PREFACE

Without plants there would be no life on earth. They are not only fundamental to the ecology and biodiversity of our planet but actively ensure we can breathe the air around us. They are the engine which supports the bewildering array of life we enjoy and share this planet with, from animals to birds and insects. It isn’t possible to envisage a world without plants, such is their primary importance to sustaining life as we know it.

It would seem then that in designing a new landscape or garden it would be a simple task to choose plants to please the eye and enhance the spaces we live in. However, ever since the intrepid plant hunters of the 18th and 19th Centuries started to expand their explorations across the globe returning with exciting, vibrant new species, the explosion of new plants available to the gardener and designer has never abated. The number of plants which can be sourced currently runs to tens of thousands, covering every conceivable type of shrub, tree, perennial and aquatic in most variations of local climate from desert to cool, lush swamp.

The decision for a designer then is not simply what plant where. The real challenge of a designer is to not only select which plants to grow according to soil and climatic conditions, but to intelligently select those species which somehow reflect a particular feeling, a mood or concept so as to change the way we react to their presence. It is as important to select from this bewildering list those which truly best give a garden its character and personality. Within this selection process the intimate knowledge of flowering times, foliage and stem colour all come into play in a carefully orchestrated series of moments which, if chosen intelligently have the ability to lift the garden to another level, making it not only unique but the embodiment of a dream made real.

Plants have the ability to engage us, linking us to the landscape, fundamentally instilling in us a genus loci or sense of place which may at times be key to appreciating the vision of the designer or those who live in that place. It is perfectly within the remit of the designer or gardener to choose plants either local to a garden’s origin or by contrast to select those which positively contradict it. This is the true art of planting design,to hold true to what we expect to see or to question our relationship with the landscape by using unexpected plants in exciting combinations.

This book aims to explore the ideas of designers and plant lovers from around the world, focusing on that key ingredient, how the planting has enhanced the space and made it unique in some way. Artists and designers’ drawings throughout give a sense of the painstaking hours in planning how a space will look and feel. Planting design is true artistry on many different levels and requires a deep horticultural knowledge mixed with a painter’s eye as the many beautiful colour images will show.

For those new to planting design this book will provide inspiration and hopefully urge the readers to experiment with their own gardens and outdoor spaces, no matter how small. Plants are key to our way of life and engaging with all five of our senses. The beauty of designing with plants can touch us in ways few other forms of art can.

Adam S Bailey
Adam S Bailey Garden Design