"It is no surprise that Ireland, with its favourable climate, a range of plants that runs from the subtropical to the subarctic, and a landscape that varies from gently pastoral to savagely rugged, possesses some of the most interesting gardens in the world," writes Jane Powers in her introduction to The Irish Garden. With the help of lush, full-color photographs by Jonathan Hession, Powers takes readers on an extensive tour of the gardens throughout the Emerald Isle, from formal estates that cover hundreds of acres, first planted hundreds of years ago, to backyard plots that provide food and flowers for modern schools, restaurants and local villagers. Powers skillfully blends exquisite descriptions of nearly 60 gardens with the history behind each, providing readers with a mini-course on the cultural, social and economic developments that have influenced Ireland since before the 1600s. The Irish Garden is a lovely meander through a vast and colorful network of trees and plants that truly pays homage to the unusual climate and diversity found in Ireland. --Lee E. Cart, freelance writer and book reviewer