Russell Page, one of the legendary gardeners and landscapers of the twentieth century, designed gardens great and small for clients throughout the world. His memoirs, born of a lifetime of sketching, designing, and working on site, are a mixture of engaging personal reminiscence, keen critical intelligence, and practical know-how. They are not only essential reading for today's gardeners, but a master's compelling reflection on the deep sources and informing principles of his art. The Education of a Gardener offers charming, sometimes pointed anecdotes about patrons, colleagues, and, of course, gardens, together with lucid advice for the gardener. Page discusses how to plan a garden that draws on the energies of the surrounding landscape, determine which plants will do best in which setting, plant for the seasons, handle color, and combine trees, shrubs, and water features to rich and enduring effect. To read The Education of a Gardener is to wander happily through a variety of gardens in the company of a wise, witty, and knowledgeable friend. It will provide pleasure and insight not only to the dedicated gardener, but to anyone with an interest in abiding questions of design and aesthetics, or who simply enjoys an unusually well-written and thoughtful book. Book jacket.
Thoughtful, well written prose on one man's life and love of Garden Design and Nature
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
From back cover: "Russell Page was one of the most famous landscape gardeners in Europe. This is his classic text describing his training and the making of his many and celebrated gardens. Written in clear, elegant prose, illustrated with a substantial photographic sections, this edition boasts pictures by Marina Schinz of Russell Page's gardens in a more mature form and hitherto unpublished photographs from the author's files with a foreword and captions by Fred Whitsey, gardening correspondent of the 'Daily Telegraph.'" **** Contents: * Introduction: The Education of a Gardener Part One 1 - In Search of Style 2 - Notes on Composition and Design 3 - Sites and Themes 4 - Near the House 5 - On Planting: Trees 6 - On Planting: Shrubs 7 - On Planting: Flowers 8 - Water in the Garden Part Two 9 - Town Gardens and Others 10 - Switzerland and Italy 11 - The South of France 12 - For the Public Eye 13 - My Garden
A True Master
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
Page gives the reader strategies for learning plant names, remembering designs so you can recall them later, and gives a lot of opinions that ring true to me about style. A classic book, well written, and unlike anything I've read in a long time. More than instructional, inspirational. Sure to be a favorite. A gem.
the education of a gardener
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
this book is a cultural treasure, but then i am a long-time admirer of russell page, his sensitivity to site and his knowledge as a plantsman. while he tried to make good garden design accessible to more people conceptually, aesthetically, and financially, there remain some recommendations that are clearly out of reach of the ordinary person. however, his approach can be adapted to any any size of garden and any budget. recommended for its beautiful prose alone, i will read this book again and again for its depth of understanding of all aspects of garden design.
Essential
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
There's been no better book written about the art of designing a beautiful landscape, IMO. While few of us can relate to mansions on the Riveria or expansive town gardens in Paris, the principles Mr. Page talks about are an accessible distillation of a lifetime of intense planting, looking and thinking. If nothing else, experiencing this rigorous and disciplined artist is an incredible inspiration.
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