****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
It was within a year of my April, 2004 visit to the fantasyland of Bellingrath Gardens (just south of Mobile, Alabama) that I subsequently found my current copy of this 1958 book in a southern Ohio Junk store for three dollars. I feel compelled to comment upon the extreme coincidence, not only of finding this book but of a circumstance which is even stranger yet: Inside the book were some very old but unused postcards of the Olsson Motel -- ironically, this is where my wife and I spent the night, off the beaten path and many miles from Bellingrath, on the night of our own stay in that region. I laughed as I saw, on the postcard, the newly-planted trees in front of the motel which are now huge old shade-makers, dominating the property's landscape!That little story being out of the way, I can suggest with confidence that anyone interested in either travel or botanical gardens (or arboretums) will much enjoy this 7 1/2" x 9," 50-page hardcover "coffee table" book, (the pages are not numbered.) My copy is the 1958 one (a First Edition, unstated) and the Bellingrath Gardens has not changed a great deal since that time -- the property, formerly the home of Walter D. Bellingrath, (1869-1955 and founder of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company), is just spectacular.The book is bulging with superb color photographs of the many magical spots throughout the gardens which are located alongside of the Isle Aux-Oies River. The photos were taken by Bill Shrout, William W. Lavendar, and Fred W. Holder. There's not a lot of text in this book but it does include a brief history of the property, a biography of Walter D. Bellingrath, and a color map of the estate grounds. About half of the photos are dedicated to the home interior and its impedimenta, the latter ranging from the crystal and silver room to beautiful examples of French and English bisque.Nicely bound with a sturdy black cover, try to obtain a copy with the green dust jacket with a photograph of the reflecting pool on the front.Highly recommended.
