This book describes the often astonishing beauty of the plants and flowers grown in earlier ages, the "antiques" of the garden world. Though many species are in constant danger of extinction, surprising numbers of these older variety of plants survive to this day. This book is both a guide and a tribute to those plants, providing a feast for the eye, essential reading for every nostalgic gardener plus all the information for the gardener who wants to plant correctly for "period" gardens, or "cottage" gardens.