Rosemary Verey's Good Planting Plans

It is my belief that this book was published in 1990 with the title "The Art of Planting." I have The Art of Planting and it is an old favorite. I especially like that the botanical names of the predominant plants in the photographs are given.

What do Elton John and The Jacksonville Garden Club in Florida have in common?They both like plants and Rosemary Verey's Garden Designs. This book contains more than 25 of her designs.From knots to plots and every size in between, Rosemary Verey has created a garden for it. Each garden design is accompanied by color photos, plant listings and descriptions as well as a watercolor layout. What I really like about the book is how many of the plants are herbs. Herbs are such a natural choice for the landscape because they bring life and use to the garden. I particularly liked her Outdoor Dining Room Garden. In a small space, she was able to create a relaxing atmosphere capable of hosting leisurely lunches or sumptuous suppers both enhanced by the wonders of plants.

Rosemary Verey successfully explains years of gardening experience in yet another beautifully illustrated and informative book. She includes site photos, watercolor plans, and detailed but not overly exhaustive explanations and descriptions to both enchant and educate the reader. Verey's many gardens include projects of various sizes, styles, and intentions presented like a relaxing yet stimulating informal discussion. The author makes it easy to appreciate a myriad of garden design concepts including site issues, scale, and balance and she discusses her experience on the 'how and why' of color, texture, placement, flowering sequence, etc. I find myself browsing this book over and over, yet it always remains fresh with always more to appreciate and learn.