Martha's Vineyard Gardens and Houses

by Taylor Lewis

Martha's Vineyard, one of our country's most beautiful islands, is year-round residence or summer home to devotees from the world over. Only a few miles off the shore of Cape Cod, the Vineyard comprises six towns, each with a distinct personality, revealed in its homes and gardens. Reflecting the incredible diversity of the island's topography as well as the heritages bestowed upon it by its earliest settlers -- American Indians, English explorers and missionaries, Portuguese fishermen and whalers -- the island's treasures are revealed through the pictures of award-winning photographer Taylor Lewis. Together with Catherine Fallin and Elizabeth Talbot, he has captured the island's richness of architectural styles, interior design, and gardens. In evocative words and stunning color photographs, we are taken on a tour inside the most special Vineyard houses; down winding sandy lanes and behind garden gates to the island's most delectable gardens. Portrayed in elegant detail are some of the oldest houses on the Vineyard, dating from 1682 in Edgartown and the early 1700s in Chilmark, Vineyard Haven, and Indian Hill; whimsical Victorian campground cottages and summer homes in Oak Bluffs; fishing shacks and restored farmhouses in Menemsha; contemporary marvels in Chilmark and Gay Head. We visit much-loved little cottages and grand estates, studios and homes of artists -- all combine to make up the character that is Martha's Vineyard today. Vineyard gardens are some of the most outstanding in the country. They range from the large and formal with patterned walkways and fountains to the intimate and serene. Depicted in these pages are vast stretches of landscape dotted with ponds and carefully preserved ancient wild cherries and oaks; native shrubs, ground covers, and ornamental grasses; and even an island arboretum, whose owner has produced new cultivars of rhododendrons and azaleas that supply gardeners across the country. These gardens are shown along with backyard gardens, delightful perennial borders, and wild seaside moorlands.

Genres: Travel

277 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1994

About the author

Taylor Lewis lives on a small, wind swept island off the west coast of Scotland with three entitled cats and two little dogs. Interests include staying dry as much as possible (sadly, not as often as wished for) and writing happy, escapism books in a variety of genres and main focus pairings that distract the author from the diabolical weather outside the window.

Reviews

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really my cup of tea but it wasn't a bad read. Editing could have been a bit better.

[Don Heiman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book to be treasured!