Still looking for a great gift for mom for Mother’s Day? There is still time. For those who garden or those who just love the inspired beauty of gardens around the world here is our top selections, just in time for Mother’s Day.
Topping the list is Life In The Garden, a beautiful collection of stunning photographs from the eighteenth century Connecticut home of Bunny Williams. As a long time fan of her style this book is full of new inspiration. We all know that gardens are a work in progress as they change over time. Bunny talks about that and gives some great insight into some of the inspiration that she drew from gardens around the world along with some of the things that worked and some that didn’t. If you believe a picture is worth a 1000 words this is the book for you!
Exterior Architect, Scott Shrader has written this gorgeous guide with solutions to all of the top challenges encountered while living in close proximity to other humans. Plantings to gain privacy, rules for constructing seating that serves the best flow for guests and the cook, and bedrooms that open to beautiful back yards. Counting numerous celebrities among his client list, you can now have the same advice for your home. He is a master of blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor living in style.
Seasonal bouquets are one of the best ways to mark the seasons and bring a little nature into your space. This lovely book is a great place to start to plan a cutting garden that will supply you with beautiful blooms throughout the seasons. Erin Benzakein’s flower farm in Washington State was her own creation grown from nothing. She learned all through trial and error and shares all in this book arranged by season with tasks, recommendations to keep things growing for a constant supply of seaonal flowers, and even tips on arranging them. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned gardener this book will not disappoint.
Garden tours are one of the best ways to see real gardens up close and personal. This book acts as a garden tour and takes you behind the scenes to some of the most beautifully mature gardens of the northeast. Gardens that can only become fully expressed by the passage of time. The book tells their stories and the stories of those who are their caretakers. Some survive from the homes of those who made their fortunes in coal and textiles in the 19th century. Others are transplants from across the country. Newer generations of owners too. Old stone, hard work, and a dedication to preserving and protecting these gardens are all a part of what you will find in this book along with loads of inspiration.
Private Gardens of Philadelphia Nicole Juday Photographs by Rob Cardillo Amazon
This is one of those books that reminds me of why I garden. Filled with moving prose as well as photos, this one is as much about the words as the flowers. If you want to feel the joy that a garden can bring this is the book for you. There are great tips and insight given about the practical ways of gardening but the way in which Christie Purifoy tells us about them is spiritual and magical. You are just as likely to pick this one up in the dead of winter as spring in full swing. Just lovely.
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