Product Description

This book uncovers fascinating treasures from one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Writer and photographer Eduardo Mencos has been given access to hidden corners of famous gardens such as the Alhambra and to private gardens known only to a privileged few. His images and descriptions reveal a wealth of creativity and tranquility, from Galicia to Granada, Barcelona to the Balearics, Catalonia and the Canaries, Madrid and Mallorca. Some of the gardens he shows are historical; some the creation of their current owners; others are by eminent garden designers, such as Luis Gonzales-Camino and Arabella Lennox-Boyd.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #236155 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

About the Author
Eduardo Mencos is one of Spain's leading photographers.

Customer Reviews

gorgeous
What a truly lovely book this is. Not only is it beautifully produced, but the subject matter is stunning too. Hidden Gardens lives up to its title - I'd never heard of any of these gardens before, but some of them deserve to be world famous. Fantastically artistic photography is used to capture the feel of these gardens, at a variety of times and seasons. Glimpses of the Spanish countryside beyond enhances them.

I'm halfway through copying/recreating one of the gardens at the moment. Some of it's the stuff of dreams, but it's full of great ideas to copy in your own gardens too!

EDEN-LIKE GARDENS BEAUTIFULLY PHOTOGRAPHED
There are so many beautiful places in the world, sites to see, pilgrimages to make. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could visit all of them? In reality, one is probably fortunate to travel to just one of the scenic spots on his or her wish list. After leafing through "Hidden Gardens of Spain," that country rose to the top of my hope-to-travel-to areas.

Writer/photographer Eduardo Mencos has trained both his eye and camera lens on some of the most breathtakingly lovely scenes in Spain. His vision is unerring. Stunning photos in this folio size volume are accompanied by perceptive descriptions that are intelligent, informative, and dynamic. Mr. Mencos may well have come by his appreciation of gardens naturally as his grandmother, the Marchioness of Casa Valdez, was a pioneer of contemporary gardening in Spain.

With 250 color photographs the author escorts us from Galician to Granada, Barcelona to the Balearics, Catalonia and the Canaries, Madrid and Mallorca. Many of the gardens are drenched in that country's history, reflecting the influences of the Romans, Moors, and Europeans. Other gardens were created and are tended by their current owners, still others came to life through the talents of respected garden designers, such as Luis Gonzales-Camino and Arabella Lennox-Boyd. Mr. Mencos was allowed unprecedented access to private gardens, and his views of the Alhambra are spectacular.

In his Introduction Mr. Mencos writes, "Exploring the hidden gardens of Spain has been an enthralling journey for me. Each of the owners would welcome me into their own little Eden and we would share an enchanted moment there."

We are in debt to Mr. Mencos for sharing these enchanted moments with us.

- Gail Cooke