Penelope Hobhouse - The Art & Practice of Gardening: Color in the Garden & Flower Gardens Vol. 2 [VHS]

To understand how seriously the British take their gardens, all you have to do is watch Color in the Garden. Penelope Hobhouse, the British garden authority, strolls through Helen Dillon's private garden in Ireland, commenting with unquenchable enthusiasm on the luscious color combinations that make up the various colored borders. While it seems almost comical to hear the colors of flowers talked about with such conviction, don't laugh, because you might miss the sage advice that's slipped in along the way. (For instance, in a purple border, Dillon repeats vibrant hues in front, which allows for "more of a muddle" behind.) Lynden B. Miller, who designed the perennial garden at the New York Botanical Garden, explains how she used pastels on one side and bold colors on the other.

In Flower Gardens, Hobhouse takes viewers through her own garden as she tries to explain the marriage of structure and natural chaos in the perfect garden. An incredibly diverse private garden in Cornwall is toured while another expert, Marco Polo Stufano, deconstructs what it takes to make a garden out of an "amazing jumble of stuff." (Hint: Start with a "good architectural backbone.") It's not all theory, though, as Hobhouse shares practical tips that could help your garden resemble those of the pros. --Valerie J. Nelson