Visiting gardens has never been more popular, however, not many of us truly understand what we are looking at when strolling through a beautiful garden - How do we decipher original landscapes from recreated? Are the steps formal or ornamental in style? The truth is that most gardens of any age have changed and been influenced by the trends of the many generations that pass through the; they are an amalgam of changing fashions and circumstance.

How to Read Gardens gives you all the knowledge you need to reveal the complete story of the garden's past. From the smallest suburban green to the grandest estate, this book will enliven and inform every garden visit.