Sri Lanka’s garden legacy comes to life: Launch of new book on Bevis Bawa’s Brief Garden by Juliet Coombe

Juliet Coombe giving an informative description of the Brief Gardens

A new era of nature and garden tourism in Sri Lanka was officially launched recently with the unveiling of acclaimed British travel writer Juliet Coombe’s latest book, ‘Brief Garden by Bevis Bawa’—a compelling tribute to one of the world’s most iconic tropical gardens. The book was launched in Colombo amidst a gathering of subject enthusiasts, cultural historians, nature lovers, and members of the travel industry.

More than just a chronicle of Bevis Bawa’s artistic garden sanctuary, this pioneering publication positions Sri Lanka as a global destination for garden and nature-based travel. It offers an immersive journey through the island’s lush landscapes, tracing the evolution of garden design from the ancient boulder gardens and hydraulic engineering marvels of the 5th-century Sigiriya Fortress to contemporary garden creations across the island.

Coombe’s work introduces a bold new genre of experiential travel in Sri Lanka—one that invites travellers to explore the island through its gardens. From luxurious villas on the coastal belt to the emerald highlands of the tea country and the sprawling 300-kilometre Pekoe Trail—now considered the world’s largest interconnecting garden walk—visitors can experience a harmonious blend of history, biodiversity, and botanical beauty.

The book builds on the momentum generated by the recently held Wildlife and Nature Tourism event in London from 15-17 July, which underscored the growing global demand for purpose-driven travel centred around nature and conservation. Sri Lanka’s unmatched biodiversity—home to thousands of species including the world’s largest natural gardeners, the wild elephants—is a key theme. Coombe highlights how these gentle giants play a vital ecological role, spreading seeds and shaping forests with their movements.

 ‘Brief Garden by Bevis Bawa’ spans over a hundred years of visionary landscaping, celebrating three generations of Sri Lankan garden designers. Bevis Bawa, inspired by his global travels, reinterpreted classical tropical aesthetics to create one of the most celebrated private gardens in the world—an artistic sanctuary that remains a benchmark in tropical garden design.

The book also pays tribute to Sri Lanka’s traditional ecological knowledge. From using marsh snails to purify water to crafting layered plant canopies that offer natural air conditioning, Coombe’s exploration reveals how indigenous gardening practices offer sustainable solutions to modern environmental challenges.

One of the book’s more poetic elements is its inclusion of garden-themed verse by John Vincent, whose writing encourages readers to reconnect with nature and rewild both their landscapes and their spirits. A standout chapter is dedicated to the hidden courtyard gardens of Galle Fort—where coral ballast from ancient ships has been upcycled into stunning colonial courtyards, shaped by centuries of multicultural influence.

The book closes with a deeply personal chapter titled ‘From Toxic Tip to Mini Eden,’ documenting Coombe’s own transformation of a lockdown-era rubbish dump in the UK into a flourishing garden, now featured in the prestigious National Gardens Scheme. Her story of turning trash into treasure—car tyres into planters, horseshoes into arches—reinforces the book’s core message: we can all be the change the world needs.

The Brief Garden

Through her vivid storytelling and ecological insights, Sri Lanka invites the world to rediscover the country as the true Garden of Eden. There are many thematic, exotic gardens around Sri Lanka built on different passions followed by a purpose. Travellers can redefine their travel experience by exploring these garden wonders of Sri Lanka, a true depiction of the country’s immense tourism assets. The author is grateful to the Brief Garden Owners and Guardians Dan De Silva and Dooland De Silva, who have been instrumental in bringing the Brief Garden story into life. 

Sri Lanka Tourism will launch a new chapter of authentic experiences with this book to lure travellers to value the island’s best kept wonders, the natural and cultural heritage, and to explore it with care, curiosity, and with a purpose.