American Gardens

American Gardens – AD sent for review

disclosure:  we were sent the item mentioned for the purpose of review

In a time when all of our wings have been severely clipped and there is so much uncertainty, it’s nice to escape for a moment or two and the newly published coffee table book American Gardens by Monty Don and Derry Moore does just that.

American Gardens

In American Gardens we are taken on a journey across the USA, exploring many of the countries historical gardens as seen through the eyes of Monty Don and photographer, Derry Moore. The book also works as an extension of their original television series which aired earlier in the year.

It’s a country I’ve not visited before and as any form of foreign travel seems beyond the realms of possibility right now, it’s been lovely to travel around America through this book and see the depth and variation of garden designs.

The book is divided into three different journeys, the first exploring American Gardens in Virginia, Washington DC, South Carolina, Florida and Louisiana.

American Gardens
photo credit: Derry Moore

Oak Spring, Virginia, reminded me so much of our own English country gardens.  I could just imagine wandering under this pergola on a Spring morning.

The next journey takes in the big cities of New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and the like and shows us gardens and parks with an urban edge, both in terms of structure and their surrounding architecture.  But there are still moments that take you back in time, even in Central Park.

Central Park
photo credit: Derry Moore

Journey three sees Don and Moore exploring Arizona, California and Washington state.  We get to see landscapes that are very different from those I’m particularly familiar with. I had major cacti envy for the Sunnylands estate in Palm Springs, California. My son and I bought love cacti and it would be a dream to have an outdoors garden looking like this, rather than our little terranium.

American Gardens
photo credit: Derry Moore

Monty Don always brings such enthusiasm and life to everything he does, that you really feel you are part of his travels, and his writing is brought to life in Moore’s photography.  It’s been quite a delight to turn the pages of American Gardens and learn more about the country, it’s history and these beautiful settings.

I am no gardener, but I do love and admire the gardens of others. I love being outdoors and pottering around our National Trust gardens as and when I can.  American Gardens has shown me a glimpse into the gardens on the other side of the Atlantic and shown me their variation and given me more of a sense of the history of the USA too.

This review is part of a blog tour and you can find out what others have thought of American Gardens by following the tour each day.

America Gardens

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