No comments about Sculpture And the Garden (Subject/Object: New Studies in Sculpture).

3 comments about Roof Gardens, Balconies and Terraces.

1. Interesting, but mainly specialized to larger roof garden. Therefore less suitable for a relatively smaal balcony



2. This beautiful book is helpful in answering some design conundrums which comparable books do not tackle nearly as elegantly. (How to grow a lot of plants in a small space without creating a traffic jam -- for example.) There are photos of thrilling small garden spaces which - refreshingly - can actually be replicated fairly easily. It's a great book to drool over, but also a true reference; a good combination.



3. the pictures in this book are amazing, although for the project i was working on, i found it lacking where it covered roofotp gardening. it seemed to be too general to give very accurate information for what i needed.

No comments about China and Gardens of Europe of the Eighteenth Century (Dumbarton Oaks Reprints in Landscape Architechture).

No comments about Designing the Reclaimed Landscape.

1 comments about Complete Garden Guide to the Native Perennials of California.

1. This book is essential to any California gardener who wants to learn how to introduce some of California's many beautiful native perennials into his or her garden. Mr. Keator, a guru of native gardening in California, offers practical advice on selection, propagation and culture of the most garden-worthy native perennials. The text is interesting (riveting for native enthusiasts) and well-written. Only the black-and-white line drawings and lack of photos leave the reader wanting more.

5 comments about Artificial Rock Waterfalls: Rock Making Techniques for the Professional And the Hobbyist.

1. It's too bad the only book on this subject is so weak because it's a fun subject. The author is a person who's made many big installations of waterfalls and zoo environments. But alas, English is not his first language, I think it's cement. He seems to have been published while bypassing a ghost writer, an editor, a beta tester and a proof reader.
   
   It's mostly a promotion for the author's businesses. It's clumsy in how it lays out what's really not a very complicated process. I've found pages on the Web with more useful information, better photos, better writing and actual recipes for cements than you'll get here.
   
   Example of the writing, a sidebar in one chapter:
   "IMPORTANT NOTE: Go overboard with anticipating a two feet extension outside the job area after making allowances for it to fill in crevices, the depth of the pond, irregular shapes, etc."
   
   Another sample:
   "Mixing fiber with concrete will greatly help in making sure it 'stacks' easier and looks more 'natural' in the environment."
   
   or this definition of Laitance from the Glossary:
   "a residue of weak and non-durable material consisting of cement, aggregate fines, or impurities brought to the surface of over wet concrete by the bleeding water"
   
   You'll also find valuable tips like this one: "Before beginning to paint, decide what colors to paint your rock."
   
   The photos are amateurish, shadowed and incomplete. The illustrations are nice.
   
   A glaring absence is a discussion about the aesthetics of stone, the design possibilities, the beauty and expression possible when one creates in the medium of the Almighty himself, rock and stone. Nor is a mention made of the different types of stone to mimic and what those might be and how about some photos of a variety of the earth's geologic forms to, at the very least, stimulate some ideas in the mind of the reader and at the most provide a directory of stone types and places to look further in geology. In Kinkade's world there is one type of stone. The kind you buy in preformed panels from his fake rock company.



2. I got the book because I was already planning a project. This text book has everything you need to know to make it happen.



3. You can build a rock waterfall not just for a pond but for a swimming pool, spa, or garden; especially with the step-by-step ideas and instructions in Artificial Rock Waterfalls: Rock Making Techniques For The Professional And The Hobbyist. Produce fountains and falls which look entirely natural, blend it into an existing theme or environment, and understand the materials and construction techniques of different layers in a guide which is loaded with photos of the step-by-step process. Discussions of design alternatives, electrical and plumbing options, and more provide everything you need to gain an idea and the knowledge to follow through.



4. A very informative book, full of information that most of the construction trade regards as closely guarded secrets. Plenty of imagery to go along with well written techniques and methods. Could include more information on different types of rock surfaces (not much there on rocks and boulders with natuarally rounded surfaces) Still, highly recommended.



5. Chapter 1 - Planning and Design takes the reader through site planning and design of your rock and water feature including the concept drawing, plan view and elevation view. The author emphasizes having a clear concept and drawing of what you intend to construct. This detailed planning is of primary importance for a satisfactory outcome.

   
   Chapters 2 and 3 deal with the water part of the rock and water feature. Beginning with the mechanical system and water flow considerations, through plumbing and pumps and finishing with filtration and purification, these chapters help the reader plan these systems.
   
   In chapter 4 we begin the construction of our project with the pond and the foundation for the structure. Chapter 5 covers building the armature for the rock structure with rebar and wire mesh and also illustrates alternatives such as using steel studs, plywood and EPS construction instead of rebar.
   
   Chapter 6 covers the scratch coat, and the texture coat illustrating the making of and use of latex skins to impart a realistic texture to the surface.
   
   Chapter 7 gives painting techniques for finishing the structure to closely resemble natural rocks - a most important part of making artificial rock look like naturally occurring rock.
   
   Chapter 8, the final chapter, takes the reader through step by step construction of a rock feature.
   
   This book is lavishly illustrated with color photos and black and white drawings throughout so that the processes being explained are visually illustrated.
   
   The back of the book contains 3 pages of materials suppliers as well as a 9 page glossary of terms, something that should be most welcome, especially for beginners.
   
   All in all this book is well written and illustrated and obviously comes from many years experience in the field.

No comments about A Guide to the Sculpture Parks and Gardens of America.

2 comments about The Gardener's Book of Color.

1. This is one of my all time favorite books, I return to it time and again for ideas, ispiration and information. Andrew Lawson has written the definitive book on using color in the garden, there are wonderful examples of single color gardens, as well as using contrasting and co-ordinating colors with plants. He gives great suggestions for plants to use. The photographs in this book, taken by Lawson himself are superb. Every gardener will get something from this brilliant book.



2. Lawson does a better job of presenting and especially operationalizing color blending than any of ten books I looked at. He also consistently identifies what is in the glorious pictures. I am amazed by how many authors do not do this. It is an outstanding book for a beginner, that's me, to make a garden look like a pro did it, and for an experienced gardener to gain new perspectives and want to plant even more.

1 comments about Poa Annua: Physiology, Culture, and Control of Annual Bluegrass.

1. At long last, a fine book on the most complex species we manage on golf courses. Vargas and Turgeon do a great job of defining Poa annua and then exploring management and control. This book ranks right up there with Dernoden's book on creeping bentgrass. A must-have for anyone who manages Poa annua greens and/or attempts to control it on any fine turf.

No comments about Carolina Edens.