Lost Gardens of the World is a lovely illustrated guide to gardens of the world that no longer exist or have been recreated but no longer stand as they were originally. From the mazes of Schonbrunn to NYC's former Gardens of the World, this details all kinds of horticultural wonders and how their demise came about. It also details if these were ever recreated and to what extent.

‘Lost Gardens of the World’ offers a captivating journey into the history of 40 unique spaces around the world, from abandoned roof gardens to grand estates left in disrepair. Author Sandra Lawrence’s writing invites readers to imagine the lives these gardens once held, blending mystery with history in a way that feels like stepping into another era.

Accuracy: ★★★★☆

Lawrence’s research shines in each garden’s historical background, covering details about its founders, the designs, and the cultural context. The descriptions of the gardens’ original appearances and purposes are rich and well-founded, although at times the focus is more on narrative than precise horticultural detail. Those looking for technical insights on restoration might find themselves wanting more, but the accuracy of each garden’s story adds credibility and depth.

Perspective: ★★★★☆

The author’s perspective feels both nostalgic and reverent, capturing the romance of these lost landscapes. Lawrence’s passion for history and beauty is evident, making each garden’s story feel personal and poignant. While some gardens receive more attention than others, this slight imbalance serves to highlight the unique aspects of each site, emphasising Lawrence’s own admiration for the particularly enchanting ones.

Relevance: ★★★★☆

For readers with an interest in garden history, conservation, or forgotten spaces, this book holds strong appeal. Although it may not reach a universal audience, ‘Lost Gardens of the World’ resonates with those intrigued by the beauty and mystery of neglected sites. The variety of gardens featured, from floating allotments to stately manor grounds, ensures a mix of historical and cultural perspectives, making the book widely relevant for fans of hidden histories.

Engagement: ★★★★☆

Lawrence’s storytelling style is immersive, with each garden presented as a unique mystery to uncover. The historical anecdotes and restoration tales bring each location to life, blending lore with factual accounts in a way that keeps readers engaged. More firsthand narratives would have added a personal touch, but the vivid descriptions create a powerful sense of place that holds the reader’s interest throughout.

Readability: ★★★★☆

The book’s layout and language make it approachable, even for readers new to garden history. Each garden’s story flows smoothly, though a few sections are dense with information, which may slow down the pace. Still, the author’s descriptive prose and clear organisation make the book easy to navigate, with each garden offering a new chapter in history that feels both informative and approachable.

Enjoyment: ★★★★☆

Overall, ‘Lost Gardens of the World’ is a delightful and thought-provoking read, filled with forgotten beauty and wonder. Readers will find inspiration in the stories of these hidden gems, and Lawrence’s appreciation for nature and history comes through in a way that’s both enjoyable and refreshing. While the book may appeal most to those with a love of gardens or forgotten histories, it’s a memorable journey for anyone with an appreciation for life’s quiet, enduring mysteries.


‘Lost Gardens of the World’ is a tribute to the beauty that can be reclaimed from the past. Sandra Lawrence’s work reminds us of the resilience of nature and the importance of preserving cultural treasures, even if they are out of sight. The book is a compelling exploration of paradise lost and found, and it leaves readers with a renewed sense of wonder for the landscapes we so often overlook.

THANK YOU NETGALLEY & Quarto Publishing Group / White Lion / Frances Lincoln

“Gardening is war. Nature’s greatest desire is to reclaim its own and humans can only hold back the inevitable for as long as they care enough to fight.” – Sandra Lawrence

Beautiful, informative, and just plain fun. Drawings are provided for most of the entries, though I wish there were photos included of the things in which anything *could* be photographed (remains, blueprints, etc). We're given a little peek into each garden with a summary quote, enough info to satiate or hook and shove you down a rabbit hole of your own research, how they came to be and how they came to be no more. Great for those into horticulture, history, architecture possibly, Atlas Obscura. A listing at the back provides information on how to visit every garden included in the book, so cool. And, as always, an index. 4.5 for the minor things that bummed me out.

I would like to thank Netgalley and
Quarto Publishing Group for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This wasn’t what I was expecting, and it needs more photos/illustrations.

I'm sorry, but the download expired prior to my finishing the book. I enjoyed what I did have the opportunity to read. Maybe I can check out a copy from the library and finish. If so, then I will update this review.

This is a wonderful premise with some delicate botanical illustrations and quite a bit of fact-riddled text.

The main issue with reading a beautifully written book about lost gardens is that I then have to live with the reality of never seeing them in their prime glory.

Lost Gardens of the World is a wonderful book that tells the stories of Gardens the world over that have been lost to time, and often tragic events, some have been found and have restoration work ongoing and some we may never find again. This mix of joy at knowing that something lost has been found and the tragic loss of such stunning locations the world over creates a bittersweet read that made me long to create a folly garden of my own. I felt myself being captivated by the descriptions of stunning locations with softly bubbling rivers and fountains, with plants that had been found on expeditions deep into the wilderness, of hot houses made of glass glittering above you, and of marbles and statues of wild and untamable beasts. Combine that with the artwork of the current state of each garden and the book leaves your imagination building up the most stunning gardens for you.

My only true complaint is I wish there was more artwork of what the gardens would have looked like in their primes, I wanted to see the gardens as they were at the peak of their existence. I also would have loved to see more details on visiting those that had been found and restored.

Overall, I would recommend this to those who love gardens, and the mysteries of places lost to time.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are wholly my own and unbiased.

I loved going through the pages of this wonderful garden book! I visited myself some of the gardens described in this book and I learned so much informations about these gardens that i visited and now i want to visit the other gardens that I haven't had the chance to see so far! I will keep this book for ever with me and will open it and read it again very often!!!
This book is a must for any garden lovers!!!

Fascinating and informative, full of wonderful illustrations. It made me learn something and loved what I saw
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are min

Downloaded this on a whim and I was pleasantly surprised. The illustrations are beautiful and everything's really well researched and very thorough. I think this is a perfect book to keep on your tea table or desk for a bit of light reading. I really wish that there were prints of the illustrations available because I spent a lot of time just staring at them. Would love to have them on my walls; I feel like they'd be even better in real life and in person.

I love the concept of this book - real life secret gardens, there's something quite magical about them. But the book quickly lost my interest because every one is presented as one illustration and then dense pages of text about it. Gardens are visual things. I want pictures! I thought perhaps there were no pictures to be taken since the gardens were "lost" - but no, most of the lost gardens still exist in some form so there could have been photos accompanying or even replacing the illustrations, It was fairly disappointing.

A really interesting book of essays concerning a variety of gardens around the world, ranging from famous works still visited today to ancient gardens long lost to time. I really enjoyed the brief introductions to each location. Each essay describes the history of the garden, the region and historical context of its construction, and a description of the various features specific to each place.
I did feel like the essays were a bit too brief at times, and the use of lots of technical language took away from the writing at times.

Book Review: Lost Gardens of the World by Sandra Lawrence

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently had the pleasure for reviewing Lost Gardens of the World by Sandra Lawrence, and it was an enchanting experience that transported me across around the globe, revealing the hidden beauty of gardens that time has almost forgotten. This book is a beautifully illustrated journey through forty captivating gardens that have experienced a decline, whether due to neglect, abandonment, or destruction.

Lawrence takes us on a tour of these horticultural gems, from the crumbling splendor of Villa d’Este in Italy to the magical Lost Gardens of Heligan in England. Each garden tells its own unique story, showcasing not just their past grandeur but also the efforts taken by communities and individuals to revive them. I found it fascinating how gardens like Las Pozas in Mexico and Le Jardin Majorelle in Morocco still resonate with life and creativity, while others have been left to fade into history.

What truly struck me was the depth of research that Lawrence poured into this book; the wealth of details and facts about each garden is astounding! It's evident that she has a deep appreciation for these spaces and the stories they hold. I was particularly captivated by how the book highlights not only the beauty of these gardens but also the romance of paradise lost—there’s something profoundly poetic about gardens that were once vibrant but are now mere whispers of their former selves.

The illustrations by Lucille Clerc are an absolute delight. Each page is adorned with beautiful artwork that complements the narratives perfectly, elevating the reading experience. It’s like flipping through a travelogue filled with lush landscapes and vivid colors, making it hard to resist daydreaming about visiting these gardens myself.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Lost Gardens of the World. It’s a perfect blend of history, horticulture, and art that will appeal to anyone interested in travel, gardening, or even history. Whether you're an armchair traveler or a passionate gardener, there's something in this book for everyone. I can't help but give it four stars for its captivating storytelling and stunning illustrations—it's definitely a keeper on my bookshelf!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

The book is a feast for the eyes. They include not only gardens in Europe but also some gardens in other places such as Japan and China. Thus, the readers can enjoy a variety of garden styles from this book. The selected gardens are representative, and the text is informative. The author includes not only the history but also the current status of the gardens. It's a relief to see that there is an increasing awareness towards cultural heritage conservation around the world, and many of these great gardens are brought back to life nowadays.

No one likes to think of their garden disintegrating over time, but the reality of this came home to me as I contemplated the Lost Gardens of the World. I really enjoyed exploring and visiting these gardens and getting to know their creators as I read this book. While I hope my garden will last forever, I was inspired to add designs that are timeless inspired by what I read.

James' rating: 5 out of 5 vibrant stars!

First of all, the illustrations! Oh my gods, they are honestly one of the best ones I've ever seen. It was vivid as well as high in detail. The illustrator did an amazing job.

Coming to the descriptions, I could visibly see the research that the author had done as well the dedication. There was a plethora of information ranging from history to interesting facts to engaging stories. I appreciated the effort that was taken to unveil each garden mentioned and also their clear and concise description that was fluid.

At this day and age where technology is taking over every aspect of our lives, these sites should be preserved not only for their significance in history but also their raw beauty in varied layers. I would love visit them someday. The author has done an excellent job in bringing their garden to life through their words and I would definitely recommend this book to plant lovers.

Thanks to Sandra Lawrence, Lucille Clerc and Frances Lincoln for a beautiful ARC!

Lost Gardens of the World is a beautiful compendium that takes us all over the planet to showcase lost gardens that have been rediscovered throughout the years. Their preservation is not only of upmost importance to history, but also for humanity, as connectedness with nature is essential to our species. The work, thought, and sheer passion that were put into this title are very apparent, and it was a capturing read from beginning to end. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity!

Garden lovers will enjoy dipping into this collection which features 40 gardens that have, for varied reasons, been lost. For each of these, there is beautifully evocative artwork to help readers imagine the garden in it glory. The text further details what made each of these places special.

These gardens were once found all around the world. Readers travel to The Garden of Dreams, Little Acorns, Warley Place, Bachs of Khajuaro, Gardens of the Nations, Madinat al-Zahra, Wah Bagh and these are just a few of the places.

This would make a lovely addition to the library of a garden lover! The author makes a wonderful guide. She has loved gardens ever since she became a reader of Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

This book is so so cute omg! Lost Gardens of the World is a book that you don't wanna put down for a second in your life. This is so good omg.

What a wonderful book about Lost Gardens that are being revised. I found the telling of the histories of the gardens fascinating and exciting to imagine, and I found the revival of the gardens reminds me of libraries where they go in and out of fashion but never really die, and are truly diamonds in the rough. I don't know if I would ever get a chance to visit any of these gardens but reading about them makes me feel like I'm there already.
I thought the illustration were very nice but I wish there were actual pictures included of what the gardens look like now and pictures of the people who not only created the gardens but the people who are helping them return to life.

I did like that there is an appendix that tells if the gardens are opened to the public and I hope this book encourages people to visit them.

I want to Thank Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion | Frances Lincoln and NetGalley for an advance copy of a book full of Gardens.