What is the real difference, you might wonder, between designing an urban garden and a country garden? The answer is nothing. Design is always a matter of mass and proportion and momentum. Urban gardens simply work on a smaller scale, because the gardens themselves are generally smaller. But there are huge differences between what people want from an urban garden and what they want from a country garden. The brief to the urban garden designer or the urban gardener is totally different, and the most significant difference is in the relationship of the urban gardener with nature.

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Urban dwellers often have little time or space in which to create a garden, yet an often hectic lifestyle means that they perhaps have a greater need than rural gardeners for a restful outdoor area to which they can retreat. By looking at innovative designs for varied styles of inner city gardens,Urban Sanctuaries shows how they can be adapted to create outdoor spaces that are not only imaginative but are also imbued with a mood of peace and serenity.

As well as suggesting ways in which urban dwellers can create their private dream gardens,Stephen Anderton gives practical advice on the basic design elements necessary to create any urban sanctuary, including a consideration of soil,light, space, scale, and water, together with plant use and appearance. The main section of the book looks at the design principles for creating different styles of urban sanctuary - from low maintenance minimalist gardens and family havens to gardens with soothing water features, and from roof terraces and balcony retreats to indoor-outdoor rooms and gardens of a more natural style. Each of the garden styles also has its own design solution - an innovative yet accessible garden scheme that typifies a certain type of urban sanctuary.

Finally, in an invaluable plant directory, the author recommends a wide range of essential shrubs,trees, climbers, and perennials for you to grow in your own urban sanctuary.

introduction

PART ONE: THE BODY OF THE GARDEN

space and scale

light

soil

water

planting style

PART TWO: THE SPIRIT OF THE GARDEN

magic and mystery

the natural approach

the gardener's garden

devoted to water

minimalist style

rooms with views

roof and balcony retreats

family havens

directory of plants

index

acknowledgments