Gardens by the sea - Tapa blanda

A celebration of maritime utopias from the Mediterranean, America, Britain, North Africa and Mexico, authors Alexandra d'Arnous and Bruno de Laubadere, accompanied by photographer Erica Lennard, travel together to these seaside oasis'. Protected from the harsh salt-laden winds by vegetative barriers, embracing the rocky cliffs or running into the beach, they are all beautiful examples of sympathetic garden design and expertise. Tropical plantings and structured formality, blowsy florality and natural herbage recall memories of summer holidays and create havens of solitude for their owners in the midst of busy coastlines. The book encompasses our own lush, green jewels of Trebah and Tresco, the Walton's acclaimed La Mortella, an emerald drop in the middle of the Mediterranean, Corsican sculpture gardens, American wilderness gardens, shore-embracing Tunisian retreats, all stunningly designed and created in the face of adversity. This is a fabulous illustrated collection of coastal inspiration - contemporary, and classical - to inspire and dream of, accompanied by knowledgeable and intelligent text. A true glimpse of paradise for lovers of maritime gardens. - Lucy Watson

The mix of sensuous sear air and rolling landscapes of flora and rock produce evocative gardens. Whether wild and rambling, sprouting naturally from the surrounding landscape, or a formally designed property punctuated with sculpture, they are gardens infused with romance and beauty. "Gardens by the Sea" gives a view of these gardens, some never before open to the public eye - with creations by Madison Cox and Tom Armstrong, former curator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Whitney Museum director, along the coasts of New England to internationally famous camellia specialist Jean Laborey in his exotic garden of Delvosalle in Brittany. For Tunisia, we visit a garden of sand; in Rhode Island we relax in a garden of grasses; a Buddha holds court beneath a climbing rose in Malibu; in Normandy a tower peeks above the palms. Each garden in the book is a fresh fantasy.