Do you look at natural plant communities as design models for your garden? These are a neglected source of inspiration, according to co-authors Kevin Philip Williams and Michael Guidi. In their new book, “Shrouded in Light: Naturalistic Planting inspired by Wild Shrublands,” they encourage you to consider the value of smaller, woody plants that anchor many different landscapes around the world.
This is not your typical gardening book. There is little specific guidance on how to select, plant, and maintain shrubs. Instead, the authors want you to understand the aesthetic and ecological dynamics of wild landscapes prominently featuring shrubs. Taking this a step further, they encourage embracing these plant communities in an almost spiritual sense. “Let’s bring shrubby chaos into the garden and be shrouded in its light.”
The heart of the book is a global expedition to see different ecosystems in which shrubs thrive. These vary from very dry to very wet, from coastal to alpine, and are distinct from grasslands, meadows, and forests. The authors use many tools in their presentation. This includes contrasting two images of the same landscape, one marked up to show patterns of colors and texture.
Throughout is the pervasive question: What is a garden? To explore this topic are several examples of gardens that have been designed keeping the wild aesthetics in mind. Many are in the western United States as both authors are on the staff of the Denver Botanic Gardens.
A regional example is found in Bend, Oregon where the shrub-steppe flora of the area provide the components and form for a green roof. But the color scheme is much broader than just green. “The densely planted vegetation celebrates the tawny hues of spent inflorescences and silver sheen of tomentose foliage that typify shrubs in this semi-arid region.”
There is a certain amount of visual levity. Local readers will recognize something akin to Plant Amnesty’s examples of horrific pruning. Abstract paintings, spectacular panoramas, and closeup patterns are other ways to expand the perceptions of readers. Overall, this book “is an invitation for you to design, work, live, and play with shrubs.”
Reviewed by: Brian Thompson on November 7, 2024
Published in Garden Notes: Northwest Horticultural Society, Winter 2025