The American Woodland Garden

Capturing the Spirit of the Deciduous Forest

North America's eastern half, roughly from the Midwest to the Atlantic, was once a great deciduous forest. Although centuries of human intervention have cleared much of the land, the timeless forest remains in the spirit of the place. Today, even the shortest period of human neglect allows for the resurgence of the process of forest creation. The greatest gardens — and happiest gardeners — in this area will be those that take into account the nature of the land. In his unique, and often thought-provoking new book, award-winning author Darke promotes and stunningly illustrates a garden aesthetic based on the strengths and opportunities of the woodland, including play of light, sound, and scent; seasonal drama; and the architectural interest of woody plants.

While written from a compelling and fresh perspective, The American Woodland Garden never strays from the realistic concerns of the everyday gardener. Information on planting, soils, and maintenance provides a firm foundation for horticultural accomplishment. An alphabetical list of woodland plants offers useful advice for every garden, emphasizing native trees, shrubs, vines, ferns, grasses, sedges, and flowering perennials that fit the forest aesthetic. More than 700 of the author's stunning photographs show both the natural palette of plants in the wild and the effects that can be achieved with them in garden settings. Many of the most striking photos in the book were taken at classic gardens that are paragons of an ecological style.

The American Woodland Garden is a clarion call to a new awareness of our relationship to the natural world. This book will take its rightful place among the classic works that have influenced our concept of the American landscape.

Media reviews of this book:

"A gallery of breathtaking images of native woodlands in all seasons ... This is an inspiring reference that synthesizes ecology and horticulture, presented by a philosophical author with an artist's eye."

—Virginia Small, Fine Gardening, January/February 2003

"An accomplished work of epic proportions. ... Wherever you garden and no matter how extensive or small the woodland you tend — even if it is just a single birch tree — The American Woodland Garden offers the most comprehensive, inspiring, and thought-provoking advice you are ever likely to find within the confines of a single volume. As the text on the inside jacket correctly claims, this book is destined to become a classic."

—Bob Purnell, Gardens Illustrated, December 2003

"Reads like a memoir. It's also a visual showcase, with more than 700 of Darke's exceptional photographs gracing its pages, all documented with an attention to detail gardeners will appreciate ... A valuable reference for those who seek to follow Darke's call to 'capture the spirit of the deciduous forest' in their own spaces."

—Moira Sheridan, People Places Plants, Spring 2003

"This volume is nothing short of monumental. Exquisitely photographed and deftly written, it takes the reader on a journey of discovery ... A good garden needs a philosophy, an aesthetic, a methodology, and a palette. This extraordinary book furnishes them all."

—C. Colston Burrell, Horticulture, April 2003

"This book is packed with useful information on woodland gardening design, practices, and plant choices. Photographs are stunning and numerous."

—R. P. Poincelot, Choice, March 2003

Customer reviews of this book:

"This book is beautiful and inspiring."

—Debra B. from Miami, Florida, November 2, 2007

"Absolutely lovely, the best gardening book I've come across!"

—Wynne P. from Hoover, Alabama, April 8, 2007

"Beautiful photography. This book sits in my entry room welcoming visitors."

—Jeremy B. from Bolingbrook, Illinois, January 12, 2007

"Beautiful, thoughtful, and inspiring."

—Elizabeth D. from Warwick, New York, May 4, 2006

"A delightful book! A whole new perspective on the dynamics of a woodland!"

—Cecilia H. from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, May 4, 2006

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An excerpt from this book:

There is no overstating the grandeur and dignity of the deciduous forest canopy: it is truly awesome. I've always found the top of the woods especially enthralling in mid winter, when trees are completely bare of leaves. Stand still and follow the lines of massive trunks skyward, and you'll observe their graceful splitting into repeatedly finer segments until they become mere threads, barely distinguishable to the naked eye. Then move forward just a step or two, while looking up, and literal millions of angles will shift and change. The canopy is a fabulous study in intricate detail. Exquisitely displayed in winter's exposed canopy, the signature of a tree is written in its branching patterns and angles ...

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