Heaven is a Garden: Designing Serene Spaces for Inspiration and Reflection - Hardcover

Johnsen, Jan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0985562293 ISBN 13: 9780985562298

Publisher: St. Lynn's Press, 2014

Synopsis

Why do some gardens make us feel so wonderful, relaxed and refreshed? Using ideas based on ancient and modern practices, this book shows how you can uplift yourself and others in a serene setting designed for “unplugging” and relaxing. Whether you are intending to create a lovely garden or just thinking about a future outdoor haven, Heaven is a Garden will help you see your backyard in a whole new light and reawaken an awareness of the wonders of Nature. “Simplicity, Sanctuary and Delight” is the guideline that noted landscape designer Jan Johnsen recommends in this elegantly written book. She draws on her 40 years in the profession and offers stunning visuals and specific ways to make a garden look glorious and feel harmonious at the same time. She reveals how to highlight a power spot, explores the lure of the sheltered corner, explains why a gate facing East is considered auspicious and suggests which trees you can use to impart a special atmosphere. Gardeners will also enjoy the chapters on the mysteries of color, a rock’s resonance and the magic of water. All in all, this gem of a book is a thoroughly enjoyable guide that you will refer to over and over. Jan Johnsen writes the popular ‘Serenity in the Garden’ blog and Facebook page. Her firm’s website is www.johnsenlandscapes.com www.serenityinthegarden.blogspot.com

About this title

About the Author:

Jan Johnsen has a landscape design company in New York. A landscape designer with deep understanding of the design principles of traditional cultures, she is an award-winning instructor at the New York Botanical Garden. Her garden designs have appeared in Woman's Day, East Coast Home and Design, Landscape Architecture, Westchester Home, Redbook, This Old House, Homestyle, and other magazines and books. She blogs at Serenity In the Garden, and lectures widely to garden clubs, botanical gardens and historical societies.

Review:

"It's a book that every designer will want as a reference ... and a great gift for any client or anyone you know who loves landscapes and gardens." - Jane Berger, Garden Design Online

"The book is a delight -- smart and well written, not too long, and full of practical 'I-didn't-know-that' tips for home gardeners. It's beautifully illustrated, too, with her own photos of landscapes she has designed and installed.... If you've got a gardener on your gift list, keep this book in mind." - Bill Cary, Westchester Journal News

"Just about everyone who visits a garden falls under its spell. In Heaven is a Garden, Jan Johnsen shows us how we can create a garden that transports and transforms us - where cares fall away, blood pressure lowers, and peace washes over our souls."  - Ken Druse, best-selling author, award-winning photographer and garden communicator

"Her garden photography is gorgeous and demonstrates simple garden designs that are easy for a gardener to conceptualize and use as a guide for their home gardens. I enjoyed the book and have flipped the pages over and over in quiet reflection of the photos - truly wonderful design examples... What a lovely book!" - Shawna Coronado, Making a Difference Every Day

"...Johnsen...combines ancient wisdom with contemporary horticultural practices to provide a more holistic approach to landscape design...The results are tranquil, serene landscapes that affect the readers on different physical and spiritual levels. I found myself looking around my yard with a new, more informed perspective, and I bet you will too." - Teresa O'Connor, Seasonal Wisdom garden blog

About this edition

• Publisher: St. Lynn's Press
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0985562293
• ISBN 13: 9780985562298
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 160