Writing a book like this involves seeking advice from colleagues – the collective knowledge is always greater than the individual. Both of us particularly rely on Cassian Schmidt in Germany and Roy Diblik in the USA for their opinions and experiences in growing and managing perennials. Rick Darke is also someone whose opinion we seek and respect, putting gardens and designed landscapes into a wider ecological context. We would like to acknowledge the wisdom of the following, in no particular order: Yuko Tanabe, Tracy DiSabato Aust, Wolfram Kircher, Neil Diboll, Martin Hughes-Jones, Colleen Lockovitch, Jennifer Davit, Neil Lucas, Jacqueline van der Kloet and Dagmar Hillova.
We would like to thank other colleagues who have let us write about their work in chapter five: Heiner Luz, Petra Pelz, Nigel Dunnett, James Hitchmough and Dan Pearson.
This particular project has been a challenge, and we have relied on passing drafts around to colleagues to reassure us that what we are doing makes sense, and even more importantly to tell us when we are not. Thank you to Daniela Coray and John Marder, to Elliott and Susan Forsyth for your comments and reassurance. Particular thanks to Catherine Lucas for her ability to spot word repetition and to Amalia Robredo for her comments on the intelligibility of some of the plans. Thank you to Ye Hang for being a third member of the team in picture selection, in drawing the diagrams and for working to get our books published in China.
We would like to show our appreciation to Anna Mumford and other staff at Timber Press, and to our agent and facilitator, Hélène Lesger, whose cheerful and efficient competence we both greatly admire. Finally, to our wives, Anja Oudolf and Jo Eliot, for their continual love and support during this project and throughout our careers. Anja’s hospitality and constant supply of bread, cheese and coffee are also much appreciated during the days we have worked together at Hummelo.