A Garden Lost In Time: The Mystery of the Ancient Gardens of Aberglasney

Past and future meet in a magical space where 19th- and 18th-century plantings touch remnants from the Renaissance and medieval days--and where a beautiful restoration has brought a forgotten world back to life. Lavish, oversized color photos and artful text lead you through the nine magnificent gardens of the venerable Welsh estate, Aberglasney. Wander in woods, brambles, and vine-strewn tunnels more than 700 years old. For more than 50 years, they were left to decay, but renovation has brought back landscapes bright and strong, repaired the broken masonry, and returned order to the Italianate Cloisters, Victorian arboretum, garden walk; and everywhere on the grounds. As the work proceeded, layers of the past emerged--including the only possible survivor in England of a Renaissance garden plan. This compelling narrative reads like a historical detective story, in which gardeners and archeologists unravel the garden's puzzles and the mysteries of its origins.