"Desert Gardens of Steve Martino, by Caren Yglesias, proves that no one uses palm trees - and other desert plants - more fluently. Part of Martino’s trick is setting plants that have few flowers but fabulous shapes against geometric slabs of deeply colored walls. The crimson hues in a Phoenix garden must be as much of a draw for the hummingbirds as the mirrored surface of the water trough. Blue concrete pyramids, magenta poles, yellow awnings and fiberglass panels - these are all elements in Martino’s playful, imaginative designs." - New York Times Book Review
"A beautifully made book that will appeal to gardeners and designers interested in the Southwest." -Library Journal
"Scorching summer days in the deserts of the Southwest are not usually when the desert becomes inspirational. However, Desert Gardens of Steve Martino creates a beautiful printed 'garden' to enjoy. The reader will discover a new appreciation for the desert and its natural plants." - Arizona Republic
"Jaw-droppingly beautiful garden profiles, 21 of them. Each profile features multiple photographs, a site plan, and a thorough description of the garden.... you quickly become immersed in the designs and find yourself dreaming about how to incorporate details into your own garden, be it in the desert, a rainforest, or a small urban lot..." - Pacific Horticulture
"Bring some natural beauty to your coffee table with the new book Desert Gardens of Steve Martino, which displays the work of the local landscape designer and Phoenix Home & Garden Masters of the Southwest award winner." - Phoenix Home & Garden
"Landscape architect Steve Martino was born, raised and lives in Phoenix, so desert air is in his lungs. He is the ideal expert to show us gardens - even gardens growing on rooftops - in that sandy climate.... Author Caren Yglesias, who teaches landscape architecture and environmental planning at the University of California, Berkeley, weaves together Martino's words and wisdom with photographer Steve Gunther's striking photos - transporting us to this arid expanse. There's nothing barren here with Martino as our guide. He juxtaposes strong manmade elements - stucco walls, arbors, outdoor showers and benches - with nature, honoring the ecology of the landscape." - Aspire Design and Home
"What designer is not a fan of Steve Martino? And this book tells you everything you want to know about the ways to achieve harmony between residence and garden and the landscape beyond.... Martino's site plans and drawings add to the lovely nature of this book, one that any designer would treasure forever." - Garden Design Online
05/01/2018
Landscape architect Steve Martino has been fascinated by the desert since a young age, when he would explore his Phoenix surroundings on horseback. Later, he majored in architecture and became more interested in outside spaces and how to use them as expansions of a building's interior. Interested in native desert plants at a time when other landscape architects considered them nothing but weeds, Martino describes his work as "weeds and walls," pairing native plants alongside boldly painted stucco walls, water features, and custom outdoor furnishings. Spectacular photographs by Gunther illustrate this volume showcasing 21 of Martino's artistic gardens in Arizona and California, which dramatically capture the light, colors, and shadows of the Southwest. Following an introductory chapter in which Martino discusses the evolution of his work, author Yglesias (landscape architecture & environmental planning, Univ. of California, Berkeley; The Innovative Use of Materials in Architecture and Landscape Architecture) describes each garden's development. VERDICT A beautifully made book that will appeal to gardeners and designers interested in the Southwest.—Phillip Oliver, formerly with Univ. of North Alabama, Florence