Written by well-known gardens expert Leslie Geddes-Brown, this delightful book is a celebration of walled gardens worldwide. It traces the history of the phenomenon from the gardens of Ancient Greece and Rome and medieval depictions of the hortus conclusus ('enclosed garden') to avant-garde designs by today's leading practitioners. Thematic chapters cover such subjects as formal enclosures, walled herb gardens and those by well-known modern designers. Each chapter begins with a brief introduction followed by four or five beautifully illustrated features on specific gardens. The book concludes with an international plant directory and full contact details of all the contemporary designers featured, making this an essential, inspirational reference for garden lovers everywhere. It features walled gardens from around the globe, from the Far East to North America, and from Britain and Europe to North Africa. It includes the work of such celebrated designers as Gertrude Jekyll, Vita Sackville-West, Terence Conran, Beatrix Farrand, Piet Oudolf, George Carter and Christopher Bradley-Hole. It is authoritatively written and profusely illustrated throughout. It is an invaluable resource for garden designers, horticultural students and all garden lovers.