Product Description

This book advances a fusion of scientific and ecological planting design philosophy that can address the need for more sustainable designed landscapes.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #754520 in Books
• Published on: 2004-07-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 336 pages

Review

'This is a much-needed book containing vast amounts of useful information ... It should help all those involved in the design and management of public landscapes to take the plunge into naturalistic planting.' – Isabelle van Groeningen, Garden Design Journal March 2005

'Its clear and easy-to-read text will be of value to all working in amenity horticulture and the design and management of public greenspace. It is a textbook for social horticulture, but of real interest to everyone who has an interest in plants. I can think of very few IoH members who would not be delighted to own this book.' – Peter Thoday, The Horticulturist

'Buy it for its excellent text and celebrate the fact that the contributors are such articulate horticulturists, capable of presenting so clearly an increasingly important aspect of the use of plants in public open space.' – Peter Thoday, The Horticulturist

From the Back Cover
The last quarter of the twentieth-century witnessed a burgeoning of interest in ecological or naturally inspired use of vegetation in the designed landscape. More recently a strong aesthetic element has been added to what was formerly a movement aimed at creating nature-like landscapes. The book advances a fusion of scientific and ecological planting design philosophy that can address the need for more sustainable designed landscapes. It is a major statement on the design, implementation and management of ecologically-inspired landscape vegetation. With contributions from people at the forefront of developments in this field, in both Europe and North America, it provides a valuable synthesis of current thinking.

Customer Reviews

Excellent book for naturalistic landscape designer
We are all dreaming to have more contact with the natrual world, especially when cities expanded themselves even faster. Gardens and Parks designer should have these ideas in their heads that landscape architecture would change to a more ecological and naturalistic way.

I believe that the humanity of those who have more link with nature is different with whose who live in crowded and rigid urban environment. We are losing more and more amenities of our life when facing an undesirable environment.

We have been starved over the centuries, especially since the Industrial Revolution, of an environment that is fully congruent with community, with life and with relationships.

Even if you know nothing about landscape, it will delight and stun you. It should be compulsory reading for anyone involved in urban planning or landscape architecture. The feeling is so wonderful even when you read it and imagine what kind of landscape you could experience!

The dynamic landscape
I find this book very useful as a planner of urban landscapes. It gives me an academic insight into plant communities, an overview of contemporary naturalistic planting design and information about creative management. In a context where money are sparce and a natural look is valued, this book is a tresure of information. The illustrations are on the other hand of a poor quality.

A good collection of articles by various authors
A good collection of articles by various authors. They recognized the fact that people cannot have 100% control of the end result of a planting design, and tried to guide instead of taming the plants. A good exploration on ecology.

Gang Chen, Author of "LEED AP Exam Guide" & "Planting Design Illustrated." LEED AP, AIA