Creating a Contemplative Garden

Martin Mosko, ASLA and Alex Noden

Incorporating principles of Eastern and Western garden design, Mosko teaches us how to create a garden that reflects the contemplative mind. This beautiful book is a wonderful resource for those who want to create a contemplative garden - anything from a small courtyard to a country estate, in any environment from the city to the suburbs.

Mosko's work incorporates principles of Asian and Western garden design. The chief paradigm he uses is the mandala, a symbolic picture of the ideal world used in some form in many of the world's cultures. Rocks, streams, plants, paths, and structures of the garden each take their place in the mandala as one of its five elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space.

Mosko's approach to landscaping transforms space into spirit, infused with magic. It can be used to create anything from a small courtyard to a country estate, in any environment from the city to the suburbs. After explaining theory and method the book leads us into five of Mosko's gardens, each alive with the energy and excitement he brings to his designs. Although located in different parts of the country and created in different styles, each garden is a reflection of the mind of clarity and calm. With over 150 full-color photos.

176 pages