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Private Edens: Beautiful Country Gardens
"An intimate tour of more than twenty stunning private gardens in Virginia, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts."--Sophisticated Living
In this book, garden design expert Jack Staub offers a tour of private country paradises in the Eastern United States boasting remarkable plant palettes and combinations. Anyone can find inspiration in these oases of beauty nestled in towns including Hudson, New York; Middleburg, Virginia; and Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.
From a romantic garden with cottagey plantings that pays homage to the best of English garden vernacular to a splendid Eden where Maryland countryside meets Himalayan serenity, these garden paradises stand alone on their own terms and offer us examples of what we can all achieve with a modicum of respect, partnership, and imagination.
"Sumptuous photographs."--The New York Times Book Review
In this book, garden design expert Jack Staub offers a tour of private country paradises in the Eastern United States boasting remarkable plant palettes and combinations. Anyone can find inspiration in these oases of beauty nestled in towns including Hudson, New York; Middleburg, Virginia; and Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.
From a romantic garden with cottagey plantings that pays homage to the best of English garden vernacular to a splendid Eden where Maryland countryside meets Himalayan serenity, these garden paradises stand alone on their own terms and offer us examples of what we can all achieve with a modicum of respect, partnership, and imagination.
"Sumptuous photographs."--The New York Times Book Review
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 21, 2014
Really, it's not fair that I can't give separate ratings for the writer and the photographer of this book. If I could, I would give photographer Rob Cardillo a solid five stars. The photographs are just beautiful. And unlike many books about gardening, the book designer resisted the urge to squeeze in tons of photographs at the expense of allowing the reader to see the detail.
The writer, on the other hand, would only get two stars in my book and if I had already had my morning coffee. The writing is overblown and forced. Let me give you a typical example:
"Marching soldier-like in two serried ranks up each side, fat as tea cozies and so tall as to dwarf the car, so enclosing as to make anything ahead or to the side vanish in a cocoon of startling greenness, surmounted by a tall canopy of ancient limbs."
It's not even a sentence.
What's more is that the writer refers to people in odd ways, "the male half of the couple..." and seems enamored with describing the garden owners' pedigrees. And although the book is about gardening, he hardly ever gives us the name of a plant!
My advice? Check the book out of the library, if you can, and look at the photos. Don't bother reading it.
The writer, on the other hand, would only get two stars in my book and if I had already had my morning coffee. The writing is overblown and forced. Let me give you a typical example:
"Marching soldier-like in two serried ranks up each side, fat as tea cozies and so tall as to dwarf the car, so enclosing as to make anything ahead or to the side vanish in a cocoon of startling greenness, surmounted by a tall canopy of ancient limbs."
It's not even a sentence.
What's more is that the writer refers to people in odd ways, "the male half of the couple..." and seems enamored with describing the garden owners' pedigrees. And although the book is about gardening, he hardly ever gives us the name of a plant!
My advice? Check the book out of the library, if you can, and look at the photos. Don't bother reading it.
August 20, 2024
Beautiful gardens
Enjoyed reading through these Gardens. Each one sharing inspiration and stories. I will enjoy reading and going back through it time and time again. Recommend reading.
Enjoyed reading through these Gardens. Each one sharing inspiration and stories. I will enjoy reading and going back through it time and time again. Recommend reading.
August 31, 2025
No names are given.
Text is brief.
Pictures after text.
Very little detail.
No plant lists.
No small gardens included.
I live in this area and would like to know more. This is not the source to use.
I read the kindle version. This seems like an author/photographer vanity publication.
Text is brief.
Pictures after text.
Very little detail.
No plant lists.
No small gardens included.
I live in this area and would like to know more. This is not the source to use.
I read the kindle version. This seems like an author/photographer vanity publication.
October 2, 2025
Delightful
The introduction to each property felt like a lovely gossipy chat with an old gardening pal. The photos amazing, inspirational. I no longer feel it ridiculous to move one of my beds the 30 feet it needs to be.
The introduction to each property felt like a lovely gossipy chat with an old gardening pal. The photos amazing, inspirational. I no longer feel it ridiculous to move one of my beds the 30 feet it needs to be.
April 27, 2014
An absolutely gorgeous book that unfortunately has little to do with reality. There are few ideas for regular gardeners and no information about the plants shown in the photos. If you are looking for a pretty coffee table book, this might be the right book for you, but if you are seriously interested in gardening or landscape design this probably is not the right book for you.
October 5, 2014
I loved the photographs in this gardens coffee table book. The writing was ornate and overblown, like a Gothic romance novel. I'm struggling not to call the author's style "flowery." I'm in Virginia and there are a few grand Virginia gardens in this book which I loved to see. Skip the text and look at the photos.
July 23, 2014
Beautiful photography!
July 29, 2016
Lovely views of estate gardens in the United States, fun to look at, but without much commentary in educating readers more fully in the work to create each garden, and principles of design.
June 29, 2014
On my blog here: http://cspgarden.wordpress.com/2014/0...
January 18, 2015
This book got an extra star because the photography is lovely, but it's not very informative.
February 12, 2014
Truly inspirational!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews