Garden-Craft Old and New

"Garden-Craft Old and New" by John Dando Sedding is a detailed treatise on gardening, likely written in the late 19th century. The book examines the traditional principles of garden design and advocates for the revival of old-fashioned gardening techniques in contrast to modern landscaping methods. It reflects on the artistic and cultural significance of gardens, highlighting their role as not only aesthetic spaces but also as sanctuaries of human experience and memory. At the start of the work, the author sets forth his philosophy on what defines a garden, emphasizing its role as a reflection of man's love for beauty and nature. Sedding discusses the complexities of garden crafting, illustrating how gardens serve as intimate places that fuse artistic intent with nature’s innate beauty. He raises fundamental questions about the definition of a garden and the relationship between the garden and the house, laying the groundwork for a more in-depth exploration of both the historical context and aesthetic considerations of garden design in the subsequent chapters.