Most everyone knows that many of Claude Monet's paintings were inspired by his own garden at Giverny. But you may not know that many other painters, from Cezanne to Frida Kahlo to Impressionists on the coast of New England, were inspired by beautiful gardens.
In The Artist's Garden: The secret spaces that inspired great art (White Lion Publishing, 2019) author Jackie Bennett takes you to the real homes and gardens that inspired some of the greatest painters. The book is divided into two parts: the artists who worked alone in their own gardens; and the artists who lived close to each other in artists' communities. Wherever they lived and when -- from Leonardo da Vinci in the 1400s to 20th century artists like Frida Kahlo and Salvador Dali, all were inspired by the colors and forms of shrubs, trees, and flowers in their gardens. Bennett profiles the artists and the gardens (all of which are open to the public today). Plans and photos accompany each entry, and the book is an inspiration to designers who always work outside,and who plan the gardens that inspire so many.
This book will be familiar to many of you ... it's a revised edition of Planting the Natural Garden
(Timber Press, 2019), which was first published in 1990. This new edition, in a smaller format, has new photos and new cultivars that reflect the latest trends in perennial gardening, particularly the popularity of native plants. Aside from a profile of each plant, there are lists of their characteristics, like "airy" and "blazing" and "structural," and finally, planting plans and ideas for plant combinations. Perfect for the modern gardener and designer.
And all those gardeners who love poetry will certainly want a copy of Marta McDowell's new book, Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Iconic Poet
(Timber Press, 2019). It's a revised edition of her 2004 book on Dickinson's gardens, and it illustrates her long relationship with plants. Not only did plants feature in her poetry and letters, she pressed flowers, sent bouquets to friends, studied botany, collected wildflowers, and tended a conservatory. Organized by season, the book includes poems, photos, botanical art, and excerpts from her letters. A book for poets and gardeners alike.
And finally, New Yorkers who frequent Central Park might want to read Central Park’s Adventure-Style Playgrounds: Renewal of a Midcentury Legacy (Modern Landscapes: Transition & Transformation)
(Louisiana State University Press, 2019) by Marie Walsh, the historian for the Central Park Conservancy. It's part of a series of books by The Cultural Landscape Foundation that focuses on historically important mid-century landscapes that have undergone significant change. Walsh tells the story of "playscapes" built in the 60's and 70's that were part of the so-called "playground revolution." By the end of 70's, many of the paved, sterile playgrounds had been totally transformed, and although many of those deteriorated over time, many have been updated and renewed and better integrated into the park. Visit them to see the best in modern landscape architecture.
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