For some time landscape preservation seemed a lost concept in America. Historic gardens were dug up for tourists' parking lots, legendary landscapes fell under ribbons of freeways, and for some reason people took to planting plastic pink flamingos on their outdoor spaces rather than preserving heritage plant materials and trees. In these nine essays, activists and designers buck the trend and describe their efforts to preserve historic and significant landscapes, including pioneering southern garden club projects, Mount Vernon and the landscape along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The collection also includes reflections on noted designers and preservationists such as Morley Jeffers Williams, Arthur A. Shurcliff, Frederick Law Olmstead, Jr. and Thomas C. Vint. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)