The Art of Outdoor Living: Gardens for Entertaining Family and Friends

An outstanding book, I absolutely adore everything about it. So many ideas from Scott Shrader great sense of space color and layers. Makes one wish to have more and more garden space. You will be pleased with your purchase. It is not a coffee table book but a thing of beauty, which Scott brought to life. Very informative and quite thoroughly descriptive. Endowed with a feel for the green world and a master’s eye for balance. I purchased many copies as gifts. This entire book is absolutely beautiful from beginning to end. The photographs are so incredibly dreamy. Absolute perfection and balance of old historical elements in a 21st Century Style of life. A MUST for any true lover of gardens and outdoor living. When looking for inspiration, I will reference this treasure for years to come. Thank you Scott for the talent and for sharing your gift with the world. I can't wait for future books

Bought it used! It came packaged PERFECTLY! they really REALLY took care of the book unlike Amazon who just throws it in there bare! The book seller wrapped and wrapped it again and put extra bubble wrap! 10 gold stars! I pride myself in pristine books and this made the cut! The book it self looks so exactly as advertised. Pages clean spine tight, I could tell it had been open "cracked" flipped through "used" but was well taken care of and I appreciate that! Now I will care for it best I can. The inside images are STUNNING definitely fit for display, best images are show up above but there's definitely more to admire! Will be keeping for my life time ❤️

I checked this book out of the library 3 times, and then just gave in and bought it - I needed it! A beautiful book all around. I love the style of garden/landscape in this book: natural, lush, with structure and texture. Really beautiful plant/flower botanical-style close up photos at the beginning of each new garden, a one-page description of each project and photo captions which do mention some of the plants used. It's Southern California garden eye candy, and that climate and its plants work well in my Austin, TX area, so that's extra enjoyment I got from the book. It's in no way a how-to guide, but the mention of certain plants/shrubs/trees used do make it actionable or a starting point for a little more plant research. I think anyone though, in any climate would find this book inspiring. I own a good number of garden books and this one is my new favorite.

As a landscape designer and a decorator I have found this book very joyful. The author is a knowledgeable person and his narrative is very pleasing. He is definitely a professional. He explained some principles of garden design in general. Yes, there’s no instructions. Pictures are beautiful. Lots of inspiration for me, I have created some drawings before I opened the book and found an idea for my future design in a book right away. Loving to spend time with this book.

This book is informative and filled with great images that will inspire you to get creative in your yard. Glad that I came across it. Definitely worth the buy.

A look at some of Shrader’s completed gardens in California. Some general principles are provided - limited color and plant palette, native and sustainable plants, coordinate the outside with the inside, create zones for different functions - but the designs are dependent upon wealth and climate and expanse: move this entrance door, change the color of the interior floor to compliment the exterior floor, plant 100 olive trees, buy the property next door, install a 17th century fountain imported from France, highlight the Malibu views, coordinate with the interior designer. Would have been interesting to see before-and-after photos. The section on the important Brody House was literally just close-ups of individual plants at the house (Boxwoods, staghorn fern, bonsai), rather than photos illustrating how the landscapIng relates to the structure and property. A picture book of Shrader’s skills in a very specific California environment - not meant to instruct, but to showcase...

Using for decor on my coffee table in Spring/Summer. Beautiful photograpy!

This is a truly inspirational book full of magnificent ideas. The author sets out his design ideas very clearly in text and backs them up with clear pictures. The book was purchased through Bellwether Books who packed it well and were more than helpful about shipping times.

Coffee table book

Ein absolut großartiges Buch!

Showcases the work of one Californian designer. Very high end, beautiful gardens. The book is quite a large format, beautifully produced and would make a nice gift for someone who likes Californian / Mediterranean gardens, ie, a hot and dry climate. Very stylish designs by a master in his field.

Really, this book is a bible. From start to finish, every single image is fabulous. I could not stop looking. Decided on like 3 projects .... hugely inspirational. Honest, approachable, lush, real gardens where plants are centre stage -- with layers and layers of meaning and texture unfolding as you proceed. Nothing short of flawless, spiritual. Will gift this book to several great friends.

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