A celebration of gardens` many practical and aesthetic functions
Discusses iconic gardens from history, including the gardens of Suzhou, the temple garden of Nikko, the Medici gardens around Florence, the Escorial and the Tudor gardens at Hampton Court Palace
Pinpoints cultural signposts and landmarks in gardens on a global scale
Discusses the future of the garden in terms of innovation and climate change

Gardens take many forms, and have a variety of functions. They can serve as spaces of peace and tranquilty, a way to cultivate wildlife, or as places to develop agricultural resources. Globally, gardens have inspired, comforted, and sustained people from all walks of life, and since the Garden of Eden many iconic gardens have inspired great artists, poets, musicians, and writers.

In this short history, Gordon Campbell embraces gardens in all their splendour, from parks, and fruit and vegetable gardens to ornamental gardens, and takes the reader on a globe-trotting historical journey through iconic and cultural signposts of gardens from different regions and traditions. Ranging from the gardens of ancient Persia to modern day allotments, he concludes by looking to the future of the garden in the age of global warming, and the adaptive spirit of human innovation.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1: The Ancient and Medieval Garden
2: The Islamic Garden
3: The East Asian Garden
4: Italy
5: France
6: Spain and Portugal
7: Northern Europe
8: Britain
9: America, Africa, and Australia
Postscript: The Future History of the Garden
Glossary
Further Reading
Index