No comments about Urban Garden Design: Private Terraces and Balconies.

5 comments about Stones and Bones of New England: A Guide to Unusual, Historic, and Otherwise Notable Cemeteries.

1. I picked this book up while stuck in an airport, and was optimistic about its contents. I was turned off however to find vague and short descriptions, and at several times, plain inaccurate information. Maybe someone might consider doing more research and writing a book for each cemetery mentioned in it. When you can find the correct information simply by paying attention to the History Channel, maybe it's time to think about writing your own book, or re-writing one you have been careless with.



2. I love cemeteries, the older the better, so I was already pretty much the ideal reader for 'Stones and Bones' from the get go. During my recent vacation to New England I spotted Rogak's book, in one of the approximate 20 or so gift shops my children dragged me into, and as soon as I saw the cover I knew I was hooked. I practically hurled my money at the cash register, as excited as I was to get my hands on this book.
   
   I read the book everytime I had downtime over my trip. It proved to be a good book to dip in and out of. The short chapters are conducive to that. The content was definitely of interest to me, and there were some great, interesting tidbits as well as good local lore. For me, someone who's been to New England only once before, and never before to its cemeteries, it was interesting to read. I definitely wanted more concrete information, but I whiled away my quiet time very nicely with this book. The author's intent wasn't to be comprehensive, but rather to whet the appetite and provide a little guidance on the subject. I'd like to graduate to a more detailed book from here, but I thought 'Stones and Bones' served its purpose quite well.



3. This book had promise, but it never lived up to it. It probably gives a comprehensive review of the cemeteries available for viewing and hints on where to park, but the actual cemetery information is scarce. Sometimes it will talk about a special monument and there is no picture. It left me wanting more.



4. This book begs for a road trip...by the author! A truly phenomenal book on this subject would have required more than just research. Visits to most every graveyard/cemetery in New England (anyone traveling through small New England towns can tell you that there is much more to see than those listed in the book), plus interviews with the locals and families that date back centuries, seems necessary.
   
   Much of what is in the book seems to be simply research, which could be done by anyone on the internet and at local New England libraries. Each cemetery listed mentions only one or two graves of interest. Also, each state section of the book should have had its own introduction including some history of the state, as well as lore. And while this doesn't need to be a gothic novel featuring Barnabas and Quentin Collins, narrative on the meaning, legends, lore and FEEL of graveyards in New England could have added so much more, including color photos taken during all four seasons. I am reminded of a book on ghosts in New England (forgive me for not recalling the author or title); that author visited many towns and interviewed locals to "get the scoop." Whether you believe the legends or not, it was a great read because of the amount of information provided by locals.
   
   Seems like a rush job. With more work, the book could have been an invaluable resource and historical reference.



5. Although this book is great for giving histories for graveyards and unusual individuals, beware. Get directions to these locations first. If you follow the book's directions, most times you will get lost for hours. Some of the roads in the book's directions do not even exist, others will lead you to an area miles away from the actual graveyard. It is my opinion that the author has not visited most of these locations, and is only speculating to their whereabouts.

No comments about Gardens of Historic Charleston.

1 comments about Opportunities in Landscape Architecture, Botanical Gardens and Arboreta Careers (Opportunities in).

1. This book is pretty helpful, even if you already know quite a bit about the subject. It is informative and helps with narrowing down the career options you have.

1 comments about The Pennsylvania Barn: Its Origin, Evolution, and Distribution in North America (Creating the North American Landscape).

1. Now in a revised and expanded second edition, The Pennsylvania Barn: Its Origin, Evolution, And Distribution In North America by Robert F. Ensminger (Professor of Geography, Emeritus, Jutztown University) offers the reader an informative and in-depth study on a characteristic piece of American vernacular architecture - the forebay bank barn, which is also known as the Pennsylvania barn or the Pennsylvania German barn. Black-and-white photographs, diagrams, and a study of the evolution, uses, diffusion, folklore and future of this unique architectural work combine to make The Pennsylvania Barn a distinctive and aptly researched study which is especially recommended to students of American Architectural History.

1 comments about Through the Garden Gate.

1. Miss Lawrence says, "Dill is a hardy annual. The seeds can be sown in fall or early spring. The seedlings must be thinned, and Mrs. Clarkson says she saves every scrap that is pulled up. She uses them in potato salad, and sprinkles them over broiled lamb."

   Miss Lawrence has distilled much of her gardening and some of her cooking knowledge into this lovely little book (about 250 pages). Ideas abound from sources such as old wives tales, myths, stories, poetry, and the miscellaneous information passed along to Miss Lawrence from her correspondents, friends, and readers. Reading this text is like sitting at a wise woman's knee and listening to her tell about past times.

   Will it rain on Saint Swithin's Day (July 15th) as it did in 971 A.D when his body was transferred from a forgotten grave to the Cathedral for a proper burial? Were the Chinese, who considered the frog the lord of waters onto something, "Send soon O frog the jewel of water."

   But my favorite writing is the poetry she intersperses into the text -- "A bank where the wild thyme blows, Where Oxlips and the nodding Violet grows, Quite over canopied with lucious woodbine, with sweet musk-roses and with eglantine." Planted any eglantine lately..?

No comments about Italian Gardens: From Petrarch to Russell Page.

No comments about Dumbarton Oaks.

1 comments about Urban Design: Method and Techniques, Second Edition.

1. an excellent book for urban design students, with clearly defined and sequenced content, supported by appropriate case studies. Possibly the only negative thing about the book is its "textbook" nature; but very informative, nevertheless.

1 comments about Golf Greens: History, Design, and Construction.

1. Mike Hurdzan's Golf Greens is not an easy read straight through from cover to cover because it is highly technical. But I did it and I'm glad. It searches the subject in far greater depth of detail and pictorially than anyone has ever done before. Great coverage! And it doesn't always simply "sell the conventional line". I learned lots from it, though before thought I was already pretty well experienced in this important matter. I recommend this book to all golf course developers, contractors, maintenance superintendents and other golf course architects for learning much more about golf greens.