Garden friend, gentle spirit
932713
I purchased this smile some time ago and hung it on a tree in my backyard garden.  I call him "the Green Man" and have trained my young granddaughters to wink at the Green Man whenever they come into the garden. He is developing a wonderful patina and is coming to look like a natural outgrowth of the lichen. It is nice having such a gentle spirit watching over my plants.
1165911
This is a nice little plant that when arranged with others (and viewed not too closely) makes a cute addition to a basket.
2886976
I am so happy to find a book of poetry that sings the same song I have inside myself about connection and nature. Poems of Earth and Spirit rings so true to me that I am thrilled to recommend it to you.  The author is a nature lover extraordinaire with a light touch, filled with gratitude, deeply in love with the beauty of the ordinary. Her poems remind me of how I feel on a good day when I'm in nature.

Kai includes practices for deepening our own connection with nature and simple ways to connect with the Earth in daily life--valuable lessons for even those of us who make it a habit.  Its the slowing down and listening that makes the difference.
4508038
Helen Dillon, Ireland's foremost plantswoman and garden television star has collaborated with American retail mail-order company, Wayside Gardens to produce this lovely garden book.  Even though it is subtitled "A Practical Guide to Planning & Planting," I would venture to guess that it is not for beginning gardeners.  It is however, a great book to curl up with in midwinter and dream about "'Etoile Violette,' `Duchess of Albany,' `Marie Boisselot, and `Huldine,' climbing and twining their way up the walls,...mingled with white potato vine, Cobaea with their handsome bell-flowers, various jasmines and a Buddleia as an oasis for...butterflies."

As a garden writer, Helen Dillon has an appropriately earthy sense of humor: "You know what they say about Lady Hillingdon (the apricot rose)? No good in a bed but great against a wall."

This book's photographs mainly consist of layered borders and close-ups of particular plant combinations such as "The striking purple leaves of Ricinus and Canna, backed by the air foliage of Rosa moyesii, accentuate the pompon shape of the dahlias and the flower spikes of Kniphofia."  Size, balance, and repetition are emphasized in both the photographs and text.

There are chapters on planning, propagating, and caring for a flower garden, and an index of fifty "Key plants for the flower garden."  "The Flower Garden" is fun to read or simply browse through the photographs if you can suppress your feelings of envy.  Remember that some of the herbaceous borders shown in this book have taken years to perfect, not a scattered succession of Saturday afternoons.
4680835
It can be preachy at times but if you follow the very clear, simple and cheap directions you will soon have a cute little garden going. I bought it as a gift thinking it would most likely end up on the shelf but we have it out and refer back to it frequently. Highly recommended.
1773957
Meet a garden-loving little boy. He loved the flowers, he loved the trees, but most of all, he loved the bees. The youngster is so devoted to the honey-making insects that he names each one. However, one rainy day, the bees stop frequenting his garden. The despondent child tries everything to bring them back but is not successful. When winter comes, the little boy is even emptier. The lonely youngster even  begins to think he will never see his beloved bees again. However, there is a change in the air: the sun rises, trees bloom, plants grow, andbzzzzzzzhe got his bumble back. In a joyous conclusion, we read, Perhaps bumbles always come back.

Trudy Esbergers debut is a sensitive, uplifting, poignant tribute to our beautiful world and the plants and animals which call Earth home. Readers and listeners share the young heros delight in his garden and his bees. When the seasons change, we cannot help but empathize with him and feel the little boys melancholy. Simple yet expressive illustrations provide a perfect complement to the text. Delightful visual touches abound: the protagonist sets up a Bee Hotel. Free Wi-Fi. The young bee lovers story is perfect for spring, Earth Month (April), units on seasons, nature, and wildlife, and sharing with a child or a group any time of the year. A closing two-page spread presents facts about and the importance of bees as well as their endangered statusand what people can do to help these vital creatures.  Pair this gem with Jam & Honey by Melita Morales for another sweet story (no pun intended) about the relationship between bees and humans and the importance of protecting our echosystems.
2410598
I purchased this for a gift for a friend who lost her Boxer, Lucy.  That girl was a sweet soul and i felt this garden plaque said it all.
We have always loved gifts of remembrance when we have lost a furkid so i felt this was perfect.
4605994
A cute addition to the garden.  The animals are endearing and add charm to the surroundings. I thought it was a bargain!!
301895
I'm a very happy recipient of a lovely bonsai Ginseng Ficus! That said, the plant is a little smaller than I expected, however proportionally it is the right size for the pot, which measures 6 x 4.25 inches. While the root structure is somewhat simple and not particularly interesting the tree's overall shape is lovely, and because the cultivator made intelligent pruning cuts I only needed to add one wire to produce pure gracefulness.

The only problem is the humidity tray. It is awkwardly smaller than shown in the seller's example photo. (I plan to ask the seller to send a replacement tray.) As you can see in the photo I attached, the pot doesn't fit in the tray as it should. Interestingly the pot and plant stand securely if I invert the tray, and while it looks kinda sharp, it is not ideal for watering. (Left photo shows upright tray with the pot crookedly "fitting"; the right photo shows the pot on the inverted tray.)

I never before included shipping feedback in a review, but I need to make a postive not here as it is key in trusting delivery of such a product. So here it is:

My bonsai plant arrived on the first day of the delivery window, which was wonderful -- otherwise it would have been late, as I intended it for a gift at the return of a friend. Also I wondered how a company could safely ship a plant like this, but the sender managed it perfectly. Not a bit of dirt was spilled or displaced, and after unpackaging, the plant unfolded perfectly in a couple of days. Not damage to any leaf or stem.

UPDATE: The seller replied immediately and sent a replacement tray and a pack of humidity rocks, no charge. Upon receipt I replied that the new tray was about twice the size needed. The seller politely sent an oval pot and tray, apologizing that their supplier was out of the small rectangular trays. Again, no charge.

It's been a long odyssey, but to recap, this company initially sent me a beautiful tree, and has tried hard to address the shortcoming regarding the tray. At this point I hold the seller in high regard, and I going to let go of the missing small rectangular tray.
624106
I like the fact that the green color blends in with the surroundings. This is a non-ostentatious garden border. So when you want to see your flowers, it features your garden and not the fence.
It is quite light-weight so it is easy to bend and to install. This is no doubt why its economical. The only drawback is you have to be attentive when pressing the vertical wires into the ground. Because the wire is thin it can flex before you get it pressed into the ground. But if you are utilizing it for your garden, the soil is well mulched and soft.
I purchased the fencing to keep my gentle, old dog from lying down in my plants. It works perfectly for a non-persistent, old dog. A young or big dog would need a taller, more substantial border. But for an easy installation that looks clean, this works perfectly.
The only reason I rated it a 4 (instead of a 5) is the thinness of the wire, but the price can't be beat if you want something attractive and quick, and tidy.
218513
"Talk to your plants," they say. That's nice for people with a strong affinity for plants, but what about the rest of us? I don't do so well with plants, power animals and all the non-human powers of nature. I *am* good with people though.

That's what I like about this book the most. Other than a decent summary of medicinal virtues, brief overview of folklore and traditional charms, it's a book for looking at plants as people you can talk to. Strange people, no doubt, but people all the same.

Raven gives us his own experience of talking to these plant spirits, their personality, likes, dislikes, areas of expertise, what they look like, sometimes with a drawing of that spirit, and a charm for every single one of them. Not that I expect they'll look and act exactly the same to me as to him, but it's a good start, like a personal introduction to a new friend.

Even by limiting it to Northern European plants and only a page or two per plant, this book is still a brick at 312 pages for those 150 plants. It doesn't have all the plants I'm interested in, but hey, if I can use that help to get to know these, I can probably manage to talk to the plants on my balcony too.

I don't intend to be some great herbal healer. I just want to make some new friends among the plants that surround me. I like having friends in low places, you never know when you'll really need them. As a Pagan, that's important to me. And as someone studying the "shamanic" aspects of the Northern Tradition, having at least some green friends is a good idea. It's nice to have a book that shares personal gnosis, and gives us all some encouragement to go out and get our own. It doesn't tell me everything I want to know... but it tells me how to find out for myself. Can't ask for much more than that from a book.
2363830
Beautiful, I was immediately transferred to Patricia's garden by her words and my imagination.  No disturbing or sad reflections here. Although I unfortunately do not have bluebells in my garden I do have blackbirds.  So, once again with words and imagination I was transported into a peaceful and tranquil world.
Well done on another book of words to inspire Patricia.
2017254
Many of us, regardless of age, find ourselves stumbling through life after the loss or death of a loved one. Our grief makes it difficult--sometimes seemingly impossible--to remain open to the wonder of life. Dr. Bernie Siegel has spent his life in the healing profession, and this book is a continuation of his emphasis on peace, joy, and love. Beautifully illustrated by Mari Gayatri Stein, Buddy's Candle gives us all a gentle message--that though death is a time for grieving, we are also meant to live life with an open heart, letting our own inner light shine forth so that "we can be beacons for others." If you or someone you know has lost a beloved friend (human or nonhuman), Buddy's Candle will very gently lead you out of grief to love. The book also emphasizes our role in befriending others in their time of grief, offering compassion and love at a difficult time.

Marie Mead, author (with collaborator Nancy LaRoche) of Rabbits: Gentle Hearts, Valiant Spirits Inspirational Stories of Rescue, Triumph, and Joy
4058308
When a friend or loved one is stressed and unhappy, we often do not know what to do to help. He/ She is not looking for advice; just looking for a little peace of mind in whatever storm life throws at us. Giving the gift of Calm is a great way to support a friend and help him/her find a way through. I know when I am troubled, I find the helpful words and simple techniques a balm to my spirit. I give this book to show that I care; and know it will help anyone who reads it find some quiet and clarity.
4399764
This is a wonderful book about a splendid artist/writer who spoke to us nature lovers through her work.  The book contains not only pictures of Peter and friends but early photos of Beatrix and her life and surrounding  English countryside.  One can  feels a kinship with her, wishing she was your next door neighbor.
Her love of the hills and dales of the Lake District transfers to readers of the book, wishing that we could go and spend time in this wonderful part of  England.  Sylvia Farrer-Bornarth
853627
There's something charming about this soft and durable pink piglet, dubbed Pierre in our household. Mine has black suede shoes with red gingham bows, but otherwise, is just the same. He's not perfect--he's just a lovely little creature who goes wherever I go.

He doesn't talk back, he doesn't poop or bark or shed, and he doesn't require dusting or maintenance. He dances and waves with abandon, and when I just need some quiet time, he's there with an earnest snout. A dear, dear friend.
1148853
"Feng Shui for Hawaiian Gardens" by Clear Englebert delivers the goods: the goods of promoting an optimum flow of Chi energy for a peaceful home and dealing with poisoned arrows, inauspicious landforms, and even what to do if your view includes jagged mountains.

Englebert's gentle expertise on Feng Shui (pronounced "fung schwey")in our gardens is shared in five main sections:  inviting Chi energy, bringing balance, offering protection, garden miscellany, and special gardens.

These sections include topics such as

(1) driveways (who would have thought!), entrances, driveway surface and slopes, and near the door,

(2) positioning the house relative to the dragon, tiger, turtle, and bird or rather, how plants, mirrors, and other assists can balance energy,

(3) poisoned arrows such as convex sides of the road, T-intersections, and foreboding objects (again, with fixes),

(4) property shape, water features, furniture, and broken things (in a word--DON'T have broken things such as statuary heads without bodies around) and

(5)food gardens, dry situations, the lanai (porch) and agricultural.

Each section is lavishly illustrated with many descriptive plant lists, while each illustrates in itself a wonderful Feng Shui balance of text and photos.  In addition, there are a sensitively curated section on recommended readings, a glossary, resources, and a plant list index.

The writing is exceptionally clear and yes, beautiful:

"A feng shui garden brings a feeling of balance to the property around your house.  The balance of the landscape signifies better balance in your life and within the home.  The garden also provides a very basic feeling of protection.  That feeling of protection is at the root of feng shui..."

I've gardened over 20 years in Hawaii. Yet reading this lovely gift to us all, I have learned so much new----new and useful.  Everything made sense to me as a gardener.  It rings true.

Furthermore, readers may appreciate the author's humbleness in pointing out where other Feng Shui experts see things differently.  Following the book will increase, surely, peacefulness of your garden and home, whether a small condo lanai or an estate.

At any rate, I just added a bright red begonia to a pot of pothos on the lanai and by golly, it DOES feel better to see this over a cuppa Kona coffee.

Highly recommend this treasure of a book. A good value for gardeners in many climates.