This illustrated history charts the evoution of gardening over thousands of years, bringing to life the world"s most beautiful and magnificent gardens. Penelope Hobhouse shows how an appreciation of style and techniques from all over the world helps us to understand how modern gardens have developed. She also considers how the availability of plant species from around the world has influenced garden design. From the cooling fountains of the Alhambra to the imposing palace grounds of Chinese emporers and the clean lines of the formal French parteer, this text explains the origins of the most influential gardening styles. In the course of the book we are introduced to the world"s principal gardeners, horticulturalists and designers, find out which plants were considered the most valuable or fashionable of their day, and marvel at pleasure gardens, parks and grottoes. In addition to describing the rich historical context from which today"s gardens have evolved, Penelope Hobhouse draws on her life"s work as a gardener to give an insight into the influences that have inspired her own designs and shaped her gardening philosophy.