The Art of Outdoor Living by Scott Shrader

The Art of Outdoor Living by Scott Shrader

This book came out in 2019, and the subtitle is Gardens for Entertaining Family and Friends.

Scott Shrader’s The Art of Outdoor Living is a horticultural indulgence, a feast for the senses. It's more than just a guide to garden design; it's an invitation to curate a personal oasis, a place where beauty and functionality intertwine.

Imagine a world where your backyard is an extension of your living room, where the scent of blooming flowers mingles with the aroma of grilled delicacies. Scott's book showcases twelve stunning properties, each a testament to his ability to create outdoor spaces that are both stylish and inviting.

From Hollywood Regency to Modern Moroccan, the gardens featured in The Art of Outdoor Living offer a diverse range of inspiration. But it's not just about aesthetics; Scott emphasizes the importance of functionality. He shows us how to design outdoor kitchens, cozy seating areas, and even private pools that seamlessly integrate with the surrounding landscape.

For anyone who wants to live well in their garden, this is a guide to creating stylish and livable outdoor spaces for entertaining, playing, and relaxing. Scott also shares his tips for keeping guests happy outdoors and explains how planning ahead makes outdoor spaces comfortable, inviting places you don't want to leave.

Scott recognizes that outdoor spaces offer unique challenges compared to indoor spaces. Here's a little excerpt from the introduction to The Art of Outdoor Living where Scott explains why outdoor spaces require more from us before they can be enjoyed.

Landscapes and gardens are different from interiors. T

hey mature.

They change constantly in small ways, shifting mood with the light and the weather, transforming dramatically with the cycling of the seasons and the passage of years.

Rooms, on the other hand, remain fairly consistent. Yes, the quality of sunlight and artificial illumination affects the atmosphere of our indoor spaces, but not nearly as much as that of a garden. 

When a house is done, typically, it is done. We can alter the mood of an interior with accessories, art, flowers, and holiday decorations. For the most part, though, the sofa is the sofa. It will not go deciduous -or bloom.

Beyond the practical advice, Scott's prose is a delight. He shares in-depth observations on all aspects of outdoor living and gardens, including sustainability, lifestyle, and paths. His reflective essays offer a deeper connection to the natural world. He reminds us that gardens are living, breathing entities that evolve with time and seasons. 

Here's an example of Scott's writing and his general thoughts on the wonder of gardens.

By their very nature, gardens take us out of our everyday worlds.

They are our private oases, the sale, beautiful places we create for ourselves to retreat, relax, and recharge. When they are designed, arranged, and lit for atmosphere and ambience so that we can use them to share a wonderful meal, a quiet afternoon, or a fabulous celebration with family and friends, there is nothing better.

I would rather be inside a garden than inside my home, so creating environments that make memorable outdoor moments possible for others brings me great happiness. I feel privileged to be a designer of exteriors, a shaper of landscapes and gardens. And I come alive when I see properties changing, finding their beauty, and bringing people joy.

Scott Shrader is a California landscape designer who has an intuitive ability to connect his outdoor landscape creations with the heart of the home. His designs are known for their sense of flow, style, and serenity. Scott's specialty is creating lush outdoor rooms where meals and company can be enjoyed at your leisure. Scott's blending of the indoors and the outdoors can be seen in these twelve gorgeous properties highlighted in this book.

The Art of Outdoor Living is a must-have for any gardener who dreams of creating a beautiful and functional outdoor space. It's a book that will inspire you to embrace the outdoors, entertain with style, and find solace in the tranquility of nature.

This book is 240 pages of making outdoor spaces comfortable places for cooking, entertaining, playing, and relaxing.

You can get a copy of The Art of Outdoor Living by Scott Shrader and support the show using the Amazon link in today's show notes for $26.