Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia - Pruning Guide by Ken Lamb

""Classical Chinese gardens are a unique blending of ancient cultural beliefs, spiritualism, science and art. In historical terms they are the private gardens of Confucian and Taoist masters who prided themselves on their ability to express the intrinsic links between nature and humanity through the creation and manipulation of landscape. The garden is thus a physical realisation of man's ability to control and be one with nature. The selection of plant species, their placement and sculpturing, respond to the dynamics of this philosophy. In practical terms they organise the garden into scenic zones and scenic views that evoke particular sensory experiences; perhaps a mountain wilderness of tall pines, a wandering pathway with glimpses through shrubberies, a pond of water lilies and hyacinth, or a courtyard of beautifully sculptured penjing. The shaping of plants to embellish views and connections is one of the key design expressions of Chinese gardens. The movement of positive energy qi through the garden, responding to the principles of feng shui, is also a driver of plant placement and shaping. Ultimately, the plants are an expression of the master's skills as a horticulturalist, an artisan and a scholar. Ken's appreciation of these forces at work is exemplified in his very detailed and thoughtful pruning manual for the plants of the garden. Plant shaping is one of the most challenging aspects of horticulture, and even more so in the Chinese Garden of Friendship. With a rich mix of plants under care, this manual will be an invaluable resource to guide the gardeners into the future."" Peter Nowland AILA ""The Chinese Garden of Friendship Pruning Guide by Ken Lamb is more than just a pruning manual. It positions the trees in a traditional Chinese scenic environment of different treatments and weaves in the philosophy of the Asian garden traditions in an informing and fascinating story. Well illustrated with simple and clear instructions, it is a book for all gardeners interested in the beauty of trees and landscapes. It's luscious photography will delight and surprise the reader and lead you into a deeper understanding of the Asian aesthetic, complete with Feng Sui, poetry and landscape paintings. It can also be used as a guide to the garden itself and explores the principles of maintaining large public gardens of asian and western origin in the 21st century and well into the future.""