4 comments about The Soul in Balance: The Gardens of Washington National Cathedral.

1. The Soul In Balance: The Gardens Of Washington National Cathedral pairs photographs with short quotations from Biblical, Philosophical, and literary works thereby creating lovely, inspiring images both visual and philosophical. Alexandra K. Scott's color photographs pair beautifully with quotations selected by Heddy F. Reid and New Testament passages chosen by Frederica Isabelle Scott. The Soul In Balance is an ideal gift book to commemorate special occasions, and to browse through in search of heart's ease and the spirit's inspiration.



2. I had been in hospitals for 12 months when I read Alexandra Scott's book. It was so peaceful and beautiful, while the text and pictures enhanced one another. For people in distress with little energy, it is balm for the self.



3. Scott's photographs are exquisite and beautifully married to simple but sophisticated text by her co-author, Reid. In an era of "Chicken Soup for the Soul (which I also occasionally read and find helpful), The Soul in Balance is a visual delight and a book whose messages are challenging, thought-provoking, and soothing. This book would make a perfect gift for almost anyone whose life is too hectic, fragmented, and in need of some inner direction. Scott's understanding and appreciation of the natural world are reflective and direct descendants of the best 18th century traditions. But no mistake, she is a complete, late-20th century sensibility with an remarkable eye and camera technique that excels.



4. This is such a soothing, satisfying book. The photographs are exquisite, with a wonderful sense of intimacy and color: red berries glistening in droplets of ice, poppies with the fine blonde hairs along their stems backlit in the sun. Scott's sensitive, observant eye takes you places you wouldn't know to go, pulling your eye deep into a hydrangea, where tiny growing leaves curl into infinity. There is a real synergy between the photos and the thoughtful quotes, to a degree that I have never seen. Reid is a poet and you can tell; when you read the quote and look back at the picture, you understand it in a different way. I've been giving copies to everyone I know.

No comments about A garden alphabet.

2 comments about The Big Book of Garden Design: Simple Steps to Creating Beautiful Gardens.

1. I enjoyed flipping through this book over and over and then concentrating on a few of the suggestions.



2. A must for any gardening library. This book offers suggestions on gardening design as well as providing plant descriptions.

5 comments about Driving the Green: The Making of a Golf Course.

1. This is one of my very favorite golf reads! Presents realistic insight into the dream, conception, and final reality of a golf course. This is similar to grinding it out that all of us hackers and pros must go through to get to that stage in our round or game where it all comes together. The bird lady story is illustrative of my fascination with this book. It so kept my attention because it seemed so realistic to what real life in golf course architecture must entail. The give and take between developer, architect, and owner was exceptional insight as well.

   I've reread and will continue as well as give copies away to those I know are into the game as I.




2. This was a big disappointment. I know people who have played the course, and thought that it was excellent. I was looking forward to the nitty gritty of course design. Instead we get all of the tedium of getting the permits, the arguements, life stories of some of the participants, and most of them were not particularly interesting. No pictures, only a few lame drawings. Where are the before and after pictures so we can see the transformation of wild land to the course? How about focusing on some design elements, maybe pick a green and show how it was made, and the thoughts on the bunkering, fine-tuning the finished product? Nothing like that was in this book. In fact, the book ends before the first shot is hit. No reactions from players to the new course. No follow up with the designer on how it turned out. No reviews by outside golfers. The book just stops when it is finally getting interesting. It took forever to build this course. It seemed to take longer to get through this book.



3. The people setting out to realise a dream and their encouters with the outside world and reality are pictured very nice and vivid. The proces is given with warm observations. One comment for those who publish the book: please enclose a 1-page overview of the site and lay-out because then moving 200.000 (square)yards of dirt (soil) from lake 7 to green 12th realy has a meaning. Now, with the details given it was just impossible to understand the weight of this kind of information. Even still: a very fine read for all in golf and courses.



4. CAUTION!!! The only book of its kind. John Strawn reports it as he sees and hears it. It's the perfect illustration of what is wrong with modern golf course architecture. If you're looking to hire an architect for remodelling, reconstruction, redesign or a new project... read this first. Then read Masters of the Links.



5. This book left me wondering! The access the author had to the developers, construction crew, and architects of the 'Ironhorse Resort' was complete. This is the book's major strength. Throughout I read a muted implicit criticism of almost all his sources. However the line of outright criticism is never crossed. The author becomes so close (he's an avid golfer and golfs with everybody) you wonder where he stands ultimately on issues he brushes against. For example, we get to know ruthless developers throwing their weight and money around as they make their deals. Environmental advocates and their concerns are introduced, then dropped. We see brief references to the Haitian migrant workers, and other hard working laborers, who toil on the irrigation systems of this luxurious playground for the rich. None of this is followed through, leaving the question open whether the author along the way abandoned the writing of a social commentary, or was just the consumate sycophant all along. This criticism aside, as a avid golfer I enjoyed the book. It might not appeal to the non-golfer. It is well written, and the anecdotes and asides into golf history that the reviewer below complains about I found fascinating. This book about the making of a modern golf course (notwithstanding the lost opportunities to educate on and explore in greater detail larger issues pertaining to the hitting a little white ball in a manufactured paradise that's replaced a natural one) is a one-of-a-kind.

No comments about An Introduction to Urban Design (Icon Editions).

1 comments about The Gardens of Louisiana: Places of Work and Wonder.

1. This book captures many botanical wonders that are passionately explained by Suzanne Turner. The talented camera work and Ms. Turner's expertise combine to allow the reader to feel as though he or she were strolling through Louisiana's landmark gardens. The commitment and depth of this piece of art are nothing short of magnifique

No comments about City Edge: Contemporary Discourses on Urbanism.

No comments about Build Your Own Outdoor Structures in Brick (Build Your Own Series).

No comments about The Continuing City: Urban Morphology in Western Civilization.

No comments about Making a Middle Landscape.