Gardenwalks in the Southeast: Beautiful Gardens from Washington, D.C., to the Gulf Coast

Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (2/07) "Gardenwalks in the Southeast: Beautiful Gardens from Washington, D.C., to the Gulf Coast" by Marina Harrison and Lucy D. Rosenfeld is a wonderfully descriptive guide to the best gardens in a fairly large area, namely the Southeast of USA. The authors begin with an interesting and quite lyrical preface, which is followed with a section on how to use the book and an essay about garden styles. Those opening sections will provide a lot of valuable information, particularly to those readers who might not be so familiar with all of the different garden styles and their history. The following sections are divided by state and they encompass Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington D.C. . Each of the sections opens with a map of the state with clearly marked locations of all the gardens described within. This is a valuable tool for someone who might want to plan a vacation around visiting several gardens, since it offers an easy overview of the locations in each of the states. Each section also contains the "Choosing an Outing in..." piece, where gardens are grouped by different themes; such as Topiary Gardens, Unusual Themes, Child-Pleasing Gardens, Art in the Garden, Aquatic Gardens, Garden Rooms, Romantic Gardens and many more. Since some of the states have a real abundance of gardens, those themes might help you narrow your selections down to those that truly interest you most. Each of the individual gardens is described in at least a paragraph or two, while some of the more notable ones might merit as much as a couple of pages. The information includes the exact address, telephone number and a webpage address in case the garden has one. The descriptions end with information about entrance fees, if any; opening times and directions to the garden. While I found the illustrations, which were created by Ted Enik and Carole Drong, extremely charming and delightful, I still wish for some colorful photos of the described locations. They would certainly add to the already great appeal of this nifty guide, "Gardenwalks in the Southeast," which I would wholeheartedly recommend to nature lovers, gardeners, walkers and anybody else who enjoys beauty in its many forms.

This travel guide covers the southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North & South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington D.C. Each state features listings for major botanical gardens, historic homes with gardens, arboretums, and nature centers. The profiles include a general description and facts about admission fees, directions, hours of operation, addresses and websites. No photographs but attractive line drawings are included. The book also includes introductory essays on various garden styles, such as formal, informal, Colonial, Walled, Conservatory, Topiary, Asian, and rock and water gardens.