Upon learning about this book, Michael Garber scarcely drew a breath before agreeing to serve as the chief photographer. It was for me a happy partnership as I knew his work and was convinced his pictures would illustrate the text with beauty and clarity. We were both fortunate that his wife, architect Stephanie Garber, was equally willing to offer her keen eye, research skills, and organizational ability. The official readers, Humphrey Tonkin, University Professor of the Humanities, President Emeritus of the University of Hartford (Connecticut), and author of The Faerie Queene, and Stephen Sinon, Head of Special Collections, Research and Archives at the LuEsther T. Mertz Library of the New York Botanical Garden were knowledgeable, thorough, and helpful in their suggestions. Timber Press staff were supportive, skilled, knowledgeable, and pleasant in leading me through the process, especially Andrew Beckman, Eve Goodman, Sarah Milhollin, and Adrianna Sutton. Of course, any faults in the book are my responsibility.
Owners were welcoming and informative. I especially want to thank hrh Prince Charles for allowing his home Highgrove to be included in the book. Alexandre de Vogüé, co-owner of Vaux-le-Vicomte, spent time correcting points of the château’s history. Sandra Donnell and Bruce Donnell returned to Sonoma especially to meet the photographer. At the Garden of Cosmic Speculation Charles Jencks and head gardener Alistair Clark explained the governing concepts and gave permission for their photograph to appear in the book. Other gracious owners include Camillo Aldobrandini, Villa Aldobrandini; Federicka Bettini, Sacro Bosco; Contessa Marina Borromeo, Isola Bella; Lady Clark, Munstead Wood; Charles Cottrell-Dormer, Rousham; John Hignett, Elizabeth Cartwright-Hignett, and William Cartwright-Hignett, Iford Manor; The Hon. Simon Howard, Castle Howard; John and Suzy Lewis, Shute House; Lorenzo Mazzini, Villa Medici; Fred and Barbara Ifeld, Jim and Mary Ray, and Alison Owings and J. B. Perdue, Sea Ranch; Edward Peake, Sezincote; Richard Scott tenth Duke of Buccleuch, Boughton House; Patrice Taravella, Prieuré Notre-Dame d’Orsan; Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Warne, Sutton Courtenay Manor; and John and Rosamund Wallinger, Upton Grey Manor. In addition Piet Oudolf and his wife, Anja, welcomed us for the open garden day at their home in the Netherlands, he allowing his picture, taken on the occasion, to be used in the book.
Curators, directors, and archeologists were invaluable: Benedetta Adembri and Annamaria Stefani, Hadrian’s Villa; Cynthia Altman, Kykuit; Corinne Charpentier, Parc Jean-Jacques Rousseau; Marina Cogotti, Villas d’Este and Lante; Emily Emerick, Ladew Topiary Gardens; Todd Forrest and Michael Hagen, New York Botanical Garden; Joel T. Fry, Bartram’s Garden; Trish Fry, Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens; Gail Griffin, Dumbarton Oaks; Judy Halberg, John Whipple House; Colleen Henry, Naumkeag; Matthew Jebb, National Botanic Gardens of Ireland; Jim Salyards, Filoli; Jason Scism, Vassar Shakespeare Garden; Andrew Thomason, Gravetye; Angelique Van den Eerenbeemd, Paleis Het Loo; Caroline Wellon, Hawkstone: and Gavin Williams, Kelmscott.
College and university professors John Bender, Stanford University; Harvey Flad, Vassar College; David Peacock, Roehampton University, London; Anna Stevens, University of Padua; Gerda van Uffelen, Hortus Botanicus, Leiden, Netherlands; Howard Wolf, University of Buffalo; and Mariella Zoppi, University of Florence, gave excellent advice and information as did David Paton, Executive Principal of the Radnor House School. I gratefully acknowledge my supportive New York Botanical Garden colleagues including Gregory Long, President, and Susan Cohen, Barbara Corcoran, William Harris Einhorn, Todd Forest, Nancy Gerlach-Spriggs, Michael Hagen, Michael A. Ruggiero, and Lisa Whitmer. I here pay tribute to my first nybg teacher of the history of landscape design, Charles A. Bonnes.
I thank the National Trust for granting permission to include Cliveden, Hidcote, Lindisfarne Castle, Petworth House and Park, Sissinghurst, Stourhead, Stowe, and Studley Royal. The Royal Horticultural Society allowed the inclusion of the Jekyll rock garden at Wisley and English Heritage for Wrest Park.
In addition I appreciate help from and the granting of permission given by the Collaboration of the Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife; Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Gardens/Shakespeare Birthplace Trust; Biltmore Hotel; Château de Versailles; Domaine de Chantilly; Friends of the High Line; Fondation Claude Monet, Giverny; Global Retreat Centre, Nuneham Courtenay; Gravetye Manor; Great Dixter House and Gardens; The Great Hall Winchester, Queen Eleanor’s Garden; The Greenpark Foundation Inc., Paley Park; Hatfield House; Hawktone Park; Indianapolis Museum of Art, Miller House and Garden; Ipswich Museum, John Whipple House; John Bartram Association; Kykuit National Trust site administered by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund; The Lutyens Trust, Lindisfarne; Middleton Place; Montgomery Place Historic Hudson; Mount Auburn Cemetery, a National Historic Landmark; Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association which owns and operates Mount Vernon; National September 11 Memorial & Museum; the New York Botanical Garden; Old Westbury Gardens; Painshill Park Trust; Powerscourt Estate; San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission; the Sea Ranch Association; Springside Landscape Restoration; the staff and volunteers of Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens; Storm King Art Center; Strawberry Hill House; Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc., Monticello; and the Trustees of Reservations, Naumkeag.
Artists, organizations, and photographers who gave permission for their work to appear are listed on the photo and illustrations credits pages. Their cooperation is very much appreciated.
Marzia Bortolin and Eugenio Magnani of the Italian Government Tourist Board in New York paved the way in Italy with the help of Falminia Sanaelli and Federica Iudicello of the Regione Lazin, Paolo Rosso and Alessandra Segato of Regione Veneto, Alberto Peruzzini, Ilaria Crescioli, and Susanna Scalia of the Toscana Promozione, and Joe Maniscalco of Auto Europe.
And, saving the best until last, members of my family helped in many ways. My daughters Eleanor Landauer and Peggy Marsh gave wise advice and Kate Chisholm put her expertise in writing, editing, and publishing to work on the final document. My husband, Alan, always a good companion, traveled with me to the gardens, making astute observations and the necessary arrangements. He saved me both technologically and emotionally from many a potential computer disaster, listened with interest as I worked through my ideas and problems, and, while I wrote about gardens, did our gardening.