Book 6

A Glossary of Garden History

by Michael Symes

Published 28 October 1993
Michael Symes explains the differences between terms that often confuse gardening enthusiasts. An example of this would be the difference between a gazebo, a belvedere and a summerhouse. Over 500 entries provide a wide range of definitions.'

Book 8

Garden Sculpture

by Michael Symes

Published 1 July 1996
Garden sculpture is an aspect of garden history that has not received a great deal of attention, particularly in Britain, and yet its impact in a garden can be considerable, adding an extra dimension and creating a fascination of its own. In this book the history of sculpture in British gardens is traced from Tudor times to the present day, showing the strong influence of Italy - both classical and Renaissance - and France. Materials and techniques are discussed and the work of the leading garden sculptors is described.

Delightful, eccentric, capricious, bizarre the English Rococo garden, an intriguing branch of eighteenth-century horticulture, was all these and more. This book relates the components of the Rococo garden to movements in art and architecture that had developed in Britain and in Europe, and shows its particular appeal to amateur designers and owners. It was an expression of a period in time, following Baroque and neo-Palladian and anticipating Romanticism in its sense of freedom. Most of the enchanting scenes depicted in Thomas Robins' watercolours have disappeared, but there are many garden buildings from the period that survive. The styles which overlap with Rococo Gothic, chinoiserie, rustic are also considered here, as is the use of flowers, rocks and shells. The principal designers are also profiled, including Sanderson Miller and Thomas Wright.