Private Gardens of Paris Hardcover – April 7, 2015

Gardens are famously difficult to translate to the page and books on gardens famously unuseful. But given the amount of glowing coverage this book received from blogs,I expected that it would be one of the few to actually transcend that curse. Well no, it does not. And how could it hope to do that or even convey anything useful when not one plan is included? Instead the book is rather text heavy and the text really conveys very little that is useful.One thing that I did find helpful was a quote on page 122 from the owner of ‘An Informal Family Garden.’ Reporting on the leap needed to buy the house, this owner says, “At that time it seemed rather a risk to buy a whole house in the Marais.” Reading that line reminded me how glad I am to live in the new world. No one in the U.S., no matter how invested in social class or snobbery he or she might be, would ever say that buying a house in a working class neighborhood was a social risk. As an investment, perhaps one would say that it was a risk. But not as a choice that threatened one's social standing. So that’s where the second star comes from- for reminding me that no matter how beautiful it is in some very specific places, Europe is still light years behind the U.S.when it comes to stifling snobbery and that the U.S., for all of our many problems is very happily not like Europe.

I am so disappointed in this book! It is a very blah photo book. Many of the gardens look the same. They look very natural and lots of green. Nothing wrong with that! I like more detail of sculpture, stairs, fountains, flowers, etc. It was probably a more sophisticated book than I like 😳. Order at your own risk ! The cover photo will look nice stacked on my coffee table (it's the best photo in the book).

The pictures of this book are superb but the text is too technical for non professional gardeners. Also the size of the book is too small to really enjoy the beauty of the pictures. Nevertheless this makes a nice present!

This is a wonderful book. As a wine country gardener, I am always seeking more information as well as just looking at other garden designs. Paris is my favorite European city so anything about her gardens is interesting to me.

Wonderfully photographed!

I am a Master Gardener and really have enjoyed this book. The gardens pictures are beautiful.

Gift for a Paris-bound, garden-loving friend...she adores it for its secret insights, its non-tourist places and, of course, its exquisite, French style!

Great little book with beautiful gardens and equally beautiful photographs - have purchased two copies to give as gifts to friends.

I found this book very disappointing. The gardens were nothing special compared to London gardens and secret courtyards or Hastings for that matter. Possibly the fault was due to uninspired photography rather than Paris not having wonderful secret gardens and I know they have wonderful courtyards. I have seen some off St Michel on the left bank. What a lost opportunity.

Very happy with this book.

Love this book.

Lovely book

I should have expected that gardens in Paris would be mainly shady and therefore full of all the usual suspects arranged in mainly formal spaces. The one exception is the vegetable garden which was totally delightful as it went beyond veggies and was the work of an avid gardener.