For the first time, this book explores to the full, with dazzling visual accompaniment, the fascinating story of the Impressionist love affair with the new thinking about gardens, their flowers and design, in 19th-century France. It discusses the artists both as painters and as gardeners, and, using source material such as contemporary gardening manuals, offers exciting new interpretations of their art. It also looks at the garden, public or private, as a new kind of space with political undertones, and relates it to the Impressionists\' adoption of plein-air techniques. While the approach is to concentrate on analyses of specific works, the historical context is presented in a clear, informative and engaging manner. There is also some lively discussion of the private lives of these artists. 126 Illustrations, black and white; 135 Illustrations, color