At once poetic and technologically creative and in both, fearlessly so Vladimir Sitta’s design work constantly challenges established norms. The elemental forces of nature, earth, fire, water, and gravity are vividly revealed through both his artistry and the sensory, intellectual, and imaginative responses that such artistry demands. These gardens exemplify his international reputation and practice, letting readers see his distinctive style. In the prologue, leading critic Julian Raxworthy considers in depth the elements and allusions apparent in Sitta’s garden designs and in the fluent and flowing drawings Sitta refers to as "doodles" or "fragments," which have provided the starting point for many of the gardens.