Paradise Gardens by Toby Musgrave

Paradise Gardens by Toby Musgrave

Plants and gardens have always been a cornerstone of all major world religions and belief systems. The Fields of Reeds in Ancient Egypt, Eden in Christianity, the Isles of the Immortals in China and the Pure Land in Buddhist Japan are just some of the divine gardens promised to the faithful or earthly paradises imbued with symbolism and ritual. And in all religions plants have their own religious meanings and associations, ceremonial or ritualistic purpose and use. Taking a global perspective and with a chronology of over 5000 years, Paradise Gardens examines, explores and interprets seventeen belief systems grouped into five themed sections. Each chapter will feature an especially significant earthly paradise and through this one garden will explore the wider religio-symbolic use of gardens and plants within the belief system. Dr Musgrave is able to explore and explain these gardens both within their religious framework but also within the wider contexts of garden history and the prevailing zeitgeist.

“painstakingly researched, beautifully illustrated..an absorbing and educational read and a refreshing and insightful way to look at gardens - and human history, too.”

"scholarly and beautiful... An intelligent new way to look at beautiful gardens. Five stars"

“This is a fluently written, intellectually stimulating and informative book. ...a serious book for readers interested in how and why gardens play such an important role in our spiritual lives”

"scholarly and beautiful... An intelligent new way to look at beautiful gardens. Five stars"

“This is a fluently written, intellectually stimulating and informative book. ...a serious book for readers interested in how and why gardens play such an important role in our spiritual lives”

“painstakingly researched, beautifully illustrated...an absorbing and educational read and a refreshing and insightful way to look at gardens - and human history, too.”

Dr. Toby Musgrave is a horticulturist and garden historian, and author of a number of books including the best-selling The Plant Hunters, An Empire of Plants, The Seven Deadly Sins of Gardening, Courtyard Gardens and Cottage Gardens. Presenter of the DVD Your First Garden Made Easy, Toby designs gardens around the world and lectures widely on garden history and garden design.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780711236530
ISBN 10	0711236534
Title	Paradise Gardens
Author	Toby Musgrave
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Quarto Publishing PLC
Year published	2015-09-03
Number of pages	224
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.