Gardens of the heartland

by Laura C. Martin

From the notable garden at Cranbrook in Michigan, inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, to the extravagant displays of color at Cantigny, near Chicago, to a simple prairie garden where a nearly extinct landscape is preserved, this captivating history and traveler's guide lavishly portrays for the first time the diverse gardens of America's midwestern region. In all, thirty gardens open to visitors are illustrated in 215 specialy commissioned, dazzling photographs and described in a lively, informative text. The author, Laura C. Martin, leads readers on a memorable tour of the celebrated gardens of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, and Kentucky. The variety is astonishing, ranging from gardens that feature spectacular beds of flowers and magnificent trees to those with more modest plantings that are important for their key role in the development of gardening in the heartland. Arranged by type of garden from botanical and historical to parks, great e