Exotic Planting for Adventurous Gardeners Hardcover – October 12, 2007

When one has the opportunity to challenge his own ways of gardening... it is refreshing and healthy, and fun. When one can confront himself with Christopher Lloyd's way of gardening... it is much more than that. The book is a journey through esthetics and preferences of one extraordinary individual, not a gardening guide. The essence of gardening is in its individuality, especially in exotics department where it is so easy and tempting to cliche.Point of reference, but in no way an encyclopedic overview of exotic plants.Confront yourself with this essential book and enrich your own gardening experience!

This little gem sets a person free to enjoy the tropical feel of large foliage, bold color, wild scale contrasts that make a traditional border seem tame. Filled with photographs and practical advice on maintaining tender perennials in cold climates as well as lots of personal observations by Lloyd about the Dixter microclimates and gardening in general. His wry observations about people are also quite charming.

To us garden readers who have enjoyed reading the adventures into gardening by Christopher Lloyd will be pleased and thrilled with the unexpected book by the Master on his 'Exotic Garden' area at Great Dixter UK. After reading the book 'Cuttings', I thought that was the end of an era; but no, we have a new adventure book. Well presented with loads of new photos by Jonathan Buckley. A delight is the additional material given by his gardening friends and these appear throughout the book.Great read on the exotic garden that began life in 1994. One disappointment is the lack of mention of Farfugium japonicum var, giganteum, or even a photo; to me it is the pinnacle of an exotic garden plant. C. Lloyd did mention it in his book 'Succession Planting' even supplied a dashing photo.Good Xmas read.