5 comments about Creative Garden Mosaics: Dazzling Projects & Innovative Techniques.

1. I've never written a review before but I felt compelled to spread the word about this book. It's incredible! Every design featured in this book is a masterpiece of creativity. After viewing the art, I can't wait to get started on a project of my own. And the best part is that each design in the book is explained out step-by-step from materials needed to simple techniques. As if that wasn't enough, the back of the book even has templates so you can recreate the exact design if you wish. For inspiration, you can't beat this book.



2. If you have thought of exploring mosaics and want interesting and exciting new approaches and sound technique this book will do it.



3. This book is a great read for aspiring mosaic artists and for beginners. The beautiful pictures show what is possible, the text is well written, and the "how-to" part is easy to follow.
   This is a book for those who want to venture beyond the commonplace in mosaics.
   
   Lena



4. This is a great book for inspiring creative ideas for making outdoor mosaics. Well written, beautifully photographed, the book shows original problem solving techniques not found in other "how-to" mosaic book...particularly in the construction of 3-D objects. Ms MacKay is a talented writer and mosiac artist.



5. The subtitle of this book is Dazzling Projects and Innovative Techniques and it certainly delivers! It's full of rich, vivid, full color photographs and instructions for interesting and creative projects, most of them 3-D. I was very excited to learn about epoxy putty and how to use it to create curved structures out of backer board or wire. A few of my favorite projects in this book: Snake-In-The-Grass, Gazing Face, and Reflecting Birdbath with View. Your garden will never be the same!

1 comments about America's Original GI Town: Park Forest, Illinois (Creating the North American Landscape).

1. This is a planner's history of this unique American village, located about thirty miles South of Chicago. Gregory Randall has the advantage of growing up in Park Forest, which gives him some insight into the community that an outside observer might miss. He also has the training and experience as an urban planner to understand and appreciate the complexities of creating a new town.

   Randall places Park Forest in the contex of planned communities in England and the United States. His discussion of Riverside, Illinois, is good; but he ignores Pullman, Illinois, and Marktown, Indiana, as earlier planned communities in the Chicago area. His treatment of Harvey, Illinois, includes the minor error of listing the Chicago lumberman, Turlington W. Harvey, as an evangelist, although he was associated with the evangelist, Dwight Moody.

   He also does not deal with the demogragrahic changes that been pronounced on the South Side of Chicago and the South Suburbs. This racial and ethic movement has affected the developments that the planners did not anticipate. Perhaps, this is beyond the scope Randall's book, and deserves a monograph of its own.

   As a resident of Park Forest for twenty-six years I learned much about the origins and development of my town. I was especially interested in the how the lack of cooperation from the Illinois Central Railroad, forced the planners to drop their first chice for the location of the Park Forest Plaza. Thus, many of Park Forest's problems with a declining downtown area can be understood. I recommend this book to all who have an interest in the post-World War II period, and especially to all those who live Chicago area.

No comments about Urban Design Review: A Guide for Planners.

1 comments about Gardens of the World.

1. From the ultra-contemporary to the seriously classical Gardens of the World: Two Thousand Years of Garden Design intends to spark the imagination of all adventurous gardeners. A beautiful book packed with 300 plus color photographs of famous and familiar places: Versailles, Villa d'Este, and gardens that are less familiar; The Tarot Garden of Niki de Saint-Phalle, located in Tuscany, Portrack designed by Charles Jenks, in Scotland, and The Lightening Field in Quemado New Mexico by Walter de Maria. Get out the map and plan a few garden visits into your next vacation

   Gardens of the World is fascinating history of garden design. Each chapter examines a modern garden and then explores its historical and classical roots. The history and significance of water gardens is the focus of the first chapter. A contemporary water garden in France at Mery-sur-Oise is shown in great photographic detail. Then the author traces the history of water gardens using a wide variety of examples such as Generalife garden in Grenada Spain, Villa d'Este in Italy, and the Barragan Water gardens in Mexico City. He states that gardeners have always borrowed ideas from each other. Their ultimate expression of these ideas tempered by the restraints of their own climate, location, history and plant availability.

No comments about Campus Landscapes: Functions, Forms, Features.

2 comments about Terraces and Roof Gardens of Paris.

1. This book is so delightful. As a city dweller in Manhattan with a large roof deck of my own, I needed some inspiration for growing plants upwards on several trellises I installed. This book was perfect! The designs a gorgeous, and the writer gives you enough information to duplicate some of the marvels. Also, if you love Paris as I do, you'll love daydreaming over the photographs.



2. Yes, I have a deck built over my garage roof which is accessible from my kitchen/fam. rm. So, I was looking for inspiration on what plants to have there this summer when I happened upon this very attractive book about terrace & rooftop gardens just yesterday at my local bkstore! I am getting lots of ideas from the pics on color combinations, styles and accents. The photos are detailed & altho I haven't read the text yet, it appears to have lots of quotes from the owners perspective on why they chose their plants. The author embellishes this with clear descriptions as well. Photo descriptions usually name the plants shown & I've seen 2 or 3 already of interest that are new to me that I can look up in a gardening guide & perhaps incorporate into my own roof top garden. Ea. section of the book shows several examples of private terrace gardens; i.e. A section on "Open-air dining" showing several terraces planted around tables & chairs for delightful outdoor meals. Another sec. called "Hanging gardens" using bamboo & cascading plants in unusual planting combinations. A thoroughly delightful feast for the eyes; and, one would never guess that all these various styles are within one large city and thusly all in the same approx. climate. I will be devouring this book this spring and enjoying it for many years to come!

No comments about Artists' Gardens.

1 comments about Siftings (American Land Classics).

1. Jens Jensen's ode to the landscape he loved and enhanced during his lifetime - the prairie. Filled with philosophical musings and selected vignettes from his long career, Jens Jensen writes with ardor about the need to conserve, observe and embrace the natural environment.

No comments about The Everything Landscaping Book: From Planning to Planting, Mulching to Maintenance--Simple Steps to Beautify Your Property (Everything Series).

No comments about Jardin De La Malmaison: Empress Josephine's Garden with an essay by Marina Heilmeyer.