Book Description
No longer a technique just for apartment dwellers or novice gardeners, the use of ornamental containers on decks, patios, terraces, and in the garden itself can save time, space, and money, while offering experienced home gardeners unique creative challenges, site flexibility, and experimental fun. Author and award-winning horticulturist Ray Rogers takes you on an engaging exploration into basic design principles as well as how to create focal points, use water, exploit the potential of empty containers, and more. Stunning photographs by Richard Hartlage provide guidance and inspiration, as well as visually explaining each principle. Gardeners at every level of experience will find inspiration and instruction in this comprehensive book.
Customer Reviews:
Pure inspiration.......2007-08-21
Yet another really fine book from Timber Press. I'll spend long, dark winter evenings wandering through these pages, absorbing the wisdom of the writers and generating ideas for next spring. Gorgeous photographs, too.
Gorgeous book and inspired arrangements.......2007-07-30
I purchased several gardening books together and this one was the highlight. Not only beautifully photographed but full of interesting suggestions and writing. My husband and I were able to immediately use some of the arrangements as inspiration for a new bed in our garden. Turned out beautifully!
Enjoyed it all.......2007-05-14
The book is an excellent reference source. Photos are beautiful. Numbering the pictures with the description very helpful. Lovely coffee table book. I have told other gardeners to seek the book out.
container gardening.......2007-03-14
(This review focuses on the photographs in "Pots in the Garden.")
Picture quality is very good throughout the book, and in parts I and II ("the elements of design" and "bringing it all together") the picture content is excellent as well.
Unlike most container gardening books this one neither details container plantings nor uses captions, instead it inconspicuosly numbers each picture and then conspicuosly puts the number in the text with its corresponding description. Garden styles represented vary but the bold, Little-and-Lewis-type modernists lead the way, and even if this isn't your favorite style of garden you will probably love the containers featured in them!
What really sets this book apart is the variety of pots featured. Terra cotta and stone/concrete are great, and the English gardening books display some wonderful copper and lead, but those of you who especially love high quality glazed/rustic containers and know that it is not all that easy to find good examples of them will be happy to add this book to your collection.
The reasons I didn't give 5 stars are the book's slightly smallish size (9 1/4 x 8 1/2) and its 3rd part ("plant groups for containers") which, though it has some very interesting and unique plant picks (dark purple/black perennial clematis?), does not show most of them in containers; admittedly difficult to do, but David Joyce's "The Complete Container Garden" sure did it well. That's about eighty pages where pots are rarely pictured.
Overall a beautiful and inspiring book at a very good price.
Customer Reviews:
Not useful for the gardener or landscaper.......2007-09-19
This book is intended for plant scientists, and I was astounded to find how useless a gigantic tome like this can be to a gardener. For starters, in 1188 pages there are zero photos. There is zero color. There's a huge number of amateur black ink drawings that suggest major details of leaves, etc., but no refinements. For visual identification purposes this book is near-useless, so it cannot be thought of as a woody plant encyclopedia. Also, the author has a peculiar manifest of political correctness: he won't speak ill of a plant. So, for example, the discussion of Rhus never mentions that at least three species (poison ivy, oak, sumac) are known for inducing allergic skin reaction after contact. You'd better know that and be able to recognize these because to Dirr that's unmentionable. Nor can I find mention that any berry, leaf, or bark is poisonous though to be fair, I didn't check all 1188 pages. Nor will I; I exchanged my copy for the same author's "Hardy Trees and Shrubs" which is what I should have bought to begin with. It has everything the scientific Manual lacks. That's Dirr's book for gardeners, and still gives you a taste of his political correctness peccadilloes.
Dirr is the Most Comprehensive.......2007-07-05
I am an OSU Master Gardener and we are taught to look to the best experts when we research information for ourselves or to give out to the public. This book, Dirr's "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants" and Carl Whitcomb's "Know It and Grow It III" are the best references a person can use when researching woody trees and shrubs for a landscape. Although Whitcomb's book has a map showing regions where the plant would grow best, Dirr's book has by far more trees and shrubs reviewed with more cultivars listed also. Additionally, Dirr's book is listed entirely by scientific name making it easy to locate information about a plant quickly.
"Manual" is the right name for this book........2007-03-06
I bought this book because other books that I have by Dirr are worth every cent I have spent on them. This book is no different. No glossy pictures are present, but instead there are excellent, detailed line drawings of the identifying features of plant leaves and twigs. What this book does offer that other books I have read do not, is exhaustive information on just about every woody plant one might ever encounter. This book is a true "manual"; it is packed with information on every aspect of selecting, planting, managing, and propagating woody plants.
I doubt this book is essential for the casual gardener, but if you want a serious treatment of trees and shrubs for reference, this book is just what you are seeking. I bought the hardback because I knew that this is a book that will need to take years of abuse.
The best textbook I've ever bought.......2007-02-26
Easily worth ten times the price; an indispensable guide for any horticultural student. Contains encyclopedic knowledge, written in a friendly and approachable way. My copy is already tagged with post-its and notes in the margins; I will no doubt be using this regularly for my whole career.
Great resource.......2007-02-12
This is a wonderful book for those with at least moderate plant knowledge. Very valuable for looking up the difference between varities, but there are no color pictures.
Book Description
A gorgeous celebration of the shade garden-featuring nearly 300 perennials, annuals, bulbs, ferns, ornamental grasses, and climbing plants that will thrive without direct sunlight. A shaded garden can be a soothing sanctuary that even the most dedicated sun worshipper can welcome on a hot summer day. But how do you get plants to grow in a spot where trees and shrubs hide the sun? In this stunning volume, garden expert Larry Hodgson shows how to create a lush and lovely garden filled with plants that will flourish in the shade. "I can think of no better book than Making the Most of Shade by Larry Hodgson. One the stars of the gardening scene in Quebec, Hodgson has been a popular freelance garden writer for years. His book features more than 200 top-performance shade plants and gives very practical growing tips as well as Hodgson's personal observations of each plant. -- The Vancouver Sun Hodgsons new book Making the Most of Shade is a fine example of good research coupled with lots of hands-on experienceit is a wonderful book. -- The Gazette Books such as this should be required reading before hitting the garden stores. -- The Province "Not only does this guidebook tell you how to grow in the shade, it profiles the plants you'll need, when to plant them, bloom colour, bloom duration, height and soil preference. It can also turn any amateur into an old pro with plant pronunciations (quick, how do you say euonymus? -- yew-ON-i-mus)." -- Ottawa Citizen Hodgsons book is indeed a wondrous guide to designing and maintaining a shade garden, with suggestions on what to plant if a shady nook is what you desire. -- Toronto Sun
Customer Reviews:
Inspiring book for the beginner shade gardener.......2007-07-22
As someone who lives in an urban area I had little choice in the amount of shade in my garden. I've found Hodgson's book to be an exciting read with lots of inspiring photos, plans, and useful tidbits. I did have a few disappointments with this book but they were pretty minor.
The small, close-up photos in the plant index are great for showing detail, but are not so great at giving the reader an idea of what the whole plant looks like, how it sits, whether it is compact or expansive, etc. As a beginning gardener I had to look elsewhere for more "in context" photos of the plants.
A chapter on shrubs for shade would also have been helpful.
These gripes aside, I've found this book to be a great help in designing my urban shade garden and would recommend to any beginner gardener looking for inspiration.
gardening newbie loves this book.......2007-07-15
I'm in the middle of landscaping our very shady yard & this book has been indispensible! We have lived here nearly 7 years & have done little exterior work except add rock. We didn't know where to begin! Wanting to sell next year has spurred us into action & I'm grateful for the advice in Hodgson's book.
Plants for shaded gardens.......2007-06-15
A thoroughly detailed informed book for each plant mentioned in the book. Well worth buying.
Each feature goes into depth about the plant. The author knows his plants.Excellent purchase.
Great book!.......2007-06-14
I'm not a gardener, but I need to learn about growing things in shady places. This book is wonderful, easy to read, pretty to look at, and simple enough for an uninformed person. At the same time, it has lots of good info that even an experienced gardener could learn.
I can hardly wait to get out into the dirt!
I love this book!!.......2007-04-05
This is the best book I ever bought. I'm a shade lover, due to easy care and most of all...hostas. Until I read Larrys comments on shade, I thought I was the only one who wished my entire yard was shade, and that I may be a lazy gardener. Not anymore! This book is packed full of great ideas for shade gardens, and lots of tips. Theres also plants biographies of those that do well in shade, and he continually reminds you that many "sun" plants do well in light shade. I enjoyed the section on starting a new garden from scratch. His sense of humor is great and its easy to read and well organized. This is a MUST HAVE for those that enjoy shade gardening, and for those who think shade is their enemy. You'll have a new respect for shade after reading this book.
Book Description
The perfect companion to the Better Homes and Gardens New Complete Guide to Gardening.
Illustrated easy-to-follow instructions for planning, designing, and building typical landscape projects.
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful, book of knowledge and ideas!.......2007-03-15
This book is great for beginners and advanced landscapers alike. I never worked in a yard before but I can tackle most projects after this book.. it really has great step-by-step info.. I recommend this for all gardeners!
Great book for your bookshelf!.......2005-05-20
This book is great! I use it all the time and my pages have been dog-eared to death. Very useful and the pictures can give you some great ideas! I pull it out all the time, even just to look at the pictures.
Great guide for new gardeners.......2004-03-05
This has been one of my best purchases yet for gardening. From preparing the land to the final touches this book contains excellent detail. In addition, you have multiple plans for projects from gazebos to water fountains. I highly recommend this book. You will not regret the purchase.
REALLY IS COMPLETE!!!.......2003-08-10
They weren't lying when they said new complete guide! It has everything and more. It has really inspired me.The pictures are fantastic. They can give you ideas themselves. This book lets you know how to plan out your landscape, let's you use your imagination, and gives you choices and step by step instructions to make your landscaping dreams come true. I highly reccomend it. This is the best book out there! It has some excellent ideas!
greatest landscaping book I've seen so far.......2003-06-23
This is really a great and very comprehensive book, I love it. I saw it the first time in a store and I was really impressed by it, so I decided to look for it on amazon. My favorite part is the different ways shown to incorporate water. Also I liked the thoughtful tips that should be considered when planning a garden, such as a form of privacy around the spa.
Book Description
In this new book noted grass expert and advocate Rick Darke addresses both the aesthetic qualities of grasses in private gardens and the opportunities and challenges of using them in wild and constructed public landscapes. All the true grasses, sedges, rushes, restios, and cattails that possess ornamental merit or that can contribute to ecological plantings are described, and practical matters of propagation, growth, and maintenance are also covered. More than 1000 stunning photographs show details of individual plants and hundreds of gardens and landscapes in which grasses play a prominent part. This worthy successor to The Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses is a new type of design reference that sets a standard for inspired, sustainable use of grasses.
Customer Reviews:
The best ornamental grass book ever.......2007-08-23
This book is the bible of all ornamental grasses, great pictures for referance and identifacation of grass plants !!!!!!!!!!
Interesting and encyclopedic.......2007-07-05
In depth, beautifully photographed and written by someone who obviously cares a great deal about the subject. Great for reference -- also great just to peruse.
Beautiful book.......2007-06-10
Beautifully illustrated book and so specific. I had a hard time getting used to the detail because most books give you just a paragraph on the grass and very little on care, etc.
It's everything you want to know about Ornamental Grasses and more. Very, very complete reference source. Maybe be a bit too much for a average gardener, but if you love grasses and gardening -- this is an excellent book.
Book Description
"Fill[s] a significant void in the literature on ornamental plant usage.... [The book] is a valuable text and reference work for advanced students, professional plantsmen, and landscape architects and is a welcome addition to the literature." —American Society of Horticultural Science
"This is not only a textbook but a valuable reference work for anyone involved with landscape plants." —American Horticulturalist
Here is the definitive one-stop survey of more than 1500 woody ornamental plants and 2500 cultivars of eastern North America for students and professionals in landscape architecture and design, horticulture, and urban forestry. Written by an esteemed authority in the field, this book includes:
- Greatly expanded coverage of plant species, including significantly increased attention to commercial cultivars
- Sensible cross-referencing for plant selection based on more than two dozen design criteria, with lists arranged according to such vital factors as size, hardiness, and environmental requirements
- Hundreds of crisp textural diagrams portraying each primary species at 15 and 40 years in relation to average human height
- More than 400 photographs depicting plants of exceptional visual interest
- Maps and graphs, including a full-color map of hardiness zones, offering invaluable visual summaries of major design considerations
- Succinct explorations of problems and maintenance issues for each species, diminishing the complications of choosing among high- and low-maintenance plants
- An index listing plants by their scientific and common names
Now in its second edition, this book remains the core reference on landscape design in eastern North America—intelligently organized for maximum planning efficiency. Enhanced with up-to-date coverage of additional shrubs, trees, and their cultivars, as well as expanded listings of plants classified by characteristics, Landscape Plants for Eastern North America continues to provide all the information necessary for landscape designing in the region.
This complete guide provides a concise description of each plant species' function, adaptability, seasonal interest, growth rate, common problems, maintenance, cultivars, and related species, along with more than 1000 high-quality scale drawings and hundreds of photographs. And Dr. Flint's book goes beyond many works on landscape plants because of its unique focus on the landscape design process: with cross-referencing in more than two dozen categories based on such design criteria as size, site requirements, and soil prerequisites, readers will easily be able to determine which plants are appropriate to their needs.
Throughout the book, a variety of illustrations provide quick reference on a range of important considerations. A full-color map represents the hardiness zones of the eastern region, and bar graphs indicate such adaptability considerations as light, wind, soil moisture, and pH requirements. For each primary species, a seasonal clock furnishes a straightforward visual delineation of the duration and intensity of color throughout the year.
Encompassing plant life from herbaceous ground covers to large trees, this is a most comprehensive, easy-to-use resource for anyone involved in landscaping in eastern North America.
Book Description
A celebration in words and breathtaking images of thirty-five landscapes created for private clients by today's preeminent designers.
This is a time of renewed originality in garden design. The last twenty years have seen a lucky confluence of money and talent lavished on gardening, and the results are surprising, enchanting, sometimes even controversial. The range of possibilities suggested by these thirty-five gardens is extraordinary: from Jacques Wirtz's undulating beech hedges that recede mysteriously into the mist to Penelope Hobhouse's latest interpretation of the traditional English garden, to Martha Schwartz's Texas creation of red, yellow, and pink painted garden rooms.
These hidden masterworks of modern gardening are unlocked for us by the authority, experience, and resources of House & Garden magazine. Every page is an invitation to explore landscapes that have never before been seen by the public—and may never be seen again. International in scope and lavish in its production, this book is the last word on the state of design in the garden world. 340 color photographs.
Customer Reviews:
A tour around the best gardens in the world.......2007-05-08
This book is huge and a most for garden reference. It's organized in seven chapters that will impress all kind of taste:
The New Classicism: Magical gardens from places such as NY, Spain, Germany...+
The New Traditionalism: Enchanting pictures from NY, IL, France, Japan...+
The New Naturalism: Beautiful gardens from NY, Idaho, France, Arizona, England.
The Plantsmen: Magnificent proposals from New England, California, The Netherlands...+
Personal Visions: NY, California, and Texas
The Cottage Garden Reinvented: Lovely gardens from England, France and Ireland.
The New Modernism: The best and trendiest gardens of California.
You'll be able to see some of the best gardens from places such as Arizona to Japan. Some of my favorites gardens where from England, The Netherlands and France.
The text is pleasant to read and full of details no only about the flowers portrayed but also to the architect and artist that created such beauty. The balance of text and picture is excellent. The quality of the pictures is excellent, full pages pictures trout the book. House and Gardens did a tremendous job and it's absolutely clear that the took at least ten times the number of pictures in the book since you'll only see the best angle and light possible for each picture.
The only con is the lacks of tropical gardens since most part of the book are focus on the northern hemisphere.
The New Garden Paradise: Great Private Gardens of the World.......2007-05-07
Wow! This book is incredible, a treat for the eyes and imagination!
Great Private Gardens of the World.......2007-01-29
This is a beautiful book anyone would be pleased to have. The quality of the photos is splendid. Most enjoyable.
The New Garden Paradise: Great Private Gardens of the World.......2007-01-03
Book is really interesting and has a lot of beautiful full-page photographs. Makes a great gift for everybody, not only for gardening fans!
Big book, big gardens, big budgets.......2006-02-28
This coffee table book features private gardens and estates of the wealthy who have the funds to hire the most talented garden designers in the world to realize their visions. Most of the gardens featured are in the U.S. although a few are in England and Japan. Chapters are divided by varying styles, such as classicism, traditionalism, naturalism, cottage garden, modernism, etc. It is an eclectic collection, from minimalist elegance to lush romantic woodlands. Sculptures, art work, water features and stone work are a feature in many.
Chapter names tout the garden designer which includes such talents as Patrick Chasse, Dan Pearson, Jacques Wirtz, Dan Kiley, Piet Oudolf, Martha Swartz, Sarah Raven, Christian Louboutin, Isabelle Greene, Penelope Hobhouse, Topher Delaney and Steve Martino. The owners of the gardens are rarely mentioned (with the exception of actors Brad Pitt and Tim Curry and a few others). Although the text is often stuffy and oft-putting, the photographs alone are reason enough to purchase the book. This beautiful book is wonderful for garden dreamers who will find gardens such as these unattainable.
Book Description
This all-new second edition, the companion book to the much-beloved Western Garden Book, promises to be just as successful as the first. Packed with expert advice from landscape designers, gardeners, and others, it addresses climatic, soil, and topographical challengesand solutionsfor Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and southwestern Canada. Features nThe only landscaping guide designed specifically for Western gardeners nOver 600 photographs and dozens of ready-to-use landscape plans nStep-by-step illustrations and exploded views show easy, do-it-yourself solutions nSeasonal gardening guides and checklists ensure year-round success for experienced and novice gardeners alike nEasy-to-understand plant selection and growing instructions
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2001-12-09
The best garden book overall. A smart book. Creative. Great pics. VERY Comprensive. Wish Id bought hardback.Complete. Very readable. Projects are suberb. Voluminous. A must for every serious gardener.
Inspiring but no help implementing.......2001-08-22
I expected more for the price. There are some nice ideas and a few plans, but the plans don't contain measurements. This is not very professional and makes implementation very difficult. Nice for dreaming, but no real help planning.
All western landscapes types, many photos & diagrams.......2001-02-15
This is a very comprehensive book describing all western regions including the low and high desert, the Pacific Northwest and southern California. The book includes many landscape ideas with diagrams and suggested plant types and many plant photos. Ideas for special needs such as privacy, patio & small spaces , desert areas, swimming pools, decks, lots for shade, low water and other requirements are covered. Types of fencing and decking are also covered. If you are starting out with a bare backyard, as I am, this is the book for you!
Book Description
-Aimed at the fastest-growing segment of the how-to market: gardening landscaping.
Customer Reviews:
The complete guide to creative landscape.......2007-05-14
This is a great book with so many very well illustrated projects. I have just built a new home and am beginning to landscape my 4 acres I find this book very useful. All the projects are described in great detail with lots of pictures. Thanks L. Rocha
It can't be replaced!!!.......2006-05-15
I bought this book over a year ago. I've read through each project a dozen times. I love about 94% of them. Our house sits on a lot that is ~ 100 feet x ~ 120 feet. I was going to get crazy this spring and summer with a new patio, arbor, and several garden areas.
Sometime a couple of months ago, my book disappeared. I have searched nearly every square inch of our attic and basement, in addition to every closet, underneath every bed, and even in the garage. My wife has looked as well, but to no avail.
I'm 32 years old, and losing this book has nearly made me cry on at least four occassions. It's that good.
Our library doesn't have it. None of the hardware stores in town have it. We have one bookstore in town - and they don't have it. Last weekend, I finally broke down and bought two other books, thinking that by doubling up it would somehow take away the pain of losing my B&D Creative Landscapes book.
It hasn't worked.
I'm purchasing another copy on line this afternoon. There are just too many things in the book that I can't find anywhere else. It's nothing that difficult, but they do such a great job of making things easy to follow, and each project gives you ideas for three more.
Buy the book. Buy two copies. And be sure to hide one in your drawer where no one can take it.
Great Book.......2002-05-12
This book is so well layed out. I give this book 5 stars because it has excellent descriptions and pictures. I built the terra cotta fountain in the book and I love it so much.
Not bad depending on what you are looking for.......2002-01-13
This book is great as general advice. There are SO MANY different projects though that there is not a great level of detail on any one. Just enough of an overview and "how-to" to make you feel comfortable about taking some of these projects on for yourself or answering those questions that always used to make you go "Hmmmmm." Still, for a first time homeowner it will give you a lot of ideas and confidence to start making plans.
great book!!.......2000-10-28
I have been in the search of a home for months now and the one thing I kept telling myself was that when I finally bought it, I would also buy this book. I looked at lots of books at Home Depot, B & N, etc. but this is one of the best and most creative landscaping books I have found. So today, knowing that I have a home and YARD that I can call my own, I am buying it!!
Book Description
New Complete Home Landscaping is an updated, expanded edition of Creative Homeowner's award-winning comprehensive book on landscaping for the home. It covers every aspect of home landscaping, from design principles to construction projects; plant selection to plant care. The book consists of three parts. Part One: Preparing to Landscape explains how to design and create a landscape. Part Two: Setting the Stage shows how to build such features as paths, ponds, walls, decks, and watering systems. Part Three: Planting and Growing describes how to select, plant, and care for flowers, trees, shrubs, ground covers, and lawns.
Customer Reviews:
New Complete Home Landscaping.......2007-01-03
There are some interesting and workable ideas in the book. Before purchasing you might want to check out your local library first. I'm not disappointed with it however I think the layouts are more for the professional landscape/design area. There is even a section for making your own pesticides. It is a nice book to have on hand.
Definitely complete.......2006-05-19
This book touched on all aspects of gardening and landscaping - design elements and plans, water features, walls & fences, gazebos, decks and patios. It offers suggestions on plants and flowers appropriate for specific areas and climates. There is also a section with solutions to common problems. I highly recommend this book. The text gave me a lot of knowledge, while the pictures inspired me to start working on my own yard!
A step-by-step guide for amateur & professional landscapers.......2005-02-10
Over 950 photographs and watercolor paintings illustrate New Complete Home Landscaping, a step-by-step guide for amateur and professional landscapers alike. Internationally recognized garden writer Catriona Tudor Erler discusses how to choose the right plants for one's climate and soil conditions, how to install a fence, when to fertilize and what fertilizer to use, fighting common diseases, how to transplant large trees and shrubs, and much more. Packed with pages and pages of detail and explicit constructions, New Complete Home Landscaping lives up to its title as an indispensable and well-rounded resource for anyone seriously contemplating a landscaping project.
Books:
- Professional Planting Design: An Architectural and Horticultural Approach for Creating Mixed Bed Plantings
- Revolutionary Chinese Cookbook: Recipes from Hunan Province
- Revolutionary Chinese Cookbook: Recipes from Hunan Province
- Scotts Lawns: Your Guide to a Beautiful Yard
- Secrets of the Vine: Breaking Through to Abundance
- Seedfolks (Joanna Colter Books)
- Seedfolks (Joanna Colter Books)
- Small Spaces, Beautiful Gardens
- Succulents: The Illustrated Dictionary
- Sunset Building Barbecues & Outdoor Kitchens
Books Index
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Container Gardening
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Designing with Succulents
A Pattern Garden: The Essential Elements of Garden Making
The Complete Container Garden
The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes
Perennials: The Gardener's Reference
