Another GREAT "Garden" Book
580279
I was hoping for another wonderful book in the series, and I wasn't disappointed!
I know I'll be sitting down and reading them all start to finish.
P.S. I had a hunch there would be a #9!!!
1367546
Enjoyed this little book on so many levels. While it was not a 'how to garden' book it was a 'yes, me too' book. I feel like I have a new friend that totally gets my beautiful obsession. There were so many oh yeahs, OMG's, and I can so relate moments from working at the nursery to attending plant sales and of course knowing and understanding that the garden is never finished. It was the story I could have written but didn't. Thank you Grace Peterson
3552472
This is a book of pictures of lovely gardens. But not just lovely gardens in general; the authors have taken the very best bits from gardens all over the world and shown them to us and *explained* why they were showing them to us. How different gates fit into different garden styles. How the different elements of a Japanese garden work to create mood. How different garden styles fit different environments. Each picture has a terse bit of text telling us why this garden element is effective, so that the home gardener can make use of it.

I like this approach. We may not be able to recreate Great Dixter or Hidcote, but we can certainly arrange plants in a way that creates a nice tableau or make it look nicer under the trees wth appropriate shade plants. It's a book that will have you marking pages so you can try out the ideas presented.
2483620
I bought this book for my wife so she could look up how to grow certain vegetables in our garden. I picked it up one night to look up how to plant grape vines and I couldn't put it down. It is not just a how-to book. It has quotes about gardening. Tips on pruning. The pros of using a raised bed garden. The history of why carrots are orange. Recipes like mock raspberry jam using green tomatoes. And the list goes on. The authors have really jammed a lot of information into this tiny book. It also has fantastic photos. This was a great purchase and I look forward to future books from the authors.
4795361
I found this at my local public library and fell in love with it, had to order my own copy because there are just so many great ideas here. First and foremost, you should know what this is NOT.  It is NOT a detailed step-by-step guide or how-to garden book.  Think of this more as one of the best Pinterest boards you have ever seen.  Each garden plan will have something to spark your own ideas, be it layout, plants, or technique. This is book full of inspiration for any gardeners who are looking to mix things up or just need a change from their usual ways of doing things.
I should also note that I'm not one of those meticulous, detail-oriented gardeners who have immaculate formal gardens. I grow things on a whim, and "planning" is used very loosely in what I do with our yard. That said, this book was exactly my style of reading.  Very visual, very straightforward, and very easy to skim. There are no photos, just a couple different styles of drawing or sketching each garden plan. I do wish some of the illustrations had more details, but I'm still delighted with the book overall.
2277553
I've already started planting edibles in my front yard, but I wish I had read Gardening Like a Ninja first.  There are some plants mentioned in here that I hadn't thought about including (I can't wait to add them in now), and it's a great overview of the more aesthetic factors to take into consideration like planning for appearances in all seasons, colors, and using vertical lines.  I love the plant lists and the sample designs too.
4938856
I have hundreds of gardening books, old and new.  This is one of the best ones I have.  It is full of helpful information.  I would recommend the book to anyone who wishes to have a ".....well-tended perennial garden."
887841
I don't read garden book cover to cover.  I use them as reference.  This is the first one I read completely and am trying to follow to "right size" my gardens for my age and abilities and also for my daughters, who will have to take on the burden as I age out of caring for our beloved St. Lawrence River property, while they still work 500 miles away. (BTW, loons calling as I write this!)  I love all of Kerry's books, but this one is so valuable to all types of gardeners.  She addresses the many reasons and approaches to right-sizing, while artfully applying wonderful design strategies that could work just as easily for the beginning gardener.  I hope this book is marketed to all ranges of gardeners.
3904657
As a long time fan of Herrick Kimball, this book does not disappoint! I am already using some of the ideas...Hugelberry culture and grape trellis for two. There is something in this book for every gardener.
4620061
Great book for great ideas for your gardening.  Beautiful pictures.  Very interesting reading.  I am sure I will use this book many time for ideas.
2696890
Good ideas especially if you like more natural ways of gardening.  Both my husband and niece love their books.
686943
I have been working my way through Amazon's collection of English cozy mysteries and came across the English Garden Mysteries. I will give you one warning, if you are not a fan of gardens I don't know that you will enjoy these books.  Each book in the series involves a garden, plants, and garden tours.  Plus the hero of the book was a botany professor and tends to get very pedantic and go on and on about gardens and/or plants at times which is why this got a 4 instead of a 5.  On the other hand the mysteries are well written. I love the look at historic homes and gardens that you get in each book, and it is generally a very good way to spend a few hours.
4774693
I love gardening how-to and reference books.  Although this book is neither, I love it nevertheless.  The idea behind this book is simple.  18 women and their gardens.  Each woman is interviewed, there are many many photographs of both the gardens and the gardener.  You get to hear each woman's voice and hear her wisdom.  You get to see plant lists, garden plans as well and understand the philosphy and approach that each woman has taken in her gardening endevour.  If the context of this book were a village, it would serve as a storyteller of the female elders and their creation of special space.  Gardening is most than simply landscaping.  Reading this book you understand the difference.  I only with there were more women gardeners in this edition!
48933
I had previously read many of the books, articles, news columns etc. excerpted in Jane Garmey's book "The Writer in the Garden" but I  read them again because most are very well written. Now, I'll hand the book  over to my daughter who has recently taken an interest in gardening. She's  approaching 40 and one of the writers in this book suggests 40 is the  fateful age when gardening takes on new meaning.
If you haven't read  many "garden" books and are looking for a place to begin, try  this book. There are about 10,000 garden books on the market, many of them  not worth a dime, but Garmey has included excerpts from some of the  masters: Henry Mitchell, Anne Raver, Beverly Nichols, Vita Sackville West,  Elizabeth Lawrence, Allen Lacy, Katherine White, Joe Eck and Wayne  Winterrowd. All these excellent gardeners have years of hands-on  experience, as well as a talent for distilling years of experience into  some fine "yarns."
I discovered a new writer whose book of  poetry I intend to read--W. S. Merwin. He describes his gardening efforts  in Hawaii.  I lived there once, and recall taking a dead stick and using it  as a stake to prop a plant. The "dead" stick came to life. An  idiot could garden in Hawaii. However, Mr. Merwin is trying to do something  different.  He's planting native flora in his hillside garden where fools  once tried to grow sugar. His writing is so lucid and beautiful I felt  transported to a garden I left over 30 years ago. His essay, "The  Shape of Water" is worth the price of the book.
Ms Garmey has  included other writers I don't think of as garden writers. Mary Francis  Kennedy Fisher, whose autobiographical writings focus more on food than  where it came from writes about roses in a childhood garden. Since she grew  up in Whittier California, you can bet those roses were superb.
Several  of the writers were boring or fretful and I am put off by both traits. I  don't care for articles that give me so much detail I fall asleep, but not  enough detail to help me. I also am tired of writers who complain. Anyone  who gardens knows it's hard work. On the other hand, sometimes the  complaints were hilarious. Eleanor Perenyi does seem to have had a run of  bad luck with her gardeners.
Before you invest in other gardening books,  you might review the material in this little book. You will discover first  hand why not all "garden" writers are created equal--or even if  they are, may not appeal to you. This is a book of essays with little  immediate practical information for beginners. Still, one never knows...
3597480
I look a lot of gardening books- mostly for the pictures and usually way more involved than I can create myself. This particular book however, has real ideas, plans and directions that I can actually accomplish! The photographs are beautiful and the plants clearly labeled. The subject matter includes garden areas  of all sizes, for all seasons, with a bonus of container plantings to add patio interest. And if you happen to live on Long Island (or similar Northeast location) you know you will find the plants in your local nursery and that they will thrive in your garden. A winner!
4646300
Another great book by C.L.Fornari! I've been a gardener for 40 years and my jobs just became easier thanks to this book. I don't have to deadhead perennials? or daffodils? yipee!  My hollies will bloom without a spouse nearby? No more turning over the vegetable garden every year? This book is fun to read and full of useful and surprising information. What a great gift for you gardening friends!
4765834
A GARDEN IN THE SHADE by Harriet Cramer is great introductory resource to gardening in the shade. The gardener, struggling with what to do with all their shady spaces, especially the larger gardens or one with GROWING SHADEY SPACES will enjoy this collection.
The photographs are plentifull and beautiful with lots of colorful plants to plan a beautiful garden, especially for the more Northern Regions (I live in Texas) which may have a much shorter growing season. Many plants are not stunning because of their flowering pattern- but the color of the foliage is a key factor to planning the color patterns for day to day viewing. This is not a book I would like to part with- as shade seems to be the fastest growing area of my garden!