Education of Gardener

by Russell Page

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 039472920X
• ISBN13: 9780394729206
• Release Date: April 1985
• Publisher: Vintage Books USA
• Length: 381 Pages
• Weight: 1.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Thoughtful, well written prose on one man's life and love of Garden Design and Nature

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sections, this edition boasts pictures by Marina Schinz of Russell Page's gardens in a more mature form and hitherto unpublished photographs from the author's files with a foreword and captions by Fred Whitsey, gardening correspondent of the 'Daily Telegraph.'"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

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

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

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.