The History of Landscape Design in 100 Gardens (Timber Press, Portland, Oregon 2018) is by Linda A. Chisholm with photographs by Michael D. Garber. Chisholm chose 100 of the world's great gardens, which illustrate the history and principles of landscape design, and endeavors to answer the question why a particular style became dominant at a specific time and place in history. The book focuses on developments from around the world, especially those that influenced gardens in North America and the United Kingdom.
The Preface and Introduction provide the context and background to the work. Chisholm was inspired by one of her professors, Joan Kennedy (Kinnaird), who noted that landscape design reflects a culture, and that by studying the prevailing styles of landscape and garden design we can learn what a culture thinks and values, especially about nature. Landscape design, as with other art forms, borrows from the past, sometimes replicating it, and often adapting it to a new purpose. For Chisholm, understanding the past is essential to understanding the present and to shaping the future.
The bulk of the work is devoted to descriptions and beautiful photographs of the 100 gardens, which are organized into 17 historical categories with names like "A World of Wonders", "Place-Making", and "Less is More". The back matter includes an extensive reading list, bibliography, credits, and index. I was pleased to discover that my husband and I have visited quite a few of the gardens listed either individually or together (see the list of "Several Favorite Gardens" below). I was interested to learn more about the gardens, and what the author felt the gardens indicated about the culture and the impact the gardens made to the culture. This is a great reference for some of the most interesting gardens from around the world, with an interesting point of view.
Influential Gardens
The Preface and Introduction provide the context and background to the work. Chisholm was inspired by one of her professors, Joan Kennedy (Kinnaird), who noted that landscape design reflects a culture, and that by studying the prevailing styles of landscape and garden design we can learn what a culture thinks and values, especially about nature. Landscape design, as with other art forms, borrows from the past, sometimes replicating it, and often adapting it to a new purpose. For Chisholm, understanding the past is essential to understanding the present and to shaping the future.
The bulk of the work is devoted to descriptions and beautiful photographs of the 100 gardens, which are organized into 17 historical categories with names like "A World of Wonders", "Place-Making", and "Less is More". The back matter includes an extensive reading list, bibliography, credits, and index. I was pleased to discover that my husband and I have visited quite a few of the gardens listed either individually or together (see the list of "Several Favorite Gardens" below). I was interested to learn more about the gardens, and what the author felt the gardens indicated about the culture and the impact the gardens made to the culture. This is a great reference for some of the most interesting gardens from around the world, with an interesting point of view.
| Several Favorite Gardens |
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| Palace of Versailles. Located in Versailles France. La Notre, Le Vau, and Le Brun. A tribute to the control and hierarchy of a king, with views to infinity. Chapter 3, "Brink of Infinity", pages 84-87. |
| Taj Mahal. Located in Agra, India. Fifth Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The mausoleum and garden honors his dead wife, and reflects Muslim, Persian, and Indian design and traditions. When viewed from the ground, the lacy tomb seems to float in the air. Chapter 7, "Gaiety and "Gloomth", pages 196-197. |
| Mount Vernon. Located at Mount Vernon, Virginia. George Washington. Embodies utilitarian purpose that is set within an aesthetically pleasing plan. Combines old traditions and new ideas, traits of Washington the new republic. Chapter 8, "Three Men, Two Nations, One Passion", pages 220-224. |
| San Carlos Borromeo (Carmel Mission). Located at Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Father Junipero Serra, Manuel Ruiz. Combines older monastic traditions, Moorish details, and local resources. Chapter 8, pages 225-227. |
| Central Park. Located at New York City, New York. Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux. Inspired by Andrew Jackson Downing who wanted to provide a large park where the poor and working class could reconnect with nature. Represented populist and democratic beliefs, and inspired the creation of public parks everywhere. Chapter 9, "Designing for Democracy", pages 254-261. |
| Filoli. Located at Woodside, California. Bruce Porter and plantswoman Isabella Worn. Reminiscent of an English Renaissance country estate, but adapted to the California environment. Chapter 13, "Bringing Home "Abroad"", pages 361-363. |
| Sea Ranch. Located in Sonoma County, California. Lawrence Halprin. Vacation homes that fit into the natural landscape, rather than change it. Chapter 16, "This Fragile Earth, Our Island Home", pages 436-438. |
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