American Gardens

American Gardens
ISBN: 9783791386751
Publication Date: 1 November 2020

Monty Don, Britain's treasured horticulturalist, explores iconic and little-known gardens throughout America.

For decades, Britain's much-loved gardener Monty Don has been leading us down all kinds of garden paths to show us why green spaces are vital to our wellbeing and culture. Now, he travels across America to trace the fascinating histories of outdoor spaces which variously epitomise or redefine the American garden. Don looks at a huge variety of gardens and outdoor spaces at the centre of American history from the White House Kitchen Garden and the garden at the British Embassy in DC, to the slave garden at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello estate and Middleton Place in South Carolina.

On the West coast, he visits verdant oases designed by Richard Neutra, Charles Eames, and Frank Lloyd Wright. Don delves into contemporary interpretations of outdoor space, looking at how urban gardens such as New York City's High Line feed our souls, and how some can even feed our bodies - such as the Edible Schoolyard in San Francisco and guerrilla gardeners' urban farm in inner-city Detroit. The book also invites us to take a peek into the gardens of well-known figures such as Bette Midler, Lionel Richie, and Anna Wintour.

Throughout the volume, celebrated photographer Derry Moore brings each of these gardens to life with splendid images that capture the settings' unique light, ambiance, and sense of space. Featuring luscious photography and Monty Don's engaging and informed commentary, this book will leave you with a richer understanding of how and why America's most important gardens came to be designed.

About the Author

Monty Don is well known as the gardening expert for ITV's This Morning, is a presenter on BBC1's Holiday, and hosts Channel 4's Real Gardens. He fronts C4's TV cov...