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The Planthunter: Truth, Beauty, Chaos, and Plants
An Avant Garde(ning) Book
From street gardens in Los Angeles to grand country estates in Australia, The Planthunter is a visceral and immersive exploration of the exceptional and ordinary ways people around the world find purpose and connection through the act of gardening. All the featured gardeners are committed to the cultivation of the earth and the human spirit. They’re landscape architects, artists, garden designers, plant collectors, wanderers, big thinkers, florists, and writers. The Planthunter is for the plant curious, the plant killer, the plant lover, and everyone in between. Jam-packed with soulful stories and hundreds of eye-opening photographs, this must-read will inspire contemplation, curiosity, care, and action.
From street gardens in Los Angeles to grand country estates in Australia, The Planthunter is a visceral and immersive exploration of the exceptional and ordinary ways people around the world find purpose and connection through the act of gardening. All the featured gardeners are committed to the cultivation of the earth and the human spirit. They’re landscape architects, artists, garden designers, plant collectors, wanderers, big thinkers, florists, and writers. The Planthunter is for the plant curious, the plant killer, the plant lover, and everyone in between. Jam-packed with soulful stories and hundreds of eye-opening photographs, this must-read will inspire contemplation, curiosity, care, and action.
258 pages, Hardcover
Published April 30, 2019
2 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 15, 2019
The Planthunter: Truth, Beauty, Chaos, and Plants by Georgina Reid was an interesting read, but not what I was anticipating. More gardener biography/essay/philosophy than gardening and plants. Also, most gardens were in Australia, a few were in New Zealand or California. Definitely not my home climate, but interesting.
The essays focused on different types of gardens and the gardeners who created them. Each with a different mission or purpose and a very different result. Gardens included: indoor, urban, rental, massive, and air. The gardeners themselves had interesting stories and reasons for creating their particular garden. Those interests ranged from music, urban renewal, health, insect habitat, family traditions to heirloom seeds and more.
There is an "Earth Mother" take on gardening evident in this book that feels a bit preachy at times, but I think anytime we reflect on why we embrace a passion, we tend to wax evangelical in our narrative. The quotes at the beginning of the book leave no doubt as to where the reader is headed, so if the reader is surprised by the content, oh well.
I would like to have seen more panoramic/wide shots of each of the gardens. many of the accompanying photos focus on a plant or vignette. Some essays have minimal photography.
For me, the takeaway of the book is, "Why does one garden?" Reading the philosophies of others has lead me to think about my own purpose for gardening. I hope this defined purpose will result in a more cohesive garden and maybe fewer plant/landscape mistakes.
Thank you to #netgalley and #timberpress for an ARC ebook in exchange for an unbiased review.
The essays focused on different types of gardens and the gardeners who created them. Each with a different mission or purpose and a very different result. Gardens included: indoor, urban, rental, massive, and air. The gardeners themselves had interesting stories and reasons for creating their particular garden. Those interests ranged from music, urban renewal, health, insect habitat, family traditions to heirloom seeds and more.
There is an "Earth Mother" take on gardening evident in this book that feels a bit preachy at times, but I think anytime we reflect on why we embrace a passion, we tend to wax evangelical in our narrative. The quotes at the beginning of the book leave no doubt as to where the reader is headed, so if the reader is surprised by the content, oh well.
I would like to have seen more panoramic/wide shots of each of the gardens. many of the accompanying photos focus on a plant or vignette. Some essays have minimal photography.
For me, the takeaway of the book is, "Why does one garden?" Reading the philosophies of others has lead me to think about my own purpose for gardening. I hope this defined purpose will result in a more cohesive garden and maybe fewer plant/landscape mistakes.
Thank you to #netgalley and #timberpress for an ARC ebook in exchange for an unbiased review.
May 10, 2019
Author, Georgina Reid, has produced a work of beauty that stands completely alone from the normal garden books. In "The Planthunter" she has combined artistic imagery that tempts the viewer with all-to-often missed details, grand vistas, candid portraits, and secret glimpses into garden oases. As one reads along, you are transported to these spaces, intrigued by their owners and the stories that follow.
Reid has pulled together an inspirational and eclectic group of gardeners with interests as varied as their plants. There are engineers, musicians, painters, collectors, adventurers and more. Besides being the authors and caretakers of stunning plant havens, they are united by their stewardship of nature. Each highlighted individual has wisdom to pass on or observations gleaned from long, dedicated experience.
"The Planthunter" is strikingly unique in that it grabs the reader with a ferocity for plants and their ability to shape lives. This isn’t just about dirt. It is about living in the artistic capacity of nature.
I am already making space on my bookcase!
Reid has pulled together an inspirational and eclectic group of gardeners with interests as varied as their plants. There are engineers, musicians, painters, collectors, adventurers and more. Besides being the authors and caretakers of stunning plant havens, they are united by their stewardship of nature. Each highlighted individual has wisdom to pass on or observations gleaned from long, dedicated experience.
"The Planthunter" is strikingly unique in that it grabs the reader with a ferocity for plants and their ability to shape lives. This isn’t just about dirt. It is about living in the artistic capacity of nature.
I am already making space on my bookcase!
January 12, 2019
After hearing the author Georgina Reid on Australian radio I was excited and intrigued to read her book. I was not disappointed. I loved that she gave each gardener the opportunity to divulge their own philosophies on gardening and each is supported by wonderful photography. Included is the folk medicine garden in the wise women tradition of Marysia Miernowska in the Santa Monica mountains. To Marysia even creating compost is a spiritual practice. This book is not only a meditation on gardening but also a meditation on life.
*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
December 24, 2020
Inspiring read. Marvelous stories of REAL people around the world, a true variety of interests and approaches all centered around plants.
June 20, 2023
This is a really beautiful book.
The author has devoted two or three pages apieces to inspiring individuals, an interview, photographs, sometimes a page or so in the person's own words. Some of them are gardeners on a grand scale, like Thomas Woltz, who designs parks and all manner of private and public installations; teachers, like the self proposed witch and healer Marysia Miernowska. There's Ron Finley, famous due to being fined and threatened with arrest for planting an edible garden in front of his LA home rather than grass. There are artists and wealthy hobbyists and ecological activists. There are people who aren't famous at all. But what they all have in common is a passion for plants, and true understanding of their relationship to light, or insects, or water, or us - there are so many ways to interact with a garden.
I enjoyed it a lot.
The author has devoted two or three pages apieces to inspiring individuals, an interview, photographs, sometimes a page or so in the person's own words. Some of them are gardeners on a grand scale, like Thomas Woltz, who designs parks and all manner of private and public installations; teachers, like the self proposed witch and healer Marysia Miernowska. There's Ron Finley, famous due to being fined and threatened with arrest for planting an edible garden in front of his LA home rather than grass. There are artists and wealthy hobbyists and ecological activists. There are people who aren't famous at all. But what they all have in common is a passion for plants, and true understanding of their relationship to light, or insects, or water, or us - there are so many ways to interact with a garden.
I enjoyed it a lot.
July 10, 2019
Many people of differing regions, states, countries, economic status can all call them selves gardeners. Why? Because the art of gardening is different for everyone. Georgina Reid recognizes this difference in her book. Planting is done for so many different reasons, but we all share that special satisfaction when flowers or food results from the sweat equity we've invested in our own piece of ground. Ms Reid shows us gardens from all walks of life and then lets the gardener tell what their garden means to them. This is an excellent book. Pictures and stories all support the central premise of how gardening reveals that inner spark to create something with our own two hands.
September 18, 2022
I had no idea what I had bought when I took home my copy of this book and then of course left it on the shelf for...years? Maybe? But when I cracked it open over the last couple of days I was so pleasantly surprised and delighted with what I'd found.
In truth, it was the tagline that got me: "Truth, Beauty, Chaos and Plants". Absolutely spoke to me! The book is full of interesting, unique people, their individual stories and the amazing gardens they keep - although garden doesn't always feel like the right word to describe what they've created in nature, with nature. The photos are absolutely stunning and I just loved the whole experience of reading this.
In truth, it was the tagline that got me: "Truth, Beauty, Chaos and Plants". Absolutely spoke to me! The book is full of interesting, unique people, their individual stories and the amazing gardens they keep - although garden doesn't always feel like the right word to describe what they've created in nature, with nature. The photos are absolutely stunning and I just loved the whole experience of reading this.
May 12, 2019
I stumbled across The Planthunter website last year and have been enamored ever since. What a gorgeous site now turned into a book! The photography is simply stunning and the gardeners and plant lovers profiled as fascinating....I wanted more! I found myself wishing for more time and money to simply become even more nerdy about plants than I already am.
What a lovely book!
*I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for my review.*
What a lovely book!
*I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for my review.*
November 14, 2019
A lovely book from Timberline Press by an Australian woman that has traveled with a photographer to interesting gardens in Australia, New Zealand and the west coast of US. People who combined art with gardening and care about the earth. It is really a coffee table book (mine is already piled with books) but it is also an interesting read.
January 13, 2019
Plants, people and gardens.
December 7, 2019
Beautifully photographed book about gardening outside the box. Interesting read- Unfortunately I did not realize the book is only related to gardeners in Australia but is still great for ideas
August 18, 2020
I loved every single thing about this book and I hope she writes many more. Also, major style points for referencing the page colors with plants from that story. 💜
November 6, 2020
Beautiful and random
April 22, 2021
Photo essays. Fun book to read through.
May 16, 2019
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved, loved this book! Full of plant philosophy and beautiful photographs, a fascinating book for all gardeners. From the Gangsta Garden (plant some shit!), to gloriously disordered gardens, to a witch's garden, right through to permaculture, a fabulous book for any gardener to peruse. Recommended reading!
I loved, loved this book! Full of plant philosophy and beautiful photographs, a fascinating book for all gardeners. From the Gangsta Garden (plant some shit!), to gloriously disordered gardens, to a witch's garden, right through to permaculture, a fabulous book for any gardener to peruse. Recommended reading!
February 13, 2019
Appealing ~ Aspirational ~ Attractive
tl; dr: People have amazing gardens. Many are almost not gardens at all.
Alright, I picked this book to be transported from my wintery life to a green fantasy. I didn't expect anything from the writing. I was wrong. This is an odd book. Its part coffee-table book, part gardening book, part interior decorating book, but also part non-fiction self-help. The author shows these amazing places, not all of them in posh, out of reach locals. She then allows the gardener/ owner to speak about their spaces. Each becomes a meditation on space, environment, and hope. This book is, strangely enough, a much better look at humanity and healing than many self-help books. (Also, the layout designer and graphics folks did a gangbuster job. Stupendous).
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
tl; dr: People have amazing gardens. Many are almost not gardens at all.
Alright, I picked this book to be transported from my wintery life to a green fantasy. I didn't expect anything from the writing. I was wrong. This is an odd book. Its part coffee-table book, part gardening book, part interior decorating book, but also part non-fiction self-help. The author shows these amazing places, not all of them in posh, out of reach locals. She then allows the gardener/ owner to speak about their spaces. Each becomes a meditation on space, environment, and hope. This book is, strangely enough, a much better look at humanity and healing than many self-help books. (Also, the layout designer and graphics folks did a gangbuster job. Stupendous).
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2019
Reading this book took me to far away places and helped me rethink my love of gardening. The stories and passions of the many avid gardeners was truly refreshing to read and connect with. I enjoyed the photos throughout this book, they helped transport me into the varied experiences and worlds of so many different people.
March 1, 2019
First, let me say I thought some of the photos were beautiful. I enjoy gardening and work as a garden educator/librarian. I was drawn to this book because I am curious about new gardening books. That said, I am sorely disappointed as the content and focus of the book is on a New Age, Mother Earth type of mentality. The first swear word in the book put me off and I still wanted to give it a chance, but when the swear words became more intense and purposeful, I gave up reading it. I told myself that I would just look at the photos, but even the photos began to deteriorate in quality. I would not recommend this book to a serious gardener nor any type of educational program.
April 7, 2019
Author, Georgina Reid, has produced a work of beauty that stands completely alone from the normal garden books. In "The Planthunter" she has combined artistic imagery that tempts the viewer with all-to-often missed details, grand vistas, candid portraits, and secret glimpses into garden osaises. As one reads along, you are transported to these spaces, intrigued by their owners and the stories that follow.
Reid has pulled together an inspirational and eclectic group of gardeners with interests as varied as their plants. There are engineers, musicians, painters, collectors, adventurers and more. Besides being the authors and caretakers of stunning plant havens, they are united by their stewardship of nature. Each highlighted individual has wisdom to pass on or observations gleaned from long, dedicated experience.
"The Planthunter" is strikingly unique in that it grabs the reader with a ferocity for plants and their ability to shape lives. This isn’t just about dirt. It is about living in the artistic capacity of nature.
I am already making a space on my bookcase!
Reid has pulled together an inspirational and eclectic group of gardeners with interests as varied as their plants. There are engineers, musicians, painters, collectors, adventurers and more. Besides being the authors and caretakers of stunning plant havens, they are united by their stewardship of nature. Each highlighted individual has wisdom to pass on or observations gleaned from long, dedicated experience.
"The Planthunter" is strikingly unique in that it grabs the reader with a ferocity for plants and their ability to shape lives. This isn’t just about dirt. It is about living in the artistic capacity of nature.
I am already making a space on my bookcase!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews