Creating a Garden Retreat: An Artists Guide to Planting an Outdoor Sanctuary

(Hardback)

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Description

A garden is more than the sum of its parts a garden can be anything one wants it to be. Whats important is that it have a heart. Through ethereal illustrations, textile designer and artist Virginia Johnson takes the reader on her own garden journey, from blank slate to dreamscape. Over the years, she has transformed a small, narrow city lot into a garden that is personal, carefree, wild, and welcoming. It all began with a fence to allow her children to play freely but safely, and over the years has turned into a city-dwellers 'secret garden'.Hornbeams, with their elegant shape, are the heroes of her garden, and the overall palette reflects an artists lens peonies, hollyhocks, roses, and hydrangeas abound. Johnson explains her process with ease and clarity, bringing her ideas to life through words and illustrations so that readers can be encouraged and empowered to start their own garden journeys. The book is organised into clear chapters Trees & Shrubs; Vines; Flowers; Seasons; Edibles; and more.

Reviews

Refreshingly low key. . . . Johnsons irreverent sensibility will take the intimidation out of the game for those looking to have fun. New gardeners big on imagination will find Johnsons encouragement just what they need to get out in the dirt.
Publishers Weekly

Author Bio

Virginia Johnsonis a Toronto-based textile designer and artist. Her collections of colourful prints on clothing, shawls, and home accessories have been sold around the world in stores including Anthropologie, Barneys, Holt Renfrew, J.Crew, and Liberty London. She is the author ofTravels Through the French Riviera, and she also illustrated a series of books for Kate Spade andThe Perfectly Imperfect Homefor Deborah Needleman.