The Layered Garden: Design Lessons for Year-Round Beauty from Brandywine Cottage
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- Create Date：2021-06-12 09:54:28
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：David L. Culp
- ISBN：1604692367
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Summary
Brandywine Cottage is David Culp's beloved two-acre Pennsylvania garden where he mastered the design technique of layering and interplanting many different species in the same area so that as one plant passes its peak， another takes over。 The result is a nonstop parade of color that begins with a tapestry of heirloom daffodils and hellebores in spring and ends with a jewel-like blend of Asian wildflowers at the onset of winter。
The Layered Garden shows you how to recreate Culp's majestic display。 It starts with a basic lesson in layering; how to choose the correct plants by understanding how they grow and change throughout the seasons， how to design a layered garden， and how to maintain it。 To illustrate how layering works， Culp takes you on a personal tour through each part of his celebrated garden: the woodland garden， the perennial border， the kitchen garden， the shrubbery， and the walled garden。 The book culminates with a chapter dedicated to signature plants for all four seasons。
As practical as it is inspiring， The Layered Garden will provide you with expert information gleaned from decades of hard work and close observation。 If you thought that a four-season garden was beyond your reach， this book will show you how to achieve that elusive， tantalizing goal。
The Layered Garden shows you how to recreate Culp's majestic display。 It starts with a basic lesson in layering; how to choose the correct plants by understanding how they grow and change throughout the seasons， how to design a layered garden， and how to maintain it。 To illustrate how layering works， Culp takes you on a personal tour through each part of his celebrated garden: the woodland garden， the perennial border， the kitchen garden， the shrubbery， and the walled garden。 The book culminates with a chapter dedicated to signature plants for all four seasons。
As practical as it is inspiring， The Layered Garden will provide you with expert information gleaned from decades of hard work and close observation。 If you thought that a four-season garden was beyond your reach， this book will show you how to achieve that elusive， tantalizing goal。
Reviews
Emily
，
This wasn't really what I needed to help me plan my garden， but it was worth reading just for the gorgeous photography。 This wasn't really what I needed to help me plan my garden， but it was worth reading just for the gorgeous photography。 。。。more
Amy Siemel
，
Incredibly inspiring gardens。 So excited to try in my own。
Kelsie Oreta
，
As a novice gardener， it’s not easy for a gardening book （or website， for that matter） to keep my attention for a long time。 David J。 Culp’s planting style is surprising， eclectic and interesting， the photographs in this book are impeccable， and the writing is engaging as it intermingles thoughts on life as they reflect thoughts on gardening。 I appreciated all of the times in which a plant being native was pointed out， as this is a focus of mine as I develop my garden。 Culp’s wild yet architectu As a novice gardener， it’s not easy for a gardening book （or website， for that matter） to keep my attention for a long time。 David J。 Culp’s planting style is surprising， eclectic and interesting， the photographs in this book are impeccable， and the writing is engaging as it intermingles thoughts on life as they reflect thoughts on gardening。 I appreciated all of the times in which a plant being native was pointed out， as this is a focus of mine as I develop my garden。 Culp’s wild yet architectural， collected yet cohesive gardens are impeccable works of art that inspire me to pick up a spade rather than a paintbrush。 。。。more
Julie
，
My current favorite garden book！ It might be because I too am in zone 6 or because I am currently working on my own woodland garden， but I just love everything about this book。 Another review called this a garden memoir （not exactly as a compliment）， but that's one of the things I love about it。 The author's intimate approach and love of his garden really drew me in and kept me reading。 This is not a step-by-step how-to manual， though a lot of practical advice is given。 This is about a philosoph My current favorite garden book！ It might be because I too am in zone 6 or because I am currently working on my own woodland garden， but I just love everything about this book。 Another review called this a garden memoir （not exactly as a compliment）， but that's one of the things I love about it。 The author's intimate approach and love of his garden really drew me in and kept me reading。 This is not a step-by-step how-to manual， though a lot of practical advice is given。 This is about a philosophy of planting so that there's year-round interest。 It's about listening to your garden。 It's about paying homage to a living art form。 Plus the pictures are simply stunning！I originally borrowed this book from my library， but loved it so much I bought my own copy！ 。。。more
Emily
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Engaging writing and gorgeous photographs。
Coleen
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Great Inspiration！I also live in Pennsylvania so David's combinations and recommendations are priceless！ Thanks David！ I look forward to browsing more of your work！ Great Inspiration！I also live in Pennsylvania so David's combinations and recommendations are priceless！ Thanks David！ I look forward to browsing more of your work！ 。。。more
Karen
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A generous three stars。 Reviews and the jacket copy for this book promise a text that is as practical as it is inspiring， teaching readers how to design and maintain a layered garden， a technique that refers in this case not only to underplanting， but also to ensuring a four-season display。 I found， however， that the book was very scant on details as to where to start， how to choose plants that would give variety in terms of shape， structure and texture and how to hide the fade of one with the b A generous three stars。 Reviews and the jacket copy for this book promise a text that is as practical as it is inspiring， teaching readers how to design and maintain a layered garden， a technique that refers in this case not only to underplanting， but also to ensuring a four-season display。 I found， however， that the book was very scant on details as to where to start， how to choose plants that would give variety in terms of shape， structure and texture and how to hide the fade of one with the bloom of another。The photos also left me wanting。 In one section there are about a dozen images of snowdrops， all looking remarkably similar， all at close range。 We don't see much of how they're actually used in the garden。 A better mix of images would have been more helpful。 At one point， Culp writes about his rose garden， noting that he has placed several white poles around the garden， not only as a visual cue， but as support for roses， clematis and other climbers。 However， the photos do not seem to show this; it's hard for me to visualize roses climbing a single pole， and I guess I'll just have to imagine it on my own。 David spends quite a lot of time talking about the site as it began， and their work to dig out and weed out， as well as work in and rehabilitate。 He speaks often about placing plants so they will look as though they have self-seeded， without ever explaining the elements that go into pulling off that trick。 I would have loved even one section about: I started with plant X as an anchor， next planted Y as a complement and then planted Z to add a layer and seasonal interest， with an accompanying photo showing these plants and their placement。 Ultimately， what I took away from this book is that I should give hellebores a try， work in some dogwood and create beds that are deep， with most of the tall plants at the back， but a few mixed in in front and in the middle， so long as they're lacy rather than solid。 I should also consider leaving space for annuals， and be willing to dig out what's gone off to replace it with something new。 （This seems an expensive way to garden， to be honest。） I wish I had read this with a lighter heart， more willing to just read about the making of Brandywine， but I felt disappointed that so little was shared about the design principles that helped make this garden， and utterly let down by the copywriter's promise of practicality。 。。。more
Catherine
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Lovely book written with wit， humor， and grace， based on years of lived horticulture （and life！） experience， containing beautiful photographs。
Carol
，
This is a book about gardens that can be read over and over again - gaining new ideas and appreciations along the way。 Many thanks to my niece who piqued my interest with this book！ I am sure it will be a classic on my shelf。
Eli Baca
，
Entertaining read in addition to great pictures。 Nice to have a local book to help figure out what flowers I can play with in the garden。
L
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Zone 6 BiblePassionate and curious， this is the best gardening book for zone 6 I've had。 David Culp is a master of the four seasons decorative garden。 Zone 6 BiblePassionate and curious， this is the best gardening book for zone 6 I've had。 David Culp is a master of the four seasons decorative garden。 。。。more
Linda Ingersoll
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Perfection！
Trish
，
The gardens are beautiful and the advice is helpful。 I liked that the author put a list of his favorite gardening books in the back。
Jennifer P
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Absolutely stunning。 Most beautiful garden book I’ve read， and the prose was great as well。 A smidge breathless， which I enjoy！
Julie Berry
，
I read this as part of the King County Library System 10 to Try 2020 Challenge: Read a Book That Teaches You a New Skill。
superawesomekt
，
3。5 starsIt's a bit stream of consciousness at times， but Culp's personality and love of gardening give it charm。 Recommended for gardeners （or aspiring ones）， but more as inspiration not as a practical guide。 I appreciated Culp's list of favorite bookgardening books at the back！Note: Be prepared to be jealous of Culp's budget and acres！ It does make the book hard to relate to at times。。。。 3。5 starsIt's a bit stream of consciousness at times， but Culp's personality and love of gardening give it charm。 Recommended for gardeners （or aspiring ones）， but more as inspiration not as a practical guide。 I appreciated Culp's list of favorite bookgardening books at the back！Note: Be prepared to be jealous of Culp's budget and acres！ It does make the book hard to relate to at times。。。。 。。。more
Stella
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I liked how the author mixes instruction with memoir。 I love this gardening style: it’s a natural cottage look。 I prefer something a tad more manicured for my little suburban quarter acre with a mid century modern， but the design principles are sound， the pictures inspiring， and the prose pleasing。 I had a hard time returning it to the library。 I think I’m on my third renewal。 I definitely want a copy of my own。
Summer
，
Gorgeous photos， practical information， and straightforward writing。 Lots of aspirational ideas and concepts。 Love that plants are selected for beauty and drought tolerance but doesn't look like xeriscaping。 Excellent for new gardeners looking to up their knowledge and general gardening game。 Gorgeous photos， practical information， and straightforward writing。 Lots of aspirational ideas and concepts。 Love that plants are selected for beauty and drought tolerance but doesn't look like xeriscaping。 Excellent for new gardeners looking to up their knowledge and general gardening game。 。。。more
Sharron
，
Informative （who knew there are over 100 cultivars of snowdrops！） and inspirational with envy provoking photographs。
Pam
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Gorgeous garden！ Gorgeous photographs。 The text was a little chatty for my taste in a gardening book where I am looking for information。 Despite the sub-title that says "design lessons"， this reads more like a memoir than a gardening book。 It was easy to read but I learned very little to help me in the garden。 Information where given is very generalized with no specifics to indicate if these plants could survive in other locales。 While there is no doubt that Culp knows about landscape design and Gorgeous garden！ Gorgeous photographs。 The text was a little chatty for my taste in a gardening book where I am looking for information。 Despite the sub-title that says "design lessons"， this reads more like a memoir than a gardening book。 It was easy to read but I learned very little to help me in the garden。 Information where given is very generalized with no specifics to indicate if these plants could survive in other locales。 While there is no doubt that Culp knows about landscape design and gardening， his gardening style is seriously overwhelming。 Where does this man find the time to create and maintain that garden？ And where does he get all the money to buy all the unique plants that he does？ I really felt like Culp was bragging about everything。 While there is some good stuff in this book， I found the whole overwhelming and would recommend many books over this one。 。。。more
Onceinabluemoon
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Always enjoy a garden book with pics and good advice。
Stephanie
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So much inspiration for a gardener！
Carl Adams
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Great book for the Delaware Valley Gardener
Pat
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Gardeners museI bought this book a while ago but it was not until I was stuck on the couch suffering from a summer cold that I cracked it open。 I couldn't put it down。 The tone of voice was pitch perfect。 Plenty of Latin nomenclature to stretch my knowledge but also fluffy commentary to make you feel like you're walking the path with the writer。 Well done。 Gardeners museI bought this book a while ago but it was not until I was stuck on the couch suffering from a summer cold that I cracked it open。 I couldn't put it down。 The tone of voice was pitch perfect。 Plenty of Latin nomenclature to stretch my knowledge but also fluffy commentary to make you feel like you're walking the path with the writer。 Well done。 。。。more
Bethany
，
While it was not entirely what I was expecting， this book was a big I spirational read！ More of an "ideas" book than a practical guide。 Lots of wonderful pictures of individual cultivars but also of his beds during various seasons， helping to showcase the layered concept as well as informal garden design in general。 Reading almost like a novel， there many romantic descriptions of the development and realization of his ideas as a gardener， but also specific recommendations of plant combinations t While it was not entirely what I was expecting， this book was a big I spirational read！ More of an "ideas" book than a practical guide。 Lots of wonderful pictures of individual cultivars but also of his beds during various seasons， helping to showcase the layered concept as well as informal garden design in general。 Reading almost like a novel， there many romantic descriptions of the development and realization of his ideas as a gardener， but also specific recommendations of plant combinations that work design- and climate-wise。 He gives a few how-to's， but the book is generally a source of color， variety， texture， timing， and placement inspiration for a beautiful year-round property based on his baby， the Brandywine Cottage。 。。。more
Karen Fisher
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Beautiful pictures & a few good ideas！ Inspiring garden book。
Mia
，
Wow！ The Layered Garden is a visual treat， but a serious threat to the placidity of your mind and the status quo of your garden。 I can hardly stand to look out my window at my paltry attempts at a garden （scratch that， better demote mine to being called a "flower bed"） after a morning of studying Culp's gardens。 If the powerful beauty and scale of the north border at Brandywine Cottage （ p。 46 ） don't make your eyes pop and your soul fill with envy， put down your trowel and go back in the house。 Wow！ The Layered Garden is a visual treat， but a serious threat to the placidity of your mind and the status quo of your garden。 I can hardly stand to look out my window at my paltry attempts at a garden （scratch that， better demote mine to being called a "flower bed"） after a morning of studying Culp's gardens。 If the powerful beauty and scale of the north border at Brandywine Cottage （ p。 46 ） don't make your eyes pop and your soul fill with envy， put down your trowel and go back in the house。 You are already dead but just don't know it。Wonderful photos， a friendly tone， and about a thousand ideas for using layers， successions and serious considerations of scale to produce gardens that are dynamic， textural and lush to the Nth degree。 Culp's garden is in SE Pennsylvania and it's always useful and inspiring to see what can be done in the heat and cold of one's own zone， so the book will be extra valuable to gardeners in zone 6-ish。 。。。more
Cuong Do
，
Great read。 Not a dull momentI'm a new gardener in my mid 30s looking for a humor personality driven book with information on gardening。 This book is awesome。 I love his personality and his taste。 I loved that he wasn't afraid to infuse lists and pictures of his favorite flowers， rather than offer an exhaustive encyclopedia of flowers names in Latin。 Great read。 Not a dull momentI'm a new gardener in my mid 30s looking for a humor personality driven book with information on gardening。 This book is awesome。 I love his personality and his taste。 I loved that he wasn't afraid to infuse lists and pictures of his favorite flowers， rather than offer an exhaustive encyclopedia of flowers names in Latin。 。。。more
Sarah
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What a beautiful book！！ On pg。 200-201 are colors so beautiful I'd want them at my wedding。 What a gorgeous book， and gorgeous garden！ What a beautiful book！！ On pg。 200-201 are colors so beautiful I'd want them at my wedding。 What a gorgeous book， and gorgeous garden！ 。。。more
Jenn
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