Dreamscapes: Inspiration and Beauty in Gardens Near and Far

by Claire Takács

Dreamscapes is a stunning collection of over sixty of the world's most beautiful gardens from across the globe, photographed by internationally renowned and awarded photographer Claire Takacs. Dreamscapes includes gardens designed by well-known designers such as Brandon Tyson, Paul Bangay, and Spanish designer Fernando Martos among others, with photographed locations including Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA, Europe and Asia. This book will astound and delight you with the diversity and creativity of the gardens featured, all portrayed at that rare moment when they are at their most stunning.

Iconic gardens included are the stunning Welsh garden Dyffryn Fernant; Australia's Cloudehill; Martha Stewart's private garden, Skylands; the beautiful Edwardian idyll of Bryan's Ground in Herefordshire; the former home of Vita Sackville-West, Long Barn in Kent; the naturalistic French garden of Le Jardin Plume in Normandy; Piet Oudolf's Hummelo in the Netherlands; Hermannshof in Germany at the forefront of planting design; and Kenrokuen one of Japan's most beautiful public gardens.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Art, Coffee Table Books, Nature

304 pages, Hardcover

Published February 6, 2018

Reviews

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the words of Liz Lemon from 30 Rock, “I want to go to there.” That’s how I felt about every single photo in this lovely book about gardens.

[Frederike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of space and money can help you create exquisite gardens, full of succulents, perennials, cherry blossoms, ferns, sculpted hedges, zen gardens, flowers, grasses and trees, as this truly inspirational book shows

[P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giant Gardens of the Rich and the Garden Designers who Got Rich from Designing for the Rich. A very compelling book for a garden design voyeur. Worth it just to see shots of Martha Stewart's estate on Mt. Desert Island in Maine (my dream place). The differences in design for most of these gardens are pretty subtle - the text does do a pretty good job of pointing out the subtleties in a brief way, but it makes a better book to dip in and out than to read all at once so things don't blend together.

[False · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clair Takacs, an Australian photographer, created a beautiful oversized book of world gardens, in tune with their surroundings and nature and think "$$$$$$." You would have to be a billionaire to recreate these locales, but most if not all were dreamy and meet the interest and well, dreamscapes, of gardeners anywhere.

[Heydi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a feast for the eyes. It’s so absolutely gorgeous and highlights actual places in all their glory. I could just stare at one page for hours. Love it!

[Claire Hardwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

What a beautiful book, truly. Few times have my heart stopped looking at the beauty of these photos showing sunskissed landscapes captured by Claire Takacs. If you want or need a visual warmth of the heart, this book is it.

[Lauren Patton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not entirely sure what I expected, but I think it was better than I expected. The photographs are truly stunning and do the gardens and vistas justice. It felt like I was well-traveled after reading. So much time, work, and money goes into these spaces. Dreamscapes is an appropriate title.

[Ellie Book Worm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a gorgeous book with so many inspiring gardens for the hopeful garden designer. This was gifted to me from a friend, though I would certainly buy it myself if it wasn't.

One for the coffee table, gardener, and designers shelf.

[IE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning! Loved that 3 New Zealand gardens were featured. Inspiration heaven.

[Ambur Taft · Rating 5 out of 5]

So awesome. So many beautiful landscapes and although I love a bit of English countryside the US gardens were my favorite.

[Traven Teng Teck Poh Poh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its very soothing to read it, very immsersive experience even just by browsing thru the pages

*I read at the library and did not buy it.

[Naomi Brearley · Rating 5 out of 5]

No. Words. Other than “GIVE ME A GARDENNNNN” — this book was such a burst of inspiration and just in time for spring. Thanks mom for having the best books lying around the house.

[Kimi_Da_Kiwi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed all the wonderful images captured by Claire Takacs, it was like taking a little tour of the amazing gardens she visited. It was truly breathtaking and inspiring to see!

[Bram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning photography, with relatably-written one-pagers providing information about the gardens and insight into the author/photographer’s creative process.

[Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will be coming back to this book, again and again to read and rediscover landscapes of owners captured in words and pictures of Claire Takacs. Very inspirational and a continuing learning process.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous.