Best Australian Gardens & Landscapes
Edited by Gary Takle
Think Publishing, rrp $39.95

Having an outside setting that complements and harmonises with the building it sits alongside is the focus of Best Australian Gardens & Landscapes, the third iteration of Think Publishing’s Best Australian series.

Edited by Gary Takle, who gives a brief introduction on the inside of the dust jacket, it’s a wide, soft-cover book that launches straight into glossy photographs of gardens from around the continent. Categorised by landscape designers and architects, with the work of some being showcased several times, the list of garden types seems never-ending. There are rooftop courtyards peppered with cactuses, retro-styled pools and lawns, classic European inspired spaces, Japanese tea gardens and rolling countryside landscapes.

Each garden featured is accompanied by text detailing the motivations and inspiration of its designer (and their contact details are included, if you should feel that their enthusiasm could work for your own property).

The common thread binding these disparate backyards together is the philosophy that the modern Australian garden should be about relaxation and entertaining. Alfresco areas have become just as much an extension of their owner’s personality as the dwelling they reside in.

- Erin Munro