Lesson from great gardeners : forty gardening icons and what they teach us / Matthew Biggs.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Somai -- Wang Xianchen -- André Le Nôtre -- Philip Miller -- Thomas Jefferson -- Sir Joseph Paxton -- James Veitch, Jr. -- Sir Thomas Hanbury -- William Robinson -- Claude Monet -- Gertrude Jekyll -- Henry E. Huntington -- Ellen Willmott -- Edward Augustus Bowles -- Pierre S. du Pont -- Lawrence Johnston -- Beatrix Farrand -- Henry Duncan McLaren -- Rae Selling Berry -- Sir Frederick Stern -- Jacques Majorelle -- Madame Ganna Walska -- Vita Sackville-West -- Margery Fish -- Beatrix Havergal -- Mildred Blandy -- Roberto Burle Marx -- Princess Lelia Caetani -- Princess Greta Sturdza -- Carl Ferris Miller (Min Pyong-gal) -- Christopher Lloyd -- Beth Chatto -- Geoffrey Smith -- Penelope Hobhouse -- Bev McConnell -- Geoff Hamilton -- Piet Oudolf -- Jeremy Francis -- Will Giles -- Dan Hinkley.

"Since its earliest days, the art and science of gardening has been continually transformed and enhanced by great gardeners - men and women whose passion for gardening has driven them to improve and innovate, to overcome challenges and experiment with new ideas. These gardeners have provided inspiration for future generations, as have their gardens, which attract millions of visitors every year. Lessons from Great Gardeners profiles forty of these remarkable figures and explores how their work can be used to inspire and instruct gardeners of all levels and abilities. From the greats of yesteryear to the best modern-day practitioners, the gardeners are drawn from throughout history and from around the world. The stories of their life and work are revealed, along with practical hints and tips that unlock the secrets gained from their long years of trial and error. With beautiful botanical illustrations of the gardeners' signature plants and stunning photographs of iconic gardens, this fascinating book is a source of inspiration and ideas for all gardeners, great and small." -- Back cover.