Breaking Ground

Not since Marina Schinz's masterful Visions of Paradise, published in 1984, has there been such an important survey of garden design and style as Breaking Ground. Whereas Visions of Paradise featured classic European garden design, Breaking Ground takes an in-depth look at the work of ten contemporary garden designers living and working in America and Europe today.

The 200 glorious full-color photographs by Erica Lennard and the engaging text by garden writer and designer Page Dickey capture the spirit and genius of these ten designers. A chapter is devoted to each designer—his or her sources of inspiration, style, philosophy, and method of creation. From the bold Southern California designs of Nancy Power to the urban geometries of Madison Cox to the updated French formal style of Louis Benech to the romantic country gardens of Nancy McCabe, Breaking Ground profiles the artists who are redefining garden design categories.

In addition to the stunning photographs, sketches and garden plans by the designers are also included. An unusual and practical feature of the book is the afterword by Dickey in which she describes how she is applying what she has learned from each designer to her own garden in New York State. Photographs of her garden show the canvas she is reworking.

Inspirational, informative, contemporary, and beautiful, Breaking Ground is a spectacularly crafted object in itself—sure to be one of the major garden style books for many years to come.

Whether it's introducing the soothing sound of water to your garden or choosing plants for graceful winter silhouettes; whether you are landscaping a brownstone backyard or a dry desert retreat, there are lessons to learn from these contemporary garden masters that will forever enhance where you live.

The two hundred glorious full-color photographs by Erica Lennard and the engaging text by garden writer and designer Page Dickey capture the spirit and genius of each artist, his or her sources, inspiration, style, philosophy, and method of creation. From the bold southern California designs of Nancy Power to the urban geometries of Madison Cox to the romantic country gardens of Nancy McCabe, Breaking Ground profiles ten artists who are redefining garden design categories.

In addition to the stunning photographs, sketches and garden plans that include ideas for walls, alcoves, borders, planters, ponds, paths, courtyards, and rooftops help inspire ideas and adaptations for the home gardener. In an unusual and practical afterword, Page Dickey describes how she is applying what she learned to her own garden in New York State.

Page Dickey is a garden writer, lecturer, and designer. A book about her own garden--Duck Hill Journal: A Year in a Country Garden--was published by Houghton Mifflin in 1991. She has written on garden design for House & Garden, House Beautiful, and Elle Decor. She lectures regularly on garden design and teaches classes at the New York Botanical Garden and the Horticultural Society of New York. Her garden has been featured in HG.

Erica Lennard is a photographer based in France who specializes in gardens and interiors. She is the photographer for Breaking Ground, as well as for Classic Gardens, Artists' Gardens, and Writers' Houses. She also participated in the photographing of Gardens of the World. Lennard contributes regularly to international magazines such as Elle, Elle Decoration, French Vogue, and House Beautiful.