In The Garden Makers George Plumptre presents the key designers and innovators who have shaped the development of gardens from 1600 to the present day: early professionals such as the Tradescants and Charles Bridgeman; architects whose plans extended beyond the house, notably William Kent and Sir John Vanbrugh; aristocratic virtuosos such as Sir Francis Dashwood; Victorian entrepreneurs such as Sir Joseph Paxton in Britain and Frederick Law Olmsted in America; the outstanding partnership of Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll; and the major figures of the twentieth century such as Thomas Church, Beatrix Farrand and Fletcher Steele in America, and Vita Sackville-West, Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe and Penelope Hobhouse in Britain. Over seventy individuals, professional and amateur, famous and neglected, are profiled, with emphasis on those outstanding gardens where evidence of their work can be seen today. The Garden Makers is the most comprehensive and authoritative study of the evolution of gardens and a fascinating account for the general reader. Combined with many inspiring photographs, this book is an essential volume for every gardener鈥檚 library.