gardens then I would recommend reading this book.
Thank you Quarto Publishing & Netgalley for making this available on Netgalley as a Read Now book! I enjoyed reading this book and looking at the pictures of the gardens. If you’re interested in reading about gardens then I would recommend reading this book.
September 23, 2024
A really interesting book of essays concerning a variety of gardens around the world, ranging from famous works still visited today to ancient gardens long lost to time. I really enjoyed the brief introductions to each location. Each essay describes the history of the garden, the region and historical context of its construction, and a description of the various features specific to each place.
I did feel like the essays were a bit too brief at times, and the use of lots of technical language took away from the writing at times.
I did feel like the essays were a bit too brief at times, and the use of lots of technical language took away from the writing at times.
September 2, 2024
To be perfectly frank I have no idea who the target audience for this book is.
A more casual audience will soon bore from the lack of illustrations acting as a guide for the detailed written descriptions. The illustrations provided while beautiful soon become highly repetitive and have an incredibly dull color palette.
A more knowledgeable audience will soon be picking this book apart, or at best, just enjoying the beautiful cover art as it sits forgotten about on the bookshelf.
I picked this book up because of the pretty cover and hoped to expand my knowledge of historic gardens, especially since the book promised to take us through gardens that have been lost to time. A quick flip through the book proves this premise to be wrong. In fact, with the exception of at most two gardens (and one of those is because its private property), you can visit every single one in this book. Almost lost to time, yes, many of these beautiful gardens have almost been lost, some truly rediscovered by accident, but not lost to where we only have historic records and illustrations.
The descriptions of each garden are correct and go into a nice amount of detail for being limited to only few pages. But those descriptions rely on a lot of outside knowledge that is not explained within the book.
For example, if you are already familiar with Lancelot "Capability" Brown then you will know that Painshill Park's landscape garden is so historic because of the fact that it is essentially the only English Landscape Garden that Capability Brown did not have a hand in creating . But if you have no idea who Capability Brown is, then the passing reference will be lost, and so will the historical significance of Painshill Park (you will probably also have no idea what the definition of a landscape garden, folley, grotto, etc. are either, and all of the descriptions will be lost without keeping a search browser open nearby) . Which frankly, is a shame considering how beautifully the garden has been restored and has even been featured most prominently in season three of Bridgerton.
Keeping with Painshill Park as an example, the accompanying illustration (limit one per garden) is honestly a let down. It depicts probably the worst follies in the park to draw using what appears to be colored pencils. (The art itself is lovely and shows good technical skills and personal style from a highly acclaimed illustration artist) But why draw the Crystal Grotto in a way that takes up over two thirds of the page with just grey spikes that barely shows a view of the artificial lake and covers up one of the Gothic follies with bushy trees that take up the rest of the limited space. It makes for a very foreboding and dark view of what is a very open airy and beautiful garden that sprawls for over 158 acres. While the description at least gives a running list of all of the different things to see in the park, there are no mini illustrations to illuminate what the author is talking about.
This I feel is the biggest failing of the book. The illustrations seem to draw inspiration mostly from the top few search results for each garden, draw the main feature in beige and then fill in the majority of the page with green leafy branches or ferns. Some of the most colorful gardens are drawn practically in monotone, while the most colorful have been intentionally left dull and missing major details. Of course everyone will have their own view on what makes a garden beautiful but these illustrations dull down the current existing states of each garden.
For a book highlighting forgotten gardens I was expecting the illustrations to be imaginings of the gardens in their prime, not drawings of how the gardens currently look right now, which is mostly as some form of crumbling ruin (which is beautiful in its own way).
If I was gifted this book I would cherish it, especially as I find the cover illustration to be beautiful, but I barely learned anything from this book. I would not recommend to casual garden enthusiasts as I feel it will be more confusing that helpful. And to seasoned historic garden enjoyers this book is a waste of time, especially if you have any experience studying historic gardens in an academic setting. The illustrations are not even enjoyable enough as a whole to make this worthy of a coffee table book.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion for the opportunity to read an ARC copy of this book.
A more casual audience will soon bore from the lack of illustrations acting as a guide for the detailed written descriptions. The illustrations provided while beautiful soon become highly repetitive and have an incredibly dull color palette.
A more knowledgeable audience will soon be picking this book apart, or at best, just enjoying the beautiful cover art as it sits forgotten about on the bookshelf.
I picked this book up because of the pretty cover and hoped to expand my knowledge of historic gardens, especially since the book promised to take us through gardens that have been lost to time. A quick flip through the book proves this premise to be wrong. In fact, with the exception of at most two gardens (and one of those is because its private property), you can visit every single one in this book. Almost lost to time, yes, many of these beautiful gardens have almost been lost, some truly rediscovered by accident, but not lost to where we only have historic records and illustrations.
The descriptions of each garden are correct and go into a nice amount of detail for being limited to only few pages. But those descriptions rely on a lot of outside knowledge that is not explained within the book.
For example, if you are already familiar with Lancelot "Capability" Brown then you will know that Painshill Park's landscape garden is so historic because of the fact that it is essentially the only English Landscape Garden that Capability Brown did not have a hand in creating . But if you have no idea who Capability Brown is, then the passing reference will be lost, and so will the historical significance of Painshill Park (you will probably also have no idea what the definition of a landscape garden, folley, grotto, etc. are either, and all of the descriptions will be lost without keeping a search browser open nearby) . Which frankly, is a shame considering how beautifully the garden has been restored and has even been featured most prominently in season three of Bridgerton.
Keeping with Painshill Park as an example, the accompanying illustration (limit one per garden) is honestly a let down. It depicts probably the worst follies in the park to draw using what appears to be colored pencils. (The art itself is lovely and shows good technical skills and personal style from a highly acclaimed illustration artist) But why draw the Crystal Grotto in a way that takes up over two thirds of the page with just grey spikes that barely shows a view of the artificial lake and covers up one of the Gothic follies with bushy trees that take up the rest of the limited space. It makes for a very foreboding and dark view of what is a very open airy and beautiful garden that sprawls for over 158 acres. While the description at least gives a running list of all of the different things to see in the park, there are no mini illustrations to illuminate what the author is talking about.
This I feel is the biggest failing of the book. The illustrations seem to draw inspiration mostly from the top few search results for each garden, draw the main feature in beige and then fill in the majority of the page with green leafy branches or ferns. Some of the most colorful gardens are drawn practically in monotone, while the most colorful have been intentionally left dull and missing major details. Of course everyone will have their own view on what makes a garden beautiful but these illustrations dull down the current existing states of each garden.
For a book highlighting forgotten gardens I was expecting the illustrations to be imaginings of the gardens in their prime, not drawings of how the gardens currently look right now, which is mostly as some form of crumbling ruin (which is beautiful in its own way).
If I was gifted this book I would cherish it, especially as I find the cover illustration to be beautiful, but I barely learned anything from this book. I would not recommend to casual garden enthusiasts as I feel it will be more confusing that helpful. And to seasoned historic garden enjoyers this book is a waste of time, especially if you have any experience studying historic gardens in an academic setting. The illustrations are not even enjoyable enough as a whole to make this worthy of a coffee table book.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion for the opportunity to read an ARC copy of this book.
September 21, 2024
Book Review: Lost Gardens of the World by Sandra Lawrence
Rating: 4 Stars
I recently had the pleasure for reviewing Lost Gardens of the World by Sandra Lawrence, and it was an enchanting experience that transported me across around the globe, revealing the hidden beauty of gardens that time has almost forgotten. This book is a beautifully illustrated journey through forty captivating gardens that have experienced a decline, whether due to neglect, abandonment, or destruction.
Lawrence takes us on a tour of these horticultural gems, from the crumbling splendor of Villa d’Este in Italy to the magical Lost Gardens of Heligan in England. Each garden tells its own unique story, showcasing not just their past grandeur but also the efforts taken by communities and individuals to revive them. I found it fascinating how gardens like Las Pozas in Mexico and Le Jardin Majorelle in Morocco still resonate with life and creativity, while others have been left to fade into history.
What truly struck me was the depth of research that Lawrence poured into this book; the wealth of details and facts about each garden is astounding! It's evident that she has a deep appreciation for these spaces and the stories they hold. I was particularly captivated by how the book highlights not only the beauty of these gardens but also the romance of paradise lost—there’s something profoundly poetic about gardens that were once vibrant but are now mere whispers of their former selves.
The illustrations by Lucille Clerc are an absolute delight. Each page is adorned with beautiful artwork that complements the narratives perfectly, elevating the reading experience. It’s like flipping through a travelogue filled with lush landscapes and vivid colors, making it hard to resist daydreaming about visiting these gardens myself.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Lost Gardens of the World. It’s a perfect blend of history, horticulture, and art that will appeal to anyone interested in travel, gardening, or even history. Whether you're an armchair traveler or a passionate gardener, there's something in this book for everyone. I can't help but give it four stars for its captivating storytelling and stunning illustrations—it's definitely a keeper on my bookshelf!
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
Rating: 4 Stars
I recently had the pleasure for reviewing Lost Gardens of the World by Sandra Lawrence, and it was an enchanting experience that transported me across around the globe, revealing the hidden beauty of gardens that time has almost forgotten. This book is a beautifully illustrated journey through forty captivating gardens that have experienced a decline, whether due to neglect, abandonment, or destruction.
Lawrence takes us on a tour of these horticultural gems, from the crumbling splendor of Villa d’Este in Italy to the magical Lost Gardens of Heligan in England. Each garden tells its own unique story, showcasing not just their past grandeur but also the efforts taken by communities and individuals to revive them. I found it fascinating how gardens like Las Pozas in Mexico and Le Jardin Majorelle in Morocco still resonate with life and creativity, while others have been left to fade into history.
What truly struck me was the depth of research that Lawrence poured into this book; the wealth of details and facts about each garden is astounding! It's evident that she has a deep appreciation for these spaces and the stories they hold. I was particularly captivated by how the book highlights not only the beauty of these gardens but also the romance of paradise lost—there’s something profoundly poetic about gardens that were once vibrant but are now mere whispers of their former selves.
The illustrations by Lucille Clerc are an absolute delight. Each page is adorned with beautiful artwork that complements the narratives perfectly, elevating the reading experience. It’s like flipping through a travelogue filled with lush landscapes and vivid colors, making it hard to resist daydreaming about visiting these gardens myself.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Lost Gardens of the World. It’s a perfect blend of history, horticulture, and art that will appeal to anyone interested in travel, gardening, or even history. Whether you're an armchair traveler or a passionate gardener, there's something in this book for everyone. I can't help but give it four stars for its captivating storytelling and stunning illustrations—it's definitely a keeper on my bookshelf!
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
August 29, 2024
Lost Gardens of the World by Sandra Lawrence is my dream book. Since I was a little girl, secret and hidden gardens have caused my heart to pitter patter. In fact, as a child while shelling peas I regaled my wide-eyed siblings with made-up stories about hidden staircases disappearing into underground candy shops, libraries and gardens. They believed me for a time. Why not take that further as adults, seeking whimsy and fantasy in gardens, architecture, ruins, tree trunks and caves?
As an adult I seek hidden gardens and other treasures on my travels which take me to places of wonder, including several in this book. Forty abandoned and forgotten gardens are the focus, some which have forever faded into obscurity, others which are undergoing restoration. Illustrations for each garden are easily recognizable, especially those I've visited and read about.
Influences such as weather, disease, wildlife and humans can literally change garden landscapes and are discussed here. Between garden chapters are informative pages about gardens such as seed banks, hermitages, follies and garden rooms.
Amongst my favourite gardens in life and in this book are the impossibly exquisite Villa Adriana in Italy which was supplied by aqueducts, Les Hortillonnages in France and its islands, Paleis Het Loo in the Netherlands with ties to royalty and designed by garden archaeologists, and Schönbrunn Palace mazes in Vienna (I once got lost in a garden maze in Scotland!). I would love to visit the subterranean gardens and grottoes of Dewston in Wales and Painshill Landscape Garden in England and many more.
As a master gardener, I enjoy learning about anything horticulture related but this is a book for anyone and everyone intrigued by lost gardens.
My sincere thank you to Quarto Publishing Group-White Lion and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this enchanting book. As there are thousands of such places, my hope is for a lost gardens book series. The possibilities are breathtaking.
As an adult I seek hidden gardens and other treasures on my travels which take me to places of wonder, including several in this book. Forty abandoned and forgotten gardens are the focus, some which have forever faded into obscurity, others which are undergoing restoration. Illustrations for each garden are easily recognizable, especially those I've visited and read about.
Influences such as weather, disease, wildlife and humans can literally change garden landscapes and are discussed here. Between garden chapters are informative pages about gardens such as seed banks, hermitages, follies and garden rooms.
Amongst my favourite gardens in life and in this book are the impossibly exquisite Villa Adriana in Italy which was supplied by aqueducts, Les Hortillonnages in France and its islands, Paleis Het Loo in the Netherlands with ties to royalty and designed by garden archaeologists, and Schönbrunn Palace mazes in Vienna (I once got lost in a garden maze in Scotland!). I would love to visit the subterranean gardens and grottoes of Dewston in Wales and Painshill Landscape Garden in England and many more.
As a master gardener, I enjoy learning about anything horticulture related but this is a book for anyone and everyone intrigued by lost gardens.
My sincere thank you to Quarto Publishing Group-White Lion and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this enchanting book. As there are thousands of such places, my hope is for a lost gardens book series. The possibilities are breathtaking.
October 13, 2024
The main issue with reading a beautifully written book about lost gardens is that I then have to live with the reality of never seeing them in their prime glory.
Lost Gardens of the World is a wonderful book that tells the stories of Gardens the world over that have been lost to time, and often tragic events, some have been found and have restoration work ongoing and some we may never find again. This mix of joy at knowing that something lost has been found and the tragic loss of such stunning locations the world over creates a bittersweet read that made me long to create a folly garden of my own. I felt myself being captivated by the descriptions of stunning locations with softly bubbling rivers and fountains, with plants that had been found on expeditions deep into the wilderness, of hot houses made of glass glittering above you, and of marbles and statues of wild and untamable beasts. Combine that with the artwork of the current state of each garden and the book leaves your imagination building up the most stunning gardens for you.
My only true complaint is I wish there was more artwork of what the gardens would have looked like in their primes, I wanted to see the gardens as they were at the peak of their existence. I also would have loved to see more details on visiting those that had been found and restored.
Overall, I would recommend this to those who love gardens, and the mysteries of places lost to time.
I received an advance review copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are wholly my own and unbiased.
Lost Gardens of the World is a wonderful book that tells the stories of Gardens the world over that have been lost to time, and often tragic events, some have been found and have restoration work ongoing and some we may never find again. This mix of joy at knowing that something lost has been found and the tragic loss of such stunning locations the world over creates a bittersweet read that made me long to create a folly garden of my own. I felt myself being captivated by the descriptions of stunning locations with softly bubbling rivers and fountains, with plants that had been found on expeditions deep into the wilderness, of hot houses made of glass glittering above you, and of marbles and statues of wild and untamable beasts. Combine that with the artwork of the current state of each garden and the book leaves your imagination building up the most stunning gardens for you.
My only true complaint is I wish there was more artwork of what the gardens would have looked like in their primes, I wanted to see the gardens as they were at the peak of their existence. I also would have loved to see more details on visiting those that had been found and restored.
Overall, I would recommend this to those who love gardens, and the mysteries of places lost to time.
I received an advance review copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are wholly my own and unbiased.
November 20, 2024
THANK YOU NETGALLEY & Quarto Publishing Group / White Lion / Frances Lincoln for eARC
4.5★ for the minor things that bummed me out.
“Gardening is war. Nature’s greatest desire is to reclaim its own and humans can only hold back the inevitable for as long as they care enough to fight.” – Sandra LawrenceBeautiful, informative, and just plain fun. Drawings are provided for most of the entries, though I wish there were photos included of the things in which anything *could* be photographed (remains, blueprints, etc). We're given a little peek into each garden with a summary quote, enough info to satiate or hook and shove you down a rabbit hole of your own research, how they came to be and how they came to be no more. Great for those into horticulture, history, architecture possibly, Atlas Obscura. A listing at the back provides information on how to visit every garden included in the book, so cool. And, as always, an index.
4.5★ for the minor things that bummed me out.
August 24, 2024
This is a beautiful book that will awaken the child dreaming of secret gardens in you.
Since I visited the Paronella park in Australia as teen I have been enamored with savage gardens and follies and ruins and general places humans created but that fell into the hands of nature. There is something fascinating about those and this book is here to pick up the magic. Best of all, Paronella park is very much featured in those beautiful pages.
The illustrations are beautiful and probably the big highlight of the book, making it perfect as a coffee table decoration and gift.
Since I visited the Paronella park in Australia as teen I have been enamored with savage gardens and follies and ruins and general places humans created but that fell into the hands of nature. There is something fascinating about those and this book is here to pick up the magic. Best of all, Paronella park is very much featured in those beautiful pages.
The illustrations are beautiful and probably the big highlight of the book, making it perfect as a coffee table decoration and gift.
September 7, 2024
Thank you Frances Lincoln and NetGalley for the eARC of Lost Gardens of the World! All opinions in this review are my own.
I was fascinated by this book because of the concept of a "lost garden" and then I was even more interested when I learned that it is possible to uncover these gardens much like an archeologist!
The illustrations in this book are beautiful and I like that the gardens discussed are from all over the world. I also like that the author updates the reader on any conservation efforts for the gardens.
I was fascinated by this book because of the concept of a "lost garden" and then I was even more interested when I learned that it is possible to uncover these gardens much like an archeologist!
The illustrations in this book are beautiful and I like that the gardens discussed are from all over the world. I also like that the author updates the reader on any conservation efforts for the gardens.
August 31, 2024
A tour of gardens once lost and those yet to be found
Like opening an ivy-shrouded gate to a secret bower, this illustrated guide invites you to go and find these places for yourself. Not all have been returned to their glory but the chase is as important as the arrival. With too many gardens to choose from, this lovely book is likely to inspire you to search out more and see if they even exist any more.
Three and a half stars
Like opening an ivy-shrouded gate to a secret bower, this illustrated guide invites you to go and find these places for yourself. Not all have been returned to their glory but the chase is as important as the arrival. With too many gardens to choose from, this lovely book is likely to inspire you to search out more and see if they even exist any more.
Three and a half stars
November 25, 2024
Lost Gardens of the World is a lovely illustrated guide to gardens of the world that no longer exist or have been recreated but no longer stand as they were originally. From the mazes of Schonbrunn to NYC's former Gardens of the World, this details all kinds of horticultural wonders and how their demise came about. It also details if these were ever recreated and to what extent.
October 29, 2024
I would like to thank Netgalley and
Quarto Publishing Group for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This wasn’t what I was expecting, and it needs more photos/illustrations.
Quarto Publishing Group for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This wasn’t what I was expecting, and it needs more photos/illustrations.
Want to read
April 9, 2025The author has done a lot of research and it is very informative. Anyone interested in gardening, nature or travel will enjoy this book. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2025
What an enchanting travel across the globe this gem of a book is - I love the stories and the images. It is so perfect for a day or evening to just open it and get lost in these wonderful and forgotten gardens.
October 1, 2024
What a wonderful book about Lost Gardens that are being revised. I found the telling of the histories of the gardens fascinating and exciting to imagine, and I found the revival of the gardens reminds me of libraries where they go in and out of fashion but never really die, and are truly diamonds in the rough. I don't know if I would ever get a chance to visit any of these gardens but reading about them makes me feel like I'm there already.
I thought the illustration were very nice but I wish there were actual pictures included of what the gardens look like now and pictures of the people who not only created the gardens but the people who are helping them return to life.
I did like that there is an appendix that tells if the gardens are opened to the public and I hope this book encourages people to visit them.
I want to Thank Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion | Frances Lincoln and NetGalley for an advance copy of a book full of Gardens.
I thought the illustration were very nice but I wish there were actual pictures included of what the gardens look like now and pictures of the people who not only created the gardens but the people who are helping them return to life.
I did like that there is an appendix that tells if the gardens are opened to the public and I hope this book encourages people to visit them.
I want to Thank Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion | Frances Lincoln and NetGalley for an advance copy of a book full of Gardens.
September 22, 2025
Questo libro mi è stato regalato per il compleanno, ma era nella mia wishlist. Sono una grande amante delle piante e dei giardini, anche se non ho ancora testato e capito se ho il pollice verde. In questa lettura ho potuto viaggiare con la mente in luoghi splendidi e dimenticati del globo, grazie anche alle bellissime illustrazioni che accompagnano ogni singolo giardino. Ho trovato molto interessanti i vari argomenti che spezzavano un po' l'elenco dei luoghi, ma soprattutto ho amato il cambio carta. Infatti, questo libro non è solo un gioiello per i contenuti, ma anche per la veste grafica. Inoltre, è molto utile la pagina dedicata alle informazioni di ogni giardino sugli orari di apertura, così che, se si vuole organizzare un viaggio, è più facile inserire i giardini nell'itinerario. Come al solito, vi dico che la saggistica non è il mio genere, o meglio, lo era, perché finalmente ho capito che per leggere questo genere bisogna essere veramente interessati all'argomento trattato.
November 3, 2024
James' rating: 5 out of 5 vibrant stars!
First of all, the illustrations! Oh my gods, they are honestly one of the best ones I've ever seen. It was vivid as well as high in detail. The illustrator did an amazing job.
Coming to the descriptions, I could visibly see the research that the author had done as well the dedication. There was a plethora of information ranging from history to interesting facts to engaging stories. I appreciated the effort that was taken to unveil each garden mentioned and also their clear and concise description that was fluid.
At this day and age where technology is taking over every aspect of our lives, these sites should be preserved not only for their significance in history but also their raw beauty in varied layers. I would love visit them someday. The author has done an excellent job in bringing their garden to life through their words and I would definitely recommend this book to plant lovers.
Thanks to Sandra Lawrence, Lucille Clerc and Frances Lincoln for a beautiful ARC!
First of all, the illustrations! Oh my gods, they are honestly one of the best ones I've ever seen. It was vivid as well as high in detail. The illustrator did an amazing job.
Coming to the descriptions, I could visibly see the research that the author had done as well the dedication. There was a plethora of information ranging from history to interesting facts to engaging stories. I appreciated the effort that was taken to unveil each garden mentioned and also their clear and concise description that was fluid.
At this day and age where technology is taking over every aspect of our lives, these sites should be preserved not only for their significance in history but also their raw beauty in varied layers. I would love visit them someday. The author has done an excellent job in bringing their garden to life through their words and I would definitely recommend this book to plant lovers.
Thanks to Sandra Lawrence, Lucille Clerc and Frances Lincoln for a beautiful ARC!
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