American gardeners have tended to turn to other national traditions—such as Italy's, Japan's, or England's—for inspiration. The unhappy result of this piecemeal sytlistic borrowing has been the creation of gardens that bear no relationship to local landscapes and history, and that have no connection with our daily lives. In this cogently reasoned and persuasively argued volume, Claire Sawyers aims to show how this tendency can be reversed: how we can create gardens that are both deeply rooted in their surroundings and deeply satisfying to their creators and owners.

Drawing upon her knowledge of a vast array of American and foreign gardens, Sawyers explores five principles that help instill a sense of authenticity:

1. Capture the sense of place
2. Derive beauty from function
3. Use humble or indigenous materials
4. Marry the inside to the outside
5. Involve the visitor

She begins by explaining how careful observation of a site's unique characteristics enables the gardener to shape the garden appropriately and how the essential, functional features associated with gardens—driveways, mailboxes, fences, and the like—can, if treated simply and elegantly, be a visual asset rather than a liability. Later, she demonstrates the American version of the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi: the use of indigenous, natural, or even recycled materials to create a mood of casualness and intimacy, and discusses the many ways—including paths, the presence of inviting furniture, and the use of tactile elements—of drawing the visitor into the garden. A final chapter profiles outstanding American gardens that epitomize the five principles of authentic garden making.

Practical and inspiring, The Authentic Garden will enable the reader to make a garden that is true to a specific time, place, and culture; to capture and reflect an authentic spirit so that the garden, in turn, will nurture the spirit of those who cherish and dwell in it.

“Ms. Sawyers thinks that admirers are drawn to certain traits, moods or emotions in other cultures’ gardens. And, she adds, they don’t dissect those underlying characteristics adequately. For example, gardeners may be drawn to a Japanese lantern. But the quality to translate into a personal garden is tranquility, rather than the specific object itself.”

The Bulletin

What makes a garden authentic? For American gardeners, this question can be vexing. Because America is a comparatively young nation, it hasn't had much time to develop an indigenous garden style. Gardeners have tended to turn to other national traditions—such as Italy's, Japan's, or England's—for inspiration. The unhappy result of this piecemeal stylistic borrowing has been the creation of gardens that bear no relationship to local landscapes and history, and that have no connection with our daily lives.

Clair Sawyers shows this tendency can be reversed: how we can create gardens that are both deeply rooted in their surroundings and deeply satisfying to their creators and owners. Drawing on her knowledge of a vast array of American and foreign gardens, she identifies five principles that help instill a sense of authenticity: capture the sense of place, derive beauty from function, use humble or indigenous materials, marry the inside to the outside, and involve the visitor.

Practical and inspiring, The Authentic Garden will enable the reader to make a garden that is true to a specific time, place, and culture; to capture and reflect an authentic spirit so that the garden, in turn, will nurture the spirit of those who cherish and dwell in it.

“Sawyers shows how we can create gardens that are both deeply rooted in their surroundings and deeply satisfying to their creators and owners.” - Sierra Heritage Magazine

"If you consider yourself a conscientious consumer, one who tries to tread lightly on the earth, then the ideas Claire Sawyers presents in her elegantly written book, The Authentic Garden, will resonate with you."The American Gardener

Claire E. Sawyers has been director of the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College since 1990, bringing both U.S. and international perspectives to her work. She spent six years of her youth in Japan, and later returned to work with Japanese landscapers. Sawyers has worked in Belgium and France, and holds a master's in horticulture from Purdue.

Publisher: Timber Press
Distributor: Barnes and Noble
Publication Date: 12-01-2007
Pages: 285
Measurements: 10.77in X 7.75in X .93in X 2.08lb