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Mark Francis

Mark Francis, FASLA is Professor and former Chair of landscape architecture at the University of California, Davis. He is author of Urban Open Space, Village Homes,, Public Space, The California Landscape Garden, and Community Open Space.

Titles by This Editor

The Meaning of Gardens

Edited by Mark Francis and Randolph T. Hester

Gardens reveal the relationship between culture and nature, yet in the vast library of garden literature few books focus on what the garden means - on the ecology of garden as idea, place, and action. The Meaning of Gardens maps out how the garden is perceived, designed, used, and valued. Essays from a variety of disciplines are organized around six metaphors special to our time - the garden muses of Faith, Power, Ordering, Cultural Expression, Personal Expression, and Healing. Each muse suggests specific inspirations for garden and landscape design.