Victoria, moments in the garden

As enticing as a stroll through a garden on a beautiful summer day, Victoria Moments in the Garden is a delight from start to finish. Romantic descriptions of this country's most exquisite public gardens complement sumptuous photographs by Toshi Otsuki that capture each landscape at its visual peak.

In this photographic tour of a dozen of America's most special gardens, horticulture writer Tovah Martin unveils all that is extraordinary and inspired in the art of botanical display. Moments in the Garden explores a vast range of gardening styles, from the classic formality of Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania to the adventurous informality of Joana Reed's Longview Farm also in Pennsylvania; from the wilderness delights of the Garden in the Woods in Massachusetts to the wildlife gardens at the Wing Haven bird sanctuary in North California. Readers can visit Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, surrounded by magnificent Italianate sculptures and fountains, and are invited guests at the Emily Dickinson garden, where an eclectic combination of perennials prosper much as they did in the poet's time. The history and development of each is explored, its spirit and beauty captured at its most brilliant. All have been diligently preserved, maintaining the textures, shades, and forms of the original gardens, some first planted more than 150 years ago.

But Moments in the Garden has its practical side as well. Classical plant combinations, selected for their beauty, hardiness, and fragrance, are presented, along with suggestions for planing layout, and ornamentation for your own garden. You'll find expert advice on herb gardening with heirloom varieties, and ideas for using dried plants and flowers in decoration.