Gardens Under Big Skies
Reimagining Outdoor Space, the Dutch Way
Noel Kingsbury and Maayke de Ridder
The Netherlands is steeped in horticultural history and its gardens have long been a place for innovation and progressive thinking, exemplified by iconic figures such as the landscape architect Mien Ruys and naturalistic plant pioneers Piet Oudolf and Henk Gerritsen. In this book, Noel Kingsbury and Maayke de Ridder explore how the particularities of landscape, history and culture in the Netherlands have given rise to distinctive gardens and demonstrate how a new generation of Dutch designers including Jacqueline van der Kloet, Frank van der Lieden and Arjan Boekel, are reimagining outdoor space in such a revolutionary way.
Dr Noel Kingsbury is an acclaimed garden designer, writer and long-time collaborator of the renowned designer Piet Oudolf. With Annie Guilfoyle he runs the highly successful Garden Masterclass. Noel is a leading figure in naturalistic planting design and writes widely on this and related topics.
Maayke de Ridder is a Dutch garden and landscape photographer who began her career working as a fashion and interiors stylist and then picture editor for magazines. Her early career brings a new perspective to her work as a photographer.
Gardens Under Big Skies, Noel Kingsbury and Maayke de Ridder
£40 │ ISBN: 9781999734596 │ 11th November 2021
If you’re in the UK, buy from Bookshop.org and support independent bookshops
‘The layout and organisation of material is outstanding…’
Hannah Gardner, Gardens Illustrated
“This is an important and well-produced book that achieves that rare combination of high-quality photographs and plans with serious, analytical writing. It’s an artful ecology philosophy that presents a compelling vision for gardens of the future.”
Nigel Dunnett, RHS The Garden
“This idea of focusing both inwardly and outwardly provides a balance to the gardens that appear in this book, and tells us how to create gardens that connect to the broader landscape.”
Lee Buttala, Berkshire Edge
"...A fascinating and insightful assessment of today’s Dutch gardens, looking into the influences of history, tradition and environment along with the personal journeys of today’s cohort of designers and the gardens they have created. I have found it a fabulous read, informative, insightful and so perfectly enjoyable. Yes, I loved it!"
Paddy Tobin, An Irish Gardener
“For any gardener who sees Dutch gardening as synonymous with Oudolf’s communities of grasses and perennials, and perhaps hankers for something more structured (or even super-structured, like Holland’s baroque gardens), this book fills in the blanks and so much more.”
Kendra Wilson, Required Reading in Gardenista
“An essential read for modern gardeners”
Tim Richardson, The Telegraph
"Gosh, what a book! This has to be on the 'you need this book' list."
Blackberry Garden blog
Related reading and watching
-
Noel Kingsbury and Maayke de Ridder speak with Garden Masterclass
-
Multi-Disciplinary Approaches to Resilient Landscapes: Noel Kingsbury, Gardens Under Big Skies for Pacific Horticulture