George Plumptre is an author, journalist, and lecturer, acknowledged as an international authority on gardens and gardening. From 1994-96 he was the gardening correspondent for The Times. He has lectured on a wide range of garden subjects in Britain, the USA, and South Africa, and has contributed articles to such publications as Country Life, Homes & Gardens, The Daily Telegraph, Architectural Digest (USA), Conde Nast House & Garden (South Africa). George's gardening titles include Collins Book of British Gardens, The Latest Country Gardens, Garden Ornament, The Water Garden, The Garden Makers, Great Gardens, Great Designers, and Classic Planting.

8 Royal Gardening Networks; An introductory chapter that traces how royal gardeners have always influenced each other through acquaintance, marriage and other family connexions, as well as through rivalry. Also shows how royal gardeners have privileged access to plants, designers, and craftsmen, etc., through their position, influence, and networks; 40 Gardens For Display; Describes the concept of a garden created specifically to represent royal power and position, which happened at different times but most famously with Versailles. The chapter will show how Versailles was a model for other royal gardens that aspired to represent royal power; 76 The Age Of Leisure; Describes those royal gardens created principally for enjoyment, often by keen royal gardeners; 106 Royal Landscapes; From late-18th through much of the 19th centuries, the English landscape was the favourite style for royal gardens throughout Europe. This chapter shows the geographical range of royal gardens, including lesser known gardens in Poland, Bulgaria, Russia, Denmark, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and the Czech Republic; 134 Botanists And Plantsmen; Describes those royal gardeners and the gardens they created where horticulture was foremost, including many gardens of the 19th- and early-20th century when gardens were made around plant collections; 142 Great Restorations; During the 20th century a number of former great royal gardens were restored - including gardens at Het Loo in Holland, Peterhof in Russia, and Chateau de Beloeil in Belgium; 168 From Grandeur To Privacy; This chapter shows how for contemporary royal gardens, the past priority of grandeur is still sometimes evident although more recently this has often been balanced by a desire for privacy; 202 Directory Of Gardens; 206 Index; 208 Acknowledgments