The Wild Garden: Expanded Edition
by William Robinson
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Book Summary Information
Author: William RobinsonContributor: Rick Darke
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-12-18
ISBN: 0881929557
Number of pages: 360
Publisher: Timber Press
Book Reviews of The Wild Garden: Expanded Edition
Book Review: A Message for Today's Gardener, without question
Summary: 5 Stars
William Robinson's book presents a message, still important today: use plants that will take care of themselves, once they get established.
American garden writer and landscape designer Rick Darke provides an introdution to the new edition. He says, "For all of us seeking creative, practical approaches to today's challenges and opportunities, William Robinson's inspired response to the same issues more than a century ago offer historical perspective and suggest current strategies."
Darke traveled to Gravetye, Robinson's home south of London, to include in the book several photos from Robinson's home. The new images clearly reflect the words of Robinson as you read the book.
Robinson wrote to voice his disapproval about current garden trends in England, like carpet bedding or borders with annuals that demanded intense maintenance, and at the same time created an artificial or unnatural look. He wanted a return to a garden where the plants could just grow as they wanted, with minimum pruning, no staking, and generally less demand for garden maintenance.
Robinson confronts the issue of what are native plants and how exotic plants, or those brought from other cultures, may well become part of the landscape. He suggests beginning with local flora, but also makes allowance for exotics as part of the garden.
The setting that Robinson describes for the wild garden, or placing plants where they will thrive, could be any place on a property's landscape, but especially where one might have woods, meadows, or near water. Plant choice in such places is important to create a more natural look as the plants mature.
The plants he lists include spring bulbs like narcissus that could blanket a wooded area before the leaves of nearby trees appear. Also, he describes shrubs, trees, and vines that would fit the wild garden concept. He suggests a meadow on the property where possible rather than mowing. In the meadow you could plant perennials, and mow as infrequently as once a year.
Robinson prefers plants where a barrier might be needed rather than iron fences. In the book he lists trees and shrubs that would provide what he calls "a living fence".
He likes to see the ground covered so that there is no need for weeding or raking of leaves. He writes, "Never show the naked earth; clothe it."
The theme of Robinson's book seems quite relevant today. He calls the kind of planting he recommends, the wild garden or naturalizing, a term popular today. The lily of the valley is an example of a hardy plant he suggests for taking over an area. Just let it spread to create a delightful springtime look.
"The Wild Garden" speaks to today's gardener who is confronted with limited use of water and yearns for less maintenance in the garden. Robinson's book would be a welcome addition to any gardener's library.
Summary of The Wild Garden: Expanded Edition
William Robinson's revolutionary book, The Wild Garden, envisioned an authentically naturalistic approach to gardening that is more vital today than ever before. First published in 1870, The Wild Garden evolved through many editions and remained in print through the remainder of the author's lifetime (1838--1935). In the book, Robinson issued a forceful challenge to the prevailing style of the day, which relied upon tender plants arranged in rigidly geometrical designs. In sharp contrast, Robinson advocated for the use of hardy, locally adapted native and exotic plants arranged according to local growing conditions. Robinson's vision was inspired by his first-hand observations of natural habitats in Europe and North America, and he put his ideas into practice in his own garden at Gravetye Manor in West Sussex. The Wild Garden was ground-breaking and hugely influential in its day, and is stunningly relevant to twenty-first century gardeners and landscape stewards seeking to adopt sustainable design and management practices.In addition to the complete original text and illustrations from the fifth edition of 1895, this expanded edition includes new chapters and 125 color photographs by award-winning photographer and landscape consultant Rick Darke. His new material places wild gardening in modern context, underscoring Robinson's importance in the evolution of ecological design and illustrating an inspiring diversity of contemporary wild gardens.
The potent combination presented here makes this new edition of a timeless classic an essential resource for all who wish to know how we have arrived at our present understanding of gardens and what opportunities lie ahead. As will be immediately clear to anyone who leafs through this book, Robinson's urgent message continues to resonate.
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