Shakespeare’s Garden

Photographed For Garden Book

By Nancy K. Crevier

When The Container Garden Idea Book is published by Taunton Press in the spring of 2012, among the photographs by English photographer Mick Hales and Taunton Press art director Allison Wilkes will be several container gardens designed and planted by staff members at Shakespeare’s Garden on Obtuse Road in Brookfield, at the historic Burr Farm.

Ms Wilkes and Mr Hales, the sole photographer for more than 30 books and contributing photographer to numerous magazines, including House & Garden and Garden Design, were at the garden center the first day of summer, June 21, selecting from the lush and colorful planters skillfully put together by owner Mark Fancher, his sister-in-law Kasia Fancher, and Dorota Baran.

“We are pretty well known for our planters,” said Mark Fancher. “We always have a lot made up, so this group from Taunton Press has been welcome to choose from what we have for the photographs.”

Ms Wilkes was familiar with the artful works of Shakespeare’s Garden, so when stock items at Taunton Press were not working out, she suggested the garden center as a site for a cover shot and other photographs in the book. “I only provided some very loose direction for the containers. Mostly, I left it up to Mark and Steve [Fancher, Mark’s brother and partner],” said Ms Wilkes. “They have such a good eye for this.”

Mr Hales, who specializes in photographing gardens and architecture, seemed pleased with the bountiful displays as he and Ms Wilkes maneuvered several into place in front of the antique barn. “It’s a pleasure to be here,” he said, and to be working once again with Taunton Press, for whom he has photographed other books.