Books \ THIS CHRISTMAS, THINK HOUSE
P
etit Trianon is one of the Versailles estate’s Australia’s leading garden designers and explores their most elegant buildings. Completed in 1768, the individual design philosophies. rococo-style structure was used by Louis XV as As she explains, her subjects “have understood and a discreet hideaway in which to entertain his mistress, responded to the places where they work in such a way Madame de Pompadour. that their gardens – private and public – impart a special His son, meanwhile, had other ideas. Upon his message … They have a sense of place and are more ascension to the throne in 1774, Louis XVI gifted the interested in ‘fit’ than fashion. They know that nature property to his young wife, Marie Antoinette, and must be handled with care”. encouraged her to use it as a sanctuary from the stuffy From early practitioners such as William Guilfoyle, and formal atmosphere of court life. Edna Walling and architect Walter Burley Griffin A magnificent new book, From Marie-Antoinette’s (whom Latreille describes as one who “delighted in Garden by historian Elisabeth de Feydeau, natural landscapes and the way their elements – hills, celebrates Marie Antoinette’s love of trees, valleys and rivers, rocks and soil, plants – came plants and flowers, and her interest in plant together”) through to contemporary designers nature propagation. The queen’s contribution to such as Vladimir Sitta, Jim Sinatra and must be French horticulture is frequently overlooked; Phineas Murphy, and Fiona Brockhoff and handled de Feydeau’s book seeks to rectify that, and Bernard Trainor, we see a strong Australian stresses the importance of Petit Trianon garden aesthetic emerge. Garden Voices with care and the impact of royal patronage on the is a tribute to that style and to Dame Elisabeth particularly competitive sphere of botany Murdoch, who donated money towards and garden design. producing the publication. Seven Flowers and How They Shaped Our World by The beach, writes Sydney horticulturalist Myles respected British writer Jennifer Potter is also worth Baldwin in Australian Coastal Gardens, is a place of consideration. The lotus, lily, sunflower, opium poppy, “relaxation and recreation, somewhere to forget about rose, tulip and orchid provide a springboard of research the stresses and mundane aspects of everyday life as for the author as she ponders where and when these quickly as we get out of our everyday clothes and into important flowers originated, what influence they have our swimmers”. had on enthusiasts and their impact on garden design, It is also a place that inspires beautiful garden design. art and other plants. Baldwin takes his readers to a hidden seaside retreat in In her new book, Garden Voices: Australian Tasmania, a Rick Eckersley garden at Flinders, a Sydney Designers, Their Stories, Melbourne gardening writer family weekender at Berrara, the 1920 Hordern family Anne Latreille focuses on the contributions of some of villa and garden at Palm Beach and a Sunshine Coast
CURTAINS I BLINDS AWNINGS I SHUTTERS
(Getty ImaGes \ PortraIt of marIe antoInette by marIe LouIse eLIsabeth VIGee-Lebrun, oIL on canVas, 1783)
AND GARDEN BOOKS, wRITES CORRIE PERKIN
GET YOUR XMAS GIFTS EARLY... AND CHEAP!
GOLF MEGA SALE 1 WEEKEND ONLY!
Smarter Designs Begins With Us
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29TH - SUNDAY DECEMBER 1ST 2013
20 The weekly review \ NOVEMBER 27, 2013
Vermont South
10002880-01-a27Nov@FCNVIC ay
blic Morack Pu se Golf Cour
n Highw
Morack Road
Mountai
www.morackgolf.com.au
Road
Nunawading 154 Springvale Road 9877 7765 • www.wall-t-wall.com.au
Tel 9801 4479
East
WALLT WALL
Morack Golf Course Pro Shop Corner Morack & East Roads Vermont South
Custom Curtains, Blinds & Furnishings
Balwyn North 290 Doncaster Road 9857 7884 • www.decorator.net.au
80
STRICTLY WHILE STOCKS LAST
Roman Blinds • Aluminium Venetian Blinds • Curtains & Pelmets Timber Blinds & Shutters • Awnings & Patio Blinds • Roller Blinds
OPEN ‘TIL 8PM FRIDAY
% OFF Morack Road
MMP14614-01-a30Oct@FCNVIC
ALL BIG BRANDS UP TO
Burwood Highway Bunnings
Wantirna