Gardenlust

Woods (former director, Chanticleer Garden, PA) searched six continents for examples of beauty unrestrained by traditional, Western botanical garden ideals to produce this one-of-a-kind book highlighting stunning contemporary gardens representing the work of 50 forward-thinking designers. Woods's broad outlook is refreshing, as many botanical garden books focus on specific garden types or survey spaces in a particular region. In addition to botanical gardens, the work looks at public parks, private residential gardens, and corporate campuses that passersby can enjoy. Far from a pocket-sized tourist guide, this title features many large, jaw-dropping photos of each garden, accompanied by descriptive essays that discuss thoughtfully, cogently, and often humorously the recurring themes of nature, urbanization, ethnobotany, and the importance of native flora. Woods occasionally quotes inspirational designers whose creations strive not only to provide comfort and inclusivity but to educate about climate change and species decline. VERDICT Highly recommended for anyone interested in modern gardens, garden design, or garden travel.--Bonnie Poquette, Milwaukee

May 15, 2018
Woods, a British ethnobotanist, highlights 55 new gardens (made in the last 20 years) from around the world in this combination botanical guide and armchair travel book. The gardens are arranged by continent, beginning with North America and ending with Australia and New Zealand. Russia is not included (and of course the Arctic and Antarctica are not known for their gardens). The variety of designs is impressive, including the Park, in Las Vegas; Chihuly Garden and Glass, of Seattle; Golden Rock Inn; Nevis West Indies; the Dubai Miracle Garden; and the Chenshan Botanical Garden, in Shanghai. In addition to beautiful colored photographs accompanying these profiles, text from Woods describes the plan and arrangement of each garden. He also considers globalization via plants that are reintroduced to their native environments as well as those that are planted to clean the atmosphere and lower the world temperature. A recommended purchase for public libraries that have patrons interested in gardening as well as those who combine gardening and travel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)