Inspired by Nature

This in-depth presentation of the art of the garden--from historical styles to contemporary materials-- is an essential reference for garden aficionados around the world.

The Domaine of Château-sur-Loire--a fifteenth-century UNESCO World Heritage site--has for centuries been prided for its exquisite gardens. Once a preferred retreat for kings and members of the nobility, it has been a center for the art of the garden for the past decade and, since 1992, has also hosted the International Garden Festival, which features a series of creative exhibitions devoted to landscape art, and exploring science, technology, and art with poetry and inventiveness, amid the vibrant Loire Valley landscapes and eighty-acre gardens.

Throughout the year, the château displays temporary and permanent exhibitions, which have featured works by the likes of Andy Goldsworthy, Jannis Kounellis, and Sheila Hicks, among others. Key elements that define each of the great gardening traditions--Japanese, Chinese, Korean, English, and French, are explained and trends that draw upon the five senses--light and shade, sound, fragrance, taste, and texture--provide inspiration for the home gardener.

This volume, both a guide to the art of the garden and an homage to the château itself, is a rich resource on gardens and gardening in all of its forms, tracing the history of the prestigious garden festival for the first time in book form, alongside the Domaine's breathtaking story, whose magic will continue to inspire generations to come.