Public Gardens of Michigan

"Michigan's glorious public gardens display the rich tapestry of the garden design traditions of the Great Lakes State. The earliest public gardens date from 1701, when Cadillac founded Detroit. These French baroque style elements, their Dutch counterparts, and the English Landscape tradition brought by waves of settlers, exist side by side with more recent influences such as the Arts and Crafts movement, Japanese gardens, and industrial motifs. Vast industrial fortunes allowed tycoons such as Henry Ford, Edsel and Eleanor Ford, and Charles Stewart Mott to build immense estates with beautifully structured gardens that are now public spaces. A committment to green space, as evidenced by Michigan State University's land grant mission and horticulture/landscape architecture emphasis, also contributed to Michigan's unusual and enchanting beauty.". "More than a tour guide, Public Gardens of Michigan reveal not only the beauty and majesty of the gardens, but the wealth of design inspiration that Michigan landscape architects borrowed from and gave to the world. Miriam Easton Rutz's volume uncovers the history, politics, and legacy of Michigan's public gardens.". "From stately cemeteries to whimsical zoological parks and breathtaking vistas, readers will delight in discovering the awesome grandeur of this lush and historic garden state."--BOOK JACKET.