Gardens and Plants of the Getty Villa

Patrick Bowe and Michael D. DeHart

In the first part of this book, garden historian Patrick Bowe explores the design, planting, and uses of the ancient Roman garden and describes how J. Paul Getty's vision to create such a garden in California was brought to reality.

The second part includes a sumptuously illustrated guide to the plants in each of the five Villa gardens. Bowe introduces each garden, describing the underlying concepts and the relationship to the ancient Roman models as well as their architectural and sculptural elements. He also documents how plantings have been renewed in light of new knowledge emerging from excavations conducted in the Roman gardens of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Horticulturist Michael DeHart provides informative descriptions of the growing habits and characteristics for each of the plants, citing medicinal, culinary, and ritual uses for many of them.

Patrick Bowe is the author of many books on gardens and garden history including Gardens of the Roman World (Getty Publications, 2004). Michael D. DeHart has been supervisor for Grounds and Gardens at the J. Paul Getty Trust for the last twenty years.