Lost Gardens of the World: An Atlas of Forgotten Horticultural Treasures - Hardcover

by Sandra Lawrence (Author), Lucille Clerc (Illustrator)

A romantic journey through forty captivating gardens lost to time.

All over the world, once-flourishing horticultural spaces have been abandoned and forgotten. From the once-crumbling grandeur of the Villa d'Este and the magic of the Lost Gardens of Heligan, to the sculptural surrealism of Las Pozas and the colourful rebirth of Le Jardin Majorelle, there are countless gardens around the world with fascinating stories to tell.

Author and journalist Sandra Lawrence takes readers on a tour of 40 horticultural gems from around the world that have been lost either through neglect, abandonment or destruction. Many have been consigned to history, never to be seen again, while others have been revived and restored by the care and dedication of new owners and communities. These marvels of horticulture take many forms: stately homes, floating allotments, roof gardens and more. But all of them have one thing in common: the romance of paradise lost.

Featuring one bespoke illustration of each garden by renowned artist Lucille Clerc, this book is a written celebration of our love of nature, and the importance of keeping these oases of green alive and well - if not in reality, then at least on the page.

These charming gardens are brought back to life, including:

• The Lost Gardens of Heligan, England
• Las Pozas, Mexico
• Le Jardin Majorelle, Morocco
• The Garden of Dreams, Nepal
• Villa d'Este, Italy
• Paleis Het Loo, Netherlands
• Crowninshield Garden, USA

Discover the remarkable stories behind the creation, decline and occasional rebirth of these astonishing spaces, and meet the people and societies that first created and enjoyed them.

The perfect gift for garden lovers, armchair travellers and cultural enthusiasts.

Author Biography

Sandra Lawrence has written for all the broadsheets and many magazines, as well as over 20 books, including Lost Gardens of the World (Frances Lincoln), Miss Willmott's Ghosts (Bonnier) and The Witch's Garden series for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Welbeck (The Witch's Garden, The Magic of Mushrooms, The Witch's Forest and The Psychedelic Garden). For children, she is the author of the Atlas series (Atlas of Beasts; Atlas of Heroes, Big Picture Press), Anthology of Amazing Women (Templar) and A Magical Guide to Plants (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Welbeck).Lucille Clerc is a French illustrator based in London. She mainly works in editorial design and book illustration and sometimes designs interior and exhibition spaces. Her work is inspired by the natural world and the streets and architecture of London.