A review

The Irish Garden

Jane Powers, with photos by Jonathan Hession

What first strikes you about The Irish Garden is the sheer size of it, some 400 stunning pages; reflecting the recently discovered (for me) breadth of exciting gardens to be found in Ireland. From the utterly personal and contemporary garden making of Helen Dillons famous garden in Dublin, to the lesser known but no less equally inspiring and passionate modern plants mans gardens, Hunting Brook and June Blakes Garden; through to the glorious romance of the grand old demesnes such as Mount Stewart and Powerscourt, Illnacullin and Birr Castle. Indeed The Irish Garden covers over forty  magnificent gardens captured beautifully by the breathtaking photography of Jonathan Hession. Making this not only one of the most informative, but one of the most visually sumptuous books published this year.
However what is most exciting is that Jane has clearly walked each and every one of these landscapes. Discovered their special qualities and details and unlike so many books produced these days where the author has clearly never set foot in any of the landscapes, her excitement and clear understanding bounds from every garden description. 

This is a truly inspirational book, one that will excite and inspire and make you start planning a glorious garden tour of the lush green isle.

If you buy any book this spring, this is the one.