Private Gardens of South Florida by Jack Staub

Private Gardens of South Florida by Jack Staub

Imagine a world where tropical blooms dance in the sunlight, where exotic orchids whisper secrets to the breeze, and where lush, emerald lawns stretch out to meet the azure sea. This is the enchanting realm of Private Gardens of South Florida, a visual feast that transports us to the heart of paradise.

Author Jack Staub and photographer Rob Cardillo invite us on a privileged tour through twenty-two of South Florida's most exquisite private gardens. With each page, we are immersed in a tapestry of color, texture, and fragrance. The photographs, captured with a masterful eye, capture the essence of each garden's unique personality.

From the mysterious, forest-like retreat of a painter-turned-horticulturist to the award-winning oasis inspired by the Near East, we encounter a diverse array of horticultural masterpieces. Each garden tells a story, a reflection of its owners' passions, dreams, and aspirations.

This book is a treat, and I am thrilled to share it with you on today's show. It's been out for about six years, which means that this book's used prices have gone down. This was a $50 book when it came out, but you can now get copies for about $12, which is such a deal.

In this book, twenty-two private gardens from South Florida are featured. And if you love tropical gardens, you've got to get this book because it's the only way you'll see some of these secret gardens and grounds that are so unbelievably designed.

For instance, you'll meet a painter-turned-horticulturist who transformed her garden into a mysterious forestlike escape. There's a couple that created their garden after being inspired by the Near East, so their garden is something that you might see in a Persian Royal Garden. And of course, all the gardens are set in Florida, so you're going to see all kinds of pools, fountains, ocean views, and just incredible vistas - not to mention avenues of palms. (That's something I love because clearly, we will never have that here in Minnesota.) The palms add such a stately majestic aspect to tropical gardens.

So as we wander through this book - seeing the beautiful shaded pathways, gazing upon secluded pools, and reveling in the enviable ocean views, - we are can't help but to be inspired to create our own tropical havens. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or simply a lover of nature, this book is a treasure trove of ideas and inspiration.

Jack's engaging prose brings these gardens to life, sharing the stories behind their creation and the passion that fuels their owners' horticultural endeavors. And, Rob Cardillo's stunning photography captures the beauty and diversity of the flora, from towering palms to delicate orchids.

Now, of course, in real life, Jack himself gardens on Hortulus Farm in Pennsylvania. During the production of this book on South Florida gardens, his main concern was finding a diverse array of gardens to feature in his book. Jack really wanted to show the full spectrum of private gardens - everything from a grand estate to tiny, hidden oases. Jack also wanted to find gardens that had owners who were very invested in them, who actually cared about them, and who had a significant relationship with their gardens. And I think that makes all the difference in the way these gardens are portrayed because you can tell that these gardens are loved.

Another thing I want to mention about Jack Staub and his writing because he is such a compelling writer. Jack is passionate about gardens, which is evident in the way he writes about gardens. For instance. One garden is introduced by Jack this way:

There is something very Hansel and Gretel about this garden as it reveals itself so slowly and circuitously.

One is nearly sufficiently disoriented to strew a trail of crumbs behind one so that one is guaranteed away out of the forest.

People don't write like that about gardens anymore - and so I appreciate that about Jack and his writing.

And while you might be sitting there going, why would I get a book about the gardens of South Florida?

For my rebuttal, I would say to stretch yourself.

This book may show you gardens that are out of your growing zone - that are a little foreign and exotic - but you undoubtedly will learn a ton about composition and design. And you will benefit from learning how to look at gardens through the wise eyes of Jack Staub. And that, my friends, is very much worth investigating.

This book is 256 pages of enchanting properties that will inspire you not only to partner with nature and design in new ways but also to create your little slice of paradise right in your backyard.

You can get a copy of Private Gardens of South Florida by Jack Staub and support the show using the Amazon link in today's show notes for around $12.