5 comments about Natural Landscaping: Gardening With Nature To Create A Backyard Paradise (Rodale Garden Book).

1. This was my first gardening book, and I feel so very lucky, because the author's sensibility matches my own, and her emphasis on planting for wildlife makes her a kindred spirit. Here I first learned the definition of a meadow garden, a woodland garden, and even the names of birds and butterflies. I first became aware of Joe Pye Weed and Spicebush, Bee Balm, Milkweed and New England Aster.
   
   Reading this book is like having a wise and non-judgmental master gardener take you under her wing. Sally Roth's passion for the natural world shines from every page. She touches on a wide range of topics, such as: laying out a path; building a bluebird nest box; starting a meadow garden; planting a flowering fence; avoiding the "Elvis look"; monthly calendar for meadow care ; creating a streambed; how to saw through a limb; starting plants from seed; -- all techniques are clearly described and easily understood. There are charts such as "Best Shrubs for Woodland Gardens" and "Best Trees for Songbirds." The book is beautifully laid out, and the color pictures are pure inspiration, especially during the blizzardy days of winter.
   
   The negative comments from the previous reviewer seem overly severe and curmudgeonly. I haven't spotted an invasive species in the suggested plants lists yet, though the author does suggest some cultivated hybrids that I don't choose to use. Of course, there are many more technical, rigorous tomes out there that can and should be added to one's gardening library, (and a hard slog of a read they may be, too!)
   
   I highly recommend this book as a general introduction to natural gardening, one that will inspire curiosity, guide discovery, generate ideas and projects, and make the adventure loads of fun.



2. I speak on the subject of natural landscaping frequently - I've been doing this for years.
   I always search out useful references so audiences can go home and apply what we've discussed. I would not recommend this book. This book muddles the concept of "natural" and "native" to the point that an inexperienced gardener is likely to plant invasive, non-native plants and never realize they have created a disaster where they hoped to create environemental harmony in their yard. Awhile after the fact they may realize what has happened - I speak to disappointed homeowners often.

   Diekelman's book of the same title is much better, especially for folks in the Midwest.
   It is somewhat techincial, so may be a little dense for beginners, but at least it won't cause mistakes, disappointment and regret.




3. This book offers some basic ideas in landscpaing your property in order to maintain a natural look. It offers beautiful uses for wet areas instead of trying to correct it.



4. I originally bought this book ONLY because Ms. Roth is a local writer and I had enjoyed her newspaper columns and also went to a few lectures that featured her. As I have matured as a gardener I am very cautious about spending my garden dollars. I assumed that this book would be one of the "fluffy" books similar to my first garden book purchases. I was surprised at the depth of information and wealth of ideas. In talking to other gardeners or anyone else interested in nature, I always recommend this book as a must for their gardening library. I have probably reread the book 3 times since I purchased it and always pick up something new.



5. There are a number of books out on natural landscaping - a fast-growing field - but this is the first one I found which included useful information on the whole spectrum of related issues: style, philosophy, horticulture, and wildlife habitat and feeding. Chapters on woodland and prairie gardens are excellent. There are good lists of native plant nurseries; sound information on water features; and inspirational but not too idiosyncratic commentary by the author - just about everything someone needs to get started. And as someone who has already worked with this style for some time, I can also say it's useful for the experienced gardener. Besides, I like the author's style - she is a serious garden writer who can relate to those of us who don't go about designing in the traditional way with grids, etc. Highly recommended. The only reason I didn't give it four stars was that in a couple of cases, I had questions about the execution of certain plans which were not answered in the text or drawings. Still, that sort of detail can be gotten around given the clear principles outlined in the various projects. If you can just have one book on the subject, this would serve you well.

4 comments about Ceramics for Gardens & Landscapes.

1. I was disappointed with this book. There is some lovely work illustrated and the biographies of the artists doing the work are comprehensive, but as a newcomer to doing work for outdoor installations I would have preferred more "how-to" information. For instance, there is no chapter on how to deal with the freeze-thaw cycle; you can glean some information from many of the artists about the techniques they use, but it is not organized as a comprehensive topic. The information about the mechanics for making a fountain is sketchy at best--basically, it's determined to be hard to do and must be figured out on a trial-and-error basis.



2. A bit heavy on biographical sketches for my taste, but the bios will be of interest to students of art history. Most bios are followed by a section on "Techniques" containing very useful details, but since the book is organized by ceramists, there is no quick way to find the technical info you are looking for. Well-written and good for casually browsing.



3. Offers an excellent visual guide to outdoor and garden ceramics and a nice insight into the minds behind these strange and beautiful things. If you're looking for an inspirational book, this works. If you're like me and are always looking for more tips and demos, you'll find it's a little on the thin side.



4. Karin Hessenberg has done a wonderful job of pulling together enough photos, ideas and techniques to get the ceramic artist started in this technically difficult medium. Accompanying photos,schematic drawings and lists of materials needed are a welcome resource without overdooing the amount of steps in each project. I have found that resource books like this must fill 2 needs for me. One; to inspire me with wonderful examples of each art form by a variety of artists and, two; information enough to help me with technical problems I might not know about but, without giving me a step by step that fills up the book. I really do like to look at the pretty pictures!

No comments about Sir Ebenezer Howard and the Town Planning Movement.

No comments about Interpretative Archaeology (Explorations in Anthropology).

1 comments about The Garden Lover's Guide to the South.

1. I've purchased several books in this series called "Garden Lover's Guides." This particular edition, focused on Southern gardens, is one of the best. I find them all to be very helpful for trip planning because I love to visit gardens when I'm traveling.

3 comments about Easy Garden Design: 12 Simple Steps to Creating Successful Gardens and Landscapes.

1. Very good book to use as a workbook for designing a garden, but not enough on it's own. I am working on designing a landscape for our home, and I use this book primarily, along with 'the well designed mixed garden', and 'your house, your garden'. a book about local plants is also very beneficial. Using all of these gives me confidence in doing something I have never done before.



2. This is an outstanding tool for both the beginner and advanced gardener. Janet has a way of explaining things in an order that helps prevent mistakes caused by over enthusiasm, and still feels like a game.
   It is easy to read and use, doesn't feel like homework to work through.



3. Easy Garden Design helped me to think through the reasons I wanted a garden, and how to tell if the finished product is successful. My whole landscape was simply too overwhelming to think about or budget for, so now I've learned to design and complete one garden area at a time. Previously, I've taken a scattershot approach and was unhappy with the results. Now I have an overall landscape plan and am proceeding with confidence.. An excellent resource!

2 comments about Finding Lost Space: Theories of Urban Design.

1. I like this book which I though is the best one to describe the urban situation.



2. An interesting and practical book that will fire the imagination of anyone engaged in the design of public space.

   This book identifies the problem of 'lost space'--the left over and unstructured spaces of our cities. It then goes on to identify how to redesign these spaces for more interesting and humane cities.

   It finishes with some specific principles for the design of spaces and design processes.

No comments about Will They Ever Finish Bruckner Boulevard?.

3 comments about The Well-Placed Weed: The Bountiful Garden of Ryan Gainey.

1. I love it! With no how-to information this book is pure inspiration, and how! Beautiful photographs capture the exuberant, audacious and bountiful nature of the author's garden and inspire me to more creativity and courage in my own. Sure, it's pretentious. It has every right to be! This is my best cure for the late winter blahs, when it seems like spring will never come.

   (One note: p.28 Aesculus pavia is misidentified as A. parviflora - I only add this because I think A. pavia is much underused and want more folks to plant it!)




2. I remember seeing Ryan Gainey for the first time a few years ago on PBS....I was so captivated by his wonderful eye in the garden, and loved all of his pets following him all over the property while he worked. I'm an avid gardener, with a cottage house and a fairly small garden consisting of 100 roses,200 lilies, a small waterfall and fish pond that my husband and I built. When we start to think of spring and the new ideas for our yard, we always look at this book for details. With so much "Garden Prententia" these days, this is definitely a refreshing change.We also have a group of little pups that assist us as we work in the yard.....the simplest pleasures are the most rewarding, and you'll love re-reading this book, again and again as the seasons change.....



3. Many videos and articles have appeared about Georgia gardener, Ryan Gainey; but this book, The Well-Placed Weed, is straight from the gardener's pen. Ryan Gainey mixes ideas, gardening lore, and poetry in his book about his garden in Georgia. The many photographs showcase his brand of gardening as unique and inspiring. He mixes perennials, bulbs, and annuals with shrubs and trees to produce a beautiful romantic garden. His home is as different as his garden and this book also shows us his unique twist on decorating, cooking, and entertaining. This book is a delight--only a visit to his garden and an invitation to lunch could be better!

1 comments about Moods in the Landscape: A.E. Bye.

1. This book is perfect for the coffee table of a funeral parlor, or anywhere else melodramatic death is desired.