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Design Press launches new book
Savannah College of Art and Design’s Design Press recently released its latest publication, “Small Gardens of Savannah and Thereabouts” published by Pelican Press. For more than two centuries, residents of Savannah have created small Edens — worlds of shape, fragrance and color often hidden behind the wrought iron and brickwork of grand homes. Combining intimacy with elegance, these small gardens are part of the city’s artful legacy. Author Elvin McDonald takes readers on a tour of more than 30 public and private gardens in Savannah. Divided into sections, each covering a different topic, “Small Gardens of Savannah and Thereabouts” is filled with 100 color photographs, many taken by SCAD alumni Chia Chiung Chong, Wayne Moore and student Dan Saelinger, and 30 color illustrations by SCAD foundation studies professor Stephen C. Gardner. Most gardens featured are approximately 10-by-10-feet and McDonald reveals planting strategies and decorating solutions for a variety of small spaces including treelawns, rooftop and container gardens. Using an accessible how-to approach, the author also includes a planting schedule and flower suggestions for the home gardener in an appendix. A gardening enthusiast from the age of 3, McDonald has published numerous gardening books, including “The Complete Book of Bonsai: A Practical Guide to Its Art and Cultivation” and “Pruning: A Practical Guide.” Besides being deputy editor for gardens and outdoor living at Better Homes and Gardens magazine, McDonald maintains his own garden in West Des Moines, Iowa, and is actively involved in the design of numerous public and private gardens. He said he fell in love with the gardens of Savannah while producing a story for Traditional Home magazine in 1997. SCAD Vice President for Academic Affairs Jeffrey Eley wrote the foreword for the book, placing gardening in Savannah in its historical context. Eley also is the author of “Savannah Sketchbook” (Design Press, 2000). Design Press, the book-packaging division of the college, creates illustrated and photographic books that reflect and reinforce the award-winning talents of the college’s faculty, alumni and student artists. Design Press produces books that promote the South’s rich cultural heritage. Like most Design Press projects, the latest book was a collaborative effort showcasing SCAD talent. Strauss is associate editor of Design Press. |
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