Rick Darke

Rick Darke is a widely published author, photographer, lecturer and consultant focused on regional landscape design, planning, conservation, and enhancement. Blending art, ecology, and cultural geography, Darke is dedicated to the design and stewardship of livable landscapes. He has studied and photographed North American plants in their habitats for over 30 years, and this work is reflected in his articles and books including The American Woodland Garden: Capturing the Spirit of the Deciduous Forest, which has received the American Horticultural Society’s Book Award, the Garden Writers Association Golden Globe Award for book photography, and the National Arbor Day Foundation’s Certificate of Merit. A broadly knowledgeable horticulturist, Darke has traveled extensively in both hemispheres, exploring diverse ecologies and cultural landscapes in search of ideas to enrich the global garden. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Garden Design, Gardens Illustrated, and on National Public Radio.

Darke is an internationally recognized authority on the use of grasses in designed and managed landscapes. His book, The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes is the world’s most complete individual reference on this topic and has been published in French and German. His recent book, The Wild Garden: Expanded Edition (2009 Timber Press) places William Robinson’s classic concept of wild gardening in modern ecological context and illustrates its relevance for today’s gardeners and landscape stewards. Darke’s writing and photography is included in two multi-author books published in Spring 2011: The New American Landscape: Leading Voices on the Future of Sustainable Gardening (Timber Press) and Fallingwater (Rizzoli).

Additional information is available at www.rickdarke.com