Product Description

Here are 20 of Wales' best and most interesting gardens, some unknown to the gardening world, some familiar, and all specially photographed by award-winning photographer Charles Hawes. This is a chance to see what is happening in Welsh gardens today, be they large or small, contemporary town gardens or delightfully old-fashioned country gardens; to see how they relate, now and in the past, to the rugged landscapes that surround them, and to see what personalities and ambitions have created them. Stephen Anderton is known to readers of The Times for his ability to take his readers around a garden in words, to show how it really feels to be there, using his scalpel wit to explore their beauty and what they do well, but never ignoring their problems and their failures. With Anderton as a guide, you will certainly be provoked into visiting the gardens not just to see their glorious planting, but to look afresh at the designs and how they work, and to ask yourself, does this work for me? What would I do here? How would I have made this garden? Gardens include Aberglasney, Llandeilo; Bodnant, Conwy Valley; Bodysgallen, Llandudno; Bodrhyddan, Rhuddlan; Cae Hir, Cribyn; Dewstow, Caergwent; Dyffryn Fernant, near Fishguard; Erdigg, Wrexham; Nant yr Eryd, Boncath; National Botanic Garden of Wales; Lower House, Hay-on-Wye; Plas Brondanw, Llanfrothen; Plas Cadnant, Menai Bridge; Plas Newydd, Llanfairpwll; Plas yn Rhiw, Pwllheli; Powis Castle, Welshpool; Ridlers Garden, Swansea; The Dingle, Welshpool; Veddw House, Devauden; Wyndcliffe Court, Chepstow.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38391 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Review
Writer Stephen Anderton likes to walk into a garden and feel inspired by daring designs, quirkiness and innovation. --David Powell - Daily Post

Anderton's wonderful guide is enough to make me get on the internet and start looking for B&Bs. His enthusiasm comes across in his new book which could grace any coffee table in style. --Emma Townshend - The Independent

A superb production with an opinionated and provocative text. --Stephen Lacey - The Telegraph

About the Author
Stephen is an award-winning journalist, author, broadcaster and lecturer both here and abroad. He writes weekly in The Times and for many magazines. Stephen has been involved in a number of books including Rejuvenating a Garden (1998), Urban Sanctuaries (2001) and was a presenter on television for Britain's Best Back Gardens 2003 and 2004 (ITV). Charles regularly illustrates articles in The English Garden magazine and features for gardening and lifestyle magazines in the UK, Germany, Italy and South Africa. He has won prizes in the Royal Horticultural Society's photographic competition in 2002, 2003 and 2005. His own garden - Veddw House Garden - is open regularly to the public and has featured in many magazine articles.

Customer Reviews

Lively and Beautiful
This book is the rare combination of great photographs and interesting text. When Anderton describes a garden as having earnest theatricality it beings the garden and its owners to life.
It is not a book about p;ants or how to make a garden. It is however about what a garden is for and how they are inspired and inspiring. The photographs tell a story and the words then also challenge the gardens to go on growing too.
buy it!

A welcome insight
This book with excellent photographs and robust text fills an important gap about Wales and her gardens. Being a Welshman exiled in South Africa this was truly delightful discovery.

A delightful book
Came across this delightful book, being initially drawn in by the splendour of the photographs (by photographer Charles Hawes). However, the text (from Stephen Anderton) then adds wonderfully to the images, and generates a real flavour of each of the gardens, giving a sense of their wonder, and individuality. Whilst focussing on Welsh Gardens, this stands as a wonderful book in its own right. A delightful read for anyone interested in visiting, or just reading about gardens.