Private Gardens of the Bay Area

‘Does the Bay Area now hold the greatest concentration of creatively refined gardens in the country? It would seem so, judging by the captivating photographs of Marion Brenner in "Private Gardens of the Bay Area". The hard-working team of Susan Lowry and Nancy Berner has previously published books about New Jersey and Hudson Valley gardens; this volume is especially satisfying in its breadth and variety... Californians draw inspiration from around the globe - but then they do their own thing, to dazzling effect.’ - New York Times Book Review

‘Spectacular photographs and insightful text provide a dazzling look at the great variety and charm of 39 local gardens in the new book “Private Gardens of the Bay Area.” From spacious to tiny, on hillsides or city rooftops, whether walled in for privacy or with vistas of ocean, bay or coastal hills, it’s all here...’ - San Francisco Chronicle

‘Anyone interested in landscape design and possible plant materials for the particular conditions of soil and climate in northern California will find this text quite useful. Gardeners all over the world will likely wish they could garden in the Bay area after glimpsing the range of types of garden landscapes illustrated and described in this book. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers.’ - Choice magazine

‘This book celebrates the beauty of the Bay Area while emphasizing that its unique environment and geography offer special opportunities for landscaping. The featured gardens look sophisticated yet inviting. Their appearance harmonizes with natural surroundings, and all is skillfully captured in the delightful photographs. Landscape designers, home gardeners, and nature photographers will appreciate this work.’ - Library Journal

‘You have to hand it to authors Susan Lowry and Nancy Berner, when they choose a subject for one of their handsome books that transport you to the gardens of a particular region they are not drawn to homogenous places.... Private Gardens of the Bay Area is the fascinating result of its authors dedicated research and thoughtful selection. It offers an engrossing and informative prospective of properties mostly hidden from public view that reveals the impressive array of gardening styles in the Golden State.’ - Gardenista

‘Adventurous, spirited and eclectic' is how co-authors Susan Lowry and Nancy Berner describe the 30-plus unseen grounds captured in their new book, Private Gardens of the Bay Area. Berkeley-based photographer Marion Brenner's images showcase everything from an English-style garden in La Honda to a Pacific Heights backyard brimming with Japanese maples and fruit trees; each is varied, yet united by a sense of drama.’ - C magazine

‘Flip through the new coffee-table book Private Gardens of the Bay Area, and you'll see your fair share of enviable, sprawling landscapes.... From a child-centered play area where the only green that grows is on the walls to a Tetris-like assemblage of concrete ramps and steel walkways leading to the top of Telegraph Hill, it's immediately clear that in the city we do gardens, like so many things, a little differently.’ - San Francisco magazine

‘This book resonates with local gardening priorities because of its consistent and light-handed interest in sustainability, especially through lawn alternatives and drought-tolerant plants. The garden presentations convey these important messages subtly through multiple examples and without preaching.... Private Gardens of the Bay Area would be a fine gift to an avid gardener living in this part of California, or to others who would like to experience this horticultural paradise vicariously.’ - Thomas Karwin, Santa Cruz Sentinel