Spanning time and continents, this unique handbook tours the worldfrom the gardens of ancient Persia and the Buddhist-inspired landscapes of China to Les Jardins du Paradis in France and the Nooroo Gardens in Australia. The remarkable guide is not only visually pleasing but also truly informative, providing descriptions and histories of the featured gardens, as well as suggestions on how and when to visit them. A celebration of the ideals and aesthetics that govern the creation of gardens in many cultures, this book also discusses the issues involved in the process and the maintenance necessary to keep them blooming. Atypically organized by theme rather than place, chapters including Writers' Gardens reveal where some of the world's greatest writers found inspiration, such as Vita Sackville-West's Sissinghurst in Kent, while Politician's Gardens profiles where leaders found solace, such as George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate.