The Companion covers the history and design of gardens all over the world from the earliest known examples to the present day. The first comprehensive reference book on the history and design of gardens all over the world. Written by a team of 170 expert contributors and edited by experts in the field, this attractive Companion boasts over 1,500 entries and 250 black-and-white illustrations, including articles on roof-gardens, water gardens, secret gardens, and other special types of garden. It contains essays on garden elements, such as fountains, grottoes, herbaceous borders, hedges and follies, as well as giving accounts of garden history in individual countries. Definitions of English and foreign-language garden terms are given, as are biographies of designers, patrons, plant-collectors, and garden enthusiasts.