Isabel and Julian Bannerman's Landscape of Dreams is a captivating exploration of garden design and its ability to transport us. 
 
The duo began working together in the early eighties and quickly established themselves as the go-to landscape designers. The book delves into the Bannerman's most renowned projects, such as King Charles' Highgrove, the King also wrote the foreword, the great walled garden at Houghton Hall, and New York's Queen Elizabeth II garden in memory of the British victims of the 9/11 attack.
 
Much more than a list of gorgeous gardens, the book traces the story of their lives through their work, from their early influences to their personal projects and inspirations. The mix of illustrations, family photos and dreamy images of their gardens captures an imaginative process from designing to planting, allowing us, the reader, to fully appreciate the beauty and intricacy of their landscapes. 
 
The Bannermans' design philosophy is deeply rooted in an appreciation for the history and traditions of architecture and landscaping while pushing boundaries by incorporating innovative elements. What is clear from the examples is their ability to tell stories within the landscapes they create through this blend of art, history, nature and adept use of architectural salvage.
 
Many projects illustrate their masterful integration of reclaimed pieces, such as their 1994 Gold medal-winning RHS Chelsea garden. The idea was to create a town garden in an imagined cathedral city, with the centrepiece being a mature mulberry tree. To capture the gothic romance, the team sourced a tracery window salvaged from a nineteenth-century church and a twelve-foot-tall stone 'crocket' finial from Walcot Reclamation. Incorporated within the old brick walls were a frieze and a balustrade course constructed from pieces of Salisbury Cathedral stone that were removed for replacement during its restoration.
 
The book also gives an interesting insight into one of their most famous clients, King Charles. The pair took the then Prince of Wales to Walcot Reclamation. They remarked in the book, 'he found the reclamation world fascinating and sometime later, he asked us to look at a corner of his garden and suggest some ideas possibly using reclaimed things.' In Highgrove, alongside a collection of ferns, they placed some limestone architectural elements reclaimed from a high-street bank. Calling them 'Capital Seats and Concrete Assets', much has changed since their original design, but the salvaged limestone remains.
 
Overall, Landscape of Dreams is a visually stunning book that will appeal to both garden enthusiasts and salvage lovers alike.