Knot Gardens and Parterres is a fully illustrated guide to the history of these decorative features and shows how they relate to other contemporary arts and crafts. It also explains how to design and plant a knot garden.

"Topiary, knots, and parterres come in many guises, from the grand and imposing to the humble and folksy. In this book Caroline Foley -- with the aid of diarists, writers, wits, designers, gardeners, and garden owners -- traces their story through the centuries and across the world"--Jacket flap.

A toparius was a Roman garden designer, the clipping and shaping of trees and shrubs is thus a very old art, yet in this book the reader is treated to designs such as a locomotive, an Egyptian temple and a leafy Loch Ness Monster.

A wonderfully informative guide for anyone exploring Scotland's heritage, featuring 112 gardens.

"This collection of essays explores the issues, methods, and approaches that students in landscape architecture have developed during that period to cope with the expanding subject of gardens and their history. The volume will serve as a bench mark in the field, with its range of approaches and wealth of illustrative material. Each contributor focuses upon a specific piece of his or her research, and uses this as a basis to discuss the wider implications of the study of gardens within such contexts as botanical, horticultural, agrarian, literary, technological, social, culture, political, and art history" -- Provided by publisher

Topiary is experiencing a revival of interest. Step-by-step photography illustrates innovative design projects, suitable for courtyard gardens, and both large and small gardens.'