The Gardens of Madeira by Gerald Luckhurst
For centuries the island gardens of Madeira were at the crossroads of the world: as a halfway house between the tropics and the old continent, Madeira received plants from far-flung empires and accommodated ideas from both north and south. Its streets and squares are filled with magnificent jacarandas, flame-trees, and rosewoods, while its waterways are covered by trellises of bougainvillea. This book opens with an introduction describing the discovery and development of the island and its earliest gardens, the role of Portuguese aristocrats and British wine merchants in creating the country estates known as quintas, and the extensive travel literature of early tourists. The book then delivers essential background information on how the climate and landscape of Madeira have allowed the island's unique flora to flourish. The gardens themselves are divided according to type, public or private, historic or modern, and all 24 are in or around the capital, Funchal. A few non-garden areas have been included to introduce the wild flora and landscape of Madeira, certainly of interest to garden lovers.
The kaleidoscope of colours virtually glow on the pages, inviting us to enter a world that's altogether more vibrant than our ownScotsman Madeira is famed for its lush, sub-tropical gardens, and this lavish book captures them in all their beauty. Pure escapism, and the perfect thing to leaf through on a cold winter's night. Daily Mail For garden visitors and armchair travellers. Irish Times Madeira is truly a magical island, from a botanical persepective, filled with wild flowers. Here, at last, is a book that does justice to its gardens as opposed to the dazzling natural scenery. The author is a garden designer living on mainland Portugal who has been making gardens on the island since 1991. He has produced an evenly written text, not at all 'gushy' - there is even a smattering of judicious criticism. Highlights include the Monte palace and the immaculate " Victorian" English garden at Quinta Vigia. Daily Telegraph The British have always loved the island of Madeira for its climate and the gardens it can produce. Now we have The Gardens of Madeira from the designer Gerald Luckhurst, who has worked there for years. The Portuguese and English influences can clearly be seen in the older gardens that relish the subtropical expat style of herbaceous borders, camellias and monkey puzzles; but there are newer gardens too, just as plant-rich and Luckhurst's Madeira Magic, for all its commercial origins, is one of the island's most interesting plantings. Times Book of the Week: [Gerald Luckhurst's] sumptuous book 'The Gardens of Madeira' gives a wonderful insight into their history and creation. About 30 gardens in and around the capital, Funchal, and further afield are expertly described, and the book also covers the native flora and landscape. Mail on Sunday The Blandy garden and many others are now beautifully explained in 'The Gardens of Madeira', a new book by Gerald Luckhurst, himslef a specialist tour-leader a d garden designer on the island. During this vile weather, his colour illustrated survey has been my refuge. -- Robin Lane Fox Financial Times Gerald Luckhurst, as an Englishman who has made his home in Portugal and restored an extraordinary landscape at Sintra, understands Portuguese gardens perfectly - and is even more qualified to discuss Madeira as he has himself designed some of the gardens which feature in his book. Historic Gardens Review An invaluable prelude to any visit. Horticulturalist
GERALD LUCKHURST is a landscape architect who has designed and built many gardens on the island. He is an expert plantsman with an unrivalled knowledge of sub-tropical flora. Each year he leads a number of specialist garden tours of the island.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780711230323 |
| ISBN 10 | 0711230323 |
| Title | The Gardens of Madeira |
| Author | Gerald Luckhurst |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Quarto Publishing PLC |
| Year published | 2010-11-04 |
| Number of pages | 176 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |