Parks, Plants, and People
Beautifying the Urban Landscape
Lynden B. Miller (Author)
An inspirational and practical book about the benefits of enhancing cities with well-planted gardens, parks, and streets.
An internationally renowned public garden designer, with 27 years’ experience and an artist’s eye, Lynden Miller has changed the face of New York City’s public places by providing a connection with nature for neighborhoods, rich and poor. Parks, Plants and People describes the elements of successful public space and tells how to design, improve and maintain year-round plantings, how to advocate for increased public funding and how to attract private dollars.
She calls on the general public, gardeners, urban designers, architects, landscape architects and public officials—everyone who cares about the quality of life in urban areas—to create and support well-planted parks and gardens as essential urban oases that reduce crime and have positive effects on the economic welfare of cities and their citizens. Miller demonstrates the power of plants to soften and civilize public life and proves that beautiful public spaces, planted and maintained to high standards, have the power to transform the way people behave and feel about their cities. Her motto is: Make it gorgeous and they will come. Keep it that way and they will help.
Book Details
- Hardcover
- September 2009
-
ISBN 978-0-393-73203-0
- 8.6 × 10.4 in
/ 176 pages
- Territory Rights: Worldwide
Endorsements & Reviews
“[A]n important book in many ways. It makes us understand the importance of public parks. It helps us understand the tremendous foresight the founders of the great parks displayed in creating these wonderful places. It causes us to heed the great need to protect, maintain and evolve all the parks and public spaces we now have. And most of all, it will make us all look at these spaces with new reverence and appreciation.” — Martha Stewart
“It’s no exaggeration to call Lynden Miller the godmother of New York City’s public green spaces. This book is a ‘must-read’ because not only does it gives practical advice about all the elements necessary to establish and maintain gardens, but it also clearly demonstrates the healing power of nature and the economic boon to the welfare of cities.” — Bette Midler
“Lynden Miller’s parks and gardens are monuments to her unique understanding of the power of beauty to transform city life, and to her gift for turning that vision into reality. This book is another monument to that gift.” — Robert A. Caro, author of The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York
“Lynden Miller understands the importance of parkland, gardens and open space to a growing, thriving metropolis. Parks, Plants and People highlights the benefits of planned green space for city dwellers, including its importance as an educational resource, an asset for tourism and a cornerstone for greater neighborhood safety. In addition, she provides valuable advice on how best to create new gardens in urban settings.” — Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago, Illinois
“Lynden Miller, an angel for public gardens…is changing the world.” — Passport
“[A] must for any design professional involved with urban projects….extremely accessible for the professional and amateur alike….valuable, ground-breaking work.” — Traditional Building
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