Garden design and planning Books

Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestsellerTrade Review‘A magical book. I have read it twice now. I love the richness of Katherine Swift's prose; the flashes of her family's story that are scattered through the deliciously written text; the gorgeous detail. The Morville Hours is the most beautiful book I have read in years' * Nigel Slater *‘An intriguing, magical story of a place, a person and her plants' * Anna Pavord, author of The Naming of Names *‘A truly remarkable book that is both intimate and universal. We are left with a renewed sense of what it is to be human, and of how we make our place in a world that is intricate, unpredictable and filled with quotidian mysteries' * Daily Telegraph *‘This is gardening writing at its best. Swift's prose brings the garden alive in all its details, scents and meaning ... Evocative, heartfelt and magical' * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisA guide to creating a modern outdoor space that provides us with the materials we need to eat, be creative, learn and get the most out of our gardenWe no longer just want to garden, we want to engage with the land; the plants in it, the animals, insects and even the fungi. The Modern Gardener isn’t just about creating a space that simply looks visually stunning, but about responding to the need to modernize; to live in a way that works in harmony with the world around us and engages with our outdoor space. The plants that we choose to grow should encourage wildlife, reduce our carbon footprint and be useful in all areas of our lives. Filled with projects, as well as the whys and hows of growing and choosing plants, it includes a recipe section with activities that can be tried at home for all kinds of fun – from delicious concoctions to essential products – all made from plants. 'Frances Tophill is no

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Book SynopsisThe New Wild Garden combines new approaches to a more naturalistic design with the practical side of growing wildflowers and shows how to incorporate wildflowers, real meadows and a looser prarie-style planting into gardens and wild spaces.Trade Review‘this book offers an inspirational yet accessible guide to wild planting that is low-maintenance yet enormously creative’ * Homes and Gardens *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTIONCREATING NATURALISTIC LANDSCAPES​PLANNING A WILD GARDEN CREATING MEADOW EFFECTSNATURALISING PLANTS IN GRASSLANDNATURALISTIC PLANTINGSWILD POTS AND CONTAINERSPLANT GALLERY SOURCEBOOK

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Book SynopsisAn inspiring sourcebook of classic and contemporary garden designs, with ideas and techniques to suit enclosed outdoor spaces of every shape and size.

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Book SynopsisThe perfect sourcebook and reference manual for anyone building a garden plant collection and looking for inspiration and practical advice.

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Book SynopsisSuccessful gardens can be created in the smallest spaces, and in this inspiring and practical guide Alan Titchmarsh shows how to transform even the tiniest outdoor area into an attractive garden. With ideas for maximizing space and advice on garden design, planning and plant selection, this is the definitive handbook for anyone wanting to create a private haven in limited space.* Ideas for front gardens, side passages, courtyards, balconies, rooftops and windowsills* Tricks to make small spaces seem larger* How to use every inch of space, including containers* Easy-to-follow landscaping plans for all garden shapes and styles* Guidance on growing vegetables, herbs and fruit in small plots

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Book SynopsisLearn how to create a tranquil outdoor space at home with this practical and inspiring guide!With instructive drawings and step-by-step techniques, Inside Your Japanese Garden walks you through designing and creating your very own Japanese garden. From small projects like benches and gates, to larger undertakings like bridges and mud walls, this book provides a wide variety of ways to enhance the space around your home, no matter the size. Instructions on how to work with stone, mud and bamboo—as well as a catalogue of the 94 plant varieties used in the gardens shown in the book—round out this complete guide.This book also features 19 gardens that author Sadao Yasumoro has designed and built in Japan, and some—like those at Visvim shop in Tokyo and at Yushima Tenjin in Tokyo—are open to the public. From small tsuboniwa courtyard gardens to a large backyard stroll garden with water features, stairs and walls, these real-life inspirations will help spark your own garden plan.These inspirational garden projects include: Tea Garden for an Urban Farmhouse featuring a clay wall with a split-bamboo frame and a stone base The Landslide That Became a Garden with a terraced slope, trees, bushes, long grasses and moss A Buddha's Mountain Retreat of Moss and Stone with vertical-split bamboo and brushwood fencing Paradise in an Urban Jungle with a pond, Japanese-style bridge, and stone lanterns Each garden is beautifully photographed by Hironori Tomino and many have diagrams and drawings to show the essential elements used in the planning and construction.Trade Review"Fans of garden design will want to give this a look"--Publishers Weekly"While this is presented in the form of a manual, it is clear that what is truly important is not rigorously following a series of instructions but gardening from the heart, using fundamental design principles to inform one's plan and working with the site and conditions rather than trying to force them into obedience. Stunning color photographs depict the featured gardens and highlight smaller details within them. Thoroughly indexed and with a list of plants that appear in the book, this is a useful resource as well as a source of plentiful inspiration for readers." --Booklist"A visually beautiful book to simply browse through one garden at a time […] impressively written, organized and presented. A source of inspiration, ideas, and practical instruction." --Midwest Book Review

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Book Synopsis**Winner of the American Horticultural Society Book Award**Japanese gardens are rooted in two traditions: an ancient one in which patches of graveled forest or pebbled beach were dedicated to nature spirits, and a tradition from China and Korea that included elements such as ponds, streams, waterfalls, rock compositions, and a variety of vegetation. This book traces the development and blending of these two traditions, while also providing insight into modern Japanese gardening trends. The Art of the Japanese Garden is a comprehensive collection of the most notable gardens in Japan—including graveled courtyards, early aristocratic villas, palace gardens, esoteric and paradise gardens, Zen gardens, warrior gardens, tea gardens, and stroll gardens. With an impressive amount of new content, including more than 30 images, this updated edition offers inspiring ideas for your own trip to Japan. If you're just dreaming of traveling to Japan, there is also a section on Japanese gardens in other countries—get a taste of Japanese culture and tradition closer to home. Japanese gardening has reached new heights of sophistication, and serves as garden design and landscaping inspiration all over the world. The Art of the Japanese Garden introduces readers to the history, culture, and design behind these large-scale works of art.Trade Review"This book is so roundly written that it could, if necessary, serve as the only book one had to introduce and explain to Westerners the basic components of Japanese gardens." --The American Gardener"A well-written and beautifully illustrated reference book intended for a broad audience. It is a great book for becoming acquainted with the topic of Japanese gardens." --Landscape Architecture"Steve Jobs described Kyoto's Japanese gardens as 'the most sublime thing I've ever seen.' The splendid color photos that adorn every page of this book offer convincing support for that claim…However, The Art of the Japanese Garden is no mere coffee table tome. Authors David and Michiko Young delve deeply into the development of Japanese gardens over the centuries…Newcomers will find this book to be an ideal introduction and even veteran garden-goers will find it helps them approach familiar gardens with renewed enthusiasm and insight." --The Japan Times

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Book SynopsisThis inspiring book offers expert information on how to create the perfect Japanese-style garden in any location, with a history of the garden styles and philosophy.

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Book SynopsisA full-colour and beautifully illustrated guide into transforming your existing garden or plot of land into a modern, visually-stunning - but also easily achieved and maintained - space. Including full-colour images and tips and tricks from gardening experts and Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winners Harry and David Rich as well as suggestions tailored to various garden types, this is a must-read for anyone wanting that little bit of paradise to escape to at home...'Full of creativity and good ideas... plenty here to whet the appetite of an aspiring garden designer' -- Gardens Illustrated'Love Your Plot is a book to read right through and then dip into again to bring a particular idea or method of working back into focus.' -- Garden Design Journal'Very inspiring' -- ***** Reader review'This book is a joy to own, beautifully written and illustrated. It's crammed with information, easy to read and fantastic inspiration' -- ***** Reader review'Awesome book. Clear and easy to understand with lots of useful tips' -- ***** Reader review'Best book ever for any garden designer - an excellent read' -- ***** Reader review'A gold mine of garden design wisdom' -- ***** Reader review*****************************************************************************************************Fusing conceptual garden design with the beauty of the natural landscape, twice Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winners and stars of BBC's Garden Rescue Harry and David Rich are here to show you how you can transform your outdoor space into a beautiful Eden, no matter what plot you have.In Love Your Plot Harry and David set out to help you transform your outdoor space into an inspiration green haven by making nature work for you. Fusing different outdoor elements, such as coastal and woodland landscapes, alongside key design principles, they will show you how to create a modern, practical and visually stunning outdoor space that will awe and inspire - and that is crucially easy to maintain.Complete with practical tips, unique sketches and designs, planting suggestions and stunning full-colour visuals, Love Your Plot will have you reaching for the spade and wellies in no time at all to create your own Eden, no matter what plot you've got.Trade Reviewfull of creativity and good ideas… plenty here to whet the appetite of an aspiring garden designer * Gardens Illustrated *It is a treat to finger the pages of this first book from double Chelsea Gold medallists… * The Garden *Love Your Plot is a book to read right through and then dip into again to bring a particular idea or method of working back into focus. * Garden Design Journal *

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Book SynopsisThe content of this book originally appeared in The New Kitchen Garden, published in 2015. ''An endless selection of delicious produce you can plant, grow and then cook with.'' Raymond Blanc OBENow you can create your own delicious edible garden at home!More and more people are being inspired to grow a little of what they eat at home. But while starting your own kitchen garden may seem like a daunting task at first, Grow & Cookmakes it easy.Award-winning author and gardener, Mark Diacono, has distilled years of knowledge into this pocket-sized book. Whether you are new to gardening and only have a small window box or you are much more experienced with the space to experiment, this user-friendly handbook will inspire and help you. Mark is here to show you that there are plenty of options for everyone and lots of exciting new varieties to discover.Each variety in the book includes a wealth of informationTrade ReviewDiacono wants new gardeners to learn to think for themselves and build their own strategies from the many modes of food production. * Irish Sunday Times *Visionary and useful, this is altogether an inspiring book. * The Lady *Rush out and buy it. It is really very good. * Monty Don, @TheMontyDon *Mark's writing style is conversational and engaging, he's deeply knowledgeable, yet he's low-key and modest. He's 'can-do' and accessible without ever being patronising. * English Garden *The New Kitchen Garden doesn't begin with the usual plan of an allotment quartered into beds awaiting their rotation, it starts by asking what you need. * Sunday Mirror - Book of the Week *

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Book SynopsisIn this practical and personal book, Gardeners' World presenter Adam Frost takes you through his process for getting the most out of a garden space whatever its size, whether it's a window box, a terrace with a few pots or a bigger space with dedicated veg plots and borders.Enjoying your garden is about more than just what you grow; it's also about why you grow it. As well as spending time outdoors, the meaning of a garden lies in what you bring inside, from vegetables and herbs to make a family meal to flowers and seedheads to decorate the house. Adam explores how his own garden has allowed him to enjoy the simple pleasures in life and create precious memories - whether it's coming down in the morning and seeing that single flower in a vase or teaching your kids how to make the runner bean chutney that reminds you of your nan. Adam's inspiring book will guide you through all you need to make your garden thrive, and to use it to develop your own traditions and meaningful moments.

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Book SynopsisGardens have always been places of leisure, pleasure, and production – they reflect identities, dreams, and visions. Deeply rooted in their culture, gardens have immense symbolic potential. The recent revival of horticulture has focused less on the garden as a romantic refuge than as a place where we imagine the future and develop solutions. Urban farms, vertical gardens, and other innovative projects in art, architecture, and urban planning demonstrate that the present return to the garden is no timid retreat, but a pioneering quest for a world in which social and ecological justice count for something. Garden Futures examines what gardens and their design reveal about our relationship to nature. In exploring the history of ideas behind the genesis of the modern garden, the book takes a close look at the present, goes in search of origins in the past, and builds bridges into the future. Stunning photographs illustrate ground-breaking gardens by such designers as Derek Jarman and Piet Oudolf while critical articles by well-known authors question conventional garden ideals. Authors and gardeners including Gilles Clement and Jamaica Kincaid present the garden as a place of learning where abstract concepts like ecology, climate change, and food insecurity are translated into things you can smell, touch, and taste. Daisy Ginsberg, Salmon Creek Farm, and EcoLogic Studio create experimental and speculative projects generating new attitudes and approaches.

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Book SynopsisOutdoor Interiors showcases the most beautiful garden designs in the world. Author Juliet Roberts highlights five styles – 'traditional', 'contemporary', 'playful', 'everyday' and 'minimal' – and gives plenty of tips for achieving the same style in your garden across different categories (dining, sitting, lounge, cooking and swimming). The result is a stylish coffee table book full of inspiration.Trade Review"From al fresco cooking ideas to zoning tips, a little design know-how will transform your garden into a smart home extension." - You Magazine"DREAM AWAY: The English book 'Outdoor Interiors' is the perfect thing coffee table book for rainy days dreaming for days." - Elle Décor Belgie

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Book SynopsisThe definitive reference guide to garden design, its rich history, and the creative art of gardening – a luxuriously illustrated A-Z compendium of more than 200 garden elements, styles, features, and ornaments for gardeners around the globe With its easy-to-use A-Z format, The Garden examines over 200 modern and historical garden styles, features, types and ornaments, with definitions and informative descriptions and more than 500 spectacular images. This accessible, inspirational book is perfect for both amateur gardeners and specialists alike. Its entries, written by garden expert and historian Toby Musgrave – author of Phaidon's bestselling book The Gardener's Garden – range from Allée, Borrowed Landscape and Coastal Garden, to Minimalism, New Perennial Planting, Pool, Vista and Xeriscape Garden and form a unique, illustrated 'glossary' for gardeners, featuring more than 400 gardens, both public and private, iconic and lesser known. Examples include spaces such as the Baroque gardens of Versailles and rarely published tropical courtyards from contemporary designers, alongside artist creations such as Frida Kahlo’s courtyard in Mexico and Derek Jarman's coastal garden in Dungeness, England. Alongside the work of private garden owners and makers, the book also showcases the work of emerging and eminent designers, including Andrea Cochran, Emily Erlam, Raymond Jungles, Dan Pearson, and Piet Oudolf. Whether creating an English cottage garden or tending a Japanese Zen landscape, the range and beauty of The Garden will inspire gardeners and garden lovers everywhere as never before.Trade Review'Lushly illustrated with some of the world's most glorious gardens.' – Financial Times, How to Spend It 'The greatest gardens from 3,500 years of history.' – Sunday Telegraph 'An excellent reference book for designers, gardeners and garden lovers. Great photographs combined with informative texts covering everything from Allée to Zeitgeist.' – Annie Guilfoyle, garden designer and co-founder of Garden Masterclass '[A] bible of all that is garden.' – Grazia 'A fabulous reference title and source of inspiration.' – Gardens Illustrated

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Book Synopsis'A great book if you are seeking small space inspiration.' Evening StandardFrom House & Garden's book picks of the year:'Whether you dream of a Mediterranean oasis, a rose-filled retreat or a tropical jungle, Green will help you to make the most of your space, proving that small can indeed be beautiful.'From Daily Mail's best books of the year:'Can a really small space ever be turned into a beautiful garden? Fashionable garden designer Ula Maria shows how even the tiniest balcony or courtyard can become something special. Featuring numerous case histories and practical advice on storage, paving, furniture and lighting, this is an excellent reference source for anyone with limited space and big dreams.''Garden designer Ula Maria takes us on a safari through small but perfectly formed oases...to inspire your very own Eden.' - Elle Deco'Urban garden design has inspired books ever since the Victorians started to green their sprawling new neighbourhoods. But where Maria's Green differs is that it focuses on the possibilities of growing in small spaces rather than the restrictions. The 22 gardens she has brought together (by various designers) erupt with potential...In Green urban gardens, so often prone to a twinge of pity from those who tend larger, more rural spaces, become deeply aspirational.' - Alice Vincent, the Daily Telegraph 'A must for apprehensive city gardeners and for anyone wanting to make the most out of their outdoor space, no matter how small it might be. [...] Flicking through it feels almost as enjoyable and relaxing as sitting in the garden.' - Gardens Illustrated'The first book from rising star Ula Maria tackles the perennial challenge of how to create a garden in a small space. [...] Whether you dream of a Mediterranean oasis, a rose-filled retreat or a tropical jungle, Green will help you to make the most of your space, proving that small can indeed be beautiful.' - House & Garden'Spending so much time outdoors in my childhood made me think of a garden as a natural extension of my home - an inseparable part of everyday life. It wasn't until I moved into a rented property in the city that I felt an undeniable urge to make the most of the little exterior space that we had and re-evaluate it. In time, creating outdoor spaces that people truly care for, no matter how small or large, became much more rewarding than perfecting any indoor space. Many say that a home is a true reflection of self, but I believe it is the garden, where personalities and relationships with our surroundings truly blossom.' - Ula MariaIn Green, Ula Maria takes a completely fresh look at creating a garden in whatever outdoor space is available - be it a roof terrace, balcony, small back yard or patio. Perfect for first-time gardeners, the book approaches creating a garden as if decorating a room - exploring how to work with scale, colour and texture, to choosing the plants that will thrive in an urban space. At the heart of the book are 22 genuinely small and innovative gardens with a dazzling range of ideas to copy - from a small backyard garden using reclaimed timber, evergreens and grasses to a rental rooftop terrace in the heart of the city where a cottage-style garden has been created in simple containers. Using low-maintenance plants and affordable furniture, lighting and containers, Green offers simple solutions that don't involve major structural work but will quickly result in a stylish and hugely rewarding urban sanctuary. The book was shot by award-winning photographer, Jason Ingram.Trade ReviewGarden designer Ula Maria takes us on a safari through small but perfectly formed oases...to inspire your very own Eden. * Elle Deco *Urban garden design has inspired books ever since the Victorians started to green their sprawling new neighbourhoods. But where Maria's Green differs is that it focuses on the possibilities of growing in small spaces rather than the restrictions. The 22 gardens she has brought together (by various designers) erupt with potential...In Green urban gardens, so often prone to a twinge of pity from those who tend larger, more rural spaces, become deeply aspirational. -- Alice Vincent * Daily Telegraph *A must for apprehensive city gardeners and for anyone wanting to make the most out of their outdoor space, no matter how small it might be. [...] Flicking through it feels almost as enjoyable and relaxing as sitting in the garden. * Gardens Illustrated *The first book from rising star Ula Maria tackles the perennial challenge of how to create a garden in a small space. [...] Whether you dream of a Mediterranean oasis, a rose-filled retreat or a tropical jungle, Green will help you to make the most of your space, proving that small can indeed be beautiful. * House & Garden *Can a really small space ever be turned into a beautiful garden? Fashionable garden designer Ula Maria shows how even the tiniest balcony or courtyard can become something special. Featuring numerous case histories and practical advice on storage, paving, furniture and lighting, this is an excellent reference source for anyone with limited space and big dreams. -- Best books of the year * Daily Mail *Whether you dream of a Mediterranean oasis, a rose-filled retreat or a tropical jungle, Green will help you to make the most of your space, proving that small can indeed be beautiful. * House & Garden *

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Book SynopsisIn this classic 1960s gardening book, Margery Fish's advice and enthusiasm for horticulture has stood the test of time and remains a go-to book for green-thumbed gardeners today. She guides the reader through techniques for creating and maintaining a cottage garden with humour and ease, perfect for both beginners and experienced gardeners. In her imaginative adaption of the traditional cottage garden style that she saw disappearing around her, she brought together old-fashioned plants and contemporary plants in the same vein. Today's mixed borders are a direct descendant of the style Margery Fish created at East Lambrook Manor in Somerset, now once again open to the public. Cottage Garden Flowers covers plants that grow easily and naturally in British soil, including easy, adaptable bulbs, perennials and shrubs, such as Astrantia, columbines, daffodils, daisies, Dianthus, foxgloves, hollyhocks, Japonica, old roses, Phlox, Primula, or Virburnum. No longer in danger of being forgotten, these traditional flowering plants have now res-established their place at the heart of garden design. Graham Rice, the widely published gardening author and the former London Evening Standard gardening correspondent, has reviewed the plant names in the original text, providing a plant name section at the back of the book. This allows readers to identify current plants from the old Latin names within the text.

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Book Synopsis"In this gorgeous, aspirational work, Burns, editor-in-chief of Kinfolk magazine, collects 'stories about nature as nourishment' along with photographs from homes across the globe to inspire people to bring more nature into their own abodes. . . . Expertly evoking a mood of understated luxury, this stunning spread will have design junkies drooling." -Publishers Weekly A gardener with a secret oasis on a Parisian rooftop. An artist making faux flowers to brighten Manhattan apartments. A family of ranchers rewilding the American outback. Anchored around the idea of nature as nourishment, The Kinfolk Garden explores lush gardens and plant filled homes around the world and introduces the inspiring people who coax them into bloom. Through visits to friends old and new, the Kinfolk team learns the secrets to a good garden, and what good a garden can do for our self-care, creativity and communities. Though many of the people we meet along the way champion the idea of following natural instincts rather than a set of prescriptive garden rules, there are practical tips throughout the book that offer advice on everything from growing your own produce to foraging for artful arrangements to simply keeping your houseplants alive a little longer than usual.The Kinfolk Garden is an invitation to engage with nature-to care for it, create with its beauty and cultivate new relationships around it-and offers inspiration and guidance to anyone looking to bring a little more greenery into their life.Trade Review“What’s the antithesis of a Zoom meeting? Spending time with a book about plants and the creative people who live alongside them. The latest release from the Copenhagen-based lifestyle brand spans a Southwestern ranch, a Japanese landscape designer’s home, and a curvilinear hideaway built within a Mexican rainforest. There are practical tips for hopeful green thumbs, too.”—Vanity Fair “In this gorgeous, aspirational work, Burns, editor-in-chief of Kinfolk magazine, collects ‘stories about nature as nourishment’ along with photographs from homes across the globe to inspire people to bring more nature into their own abodes. Burns organizes the book into three main themes: care, creativity, and community, respectively illustrated by an Italian expat in Tangier whose garden is dedicated to flowers threatened by industrialization, a Tokyo landscape designer who’s filled his glass house with tropicals, and a Beirut-based entrepreneur whose latest enterprise is a guesthouse surrounded by produce gardens. Throughout are sidebars on garden-related tips ranging from the practical (caring for houseplants and selecting vases) to the twee (“how to talk to plants”). The photos, meanwhile, emphasize natural lighting and highlight spaces characterized by rough-hewn wood tables, hand-thrown pottery, handwoven cloth, and rough, pigmented walls. Adding to the aesthetic of understated chic, the featured homeowners usually sport stylish ensembles of chore coats, cashmere, and rumpled linen. Expertly evoking a mood of understated luxury, this stunning spread will have design junkies drooling.”—Publishers Weekly

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Book Synopsis“This is a fascinating books for anyone wanting to truly broaden the range of plants they grow.” —Gardens Illustrated Moss is an extraordinary plant—it grows without roots, flowers, or stems. Despite being overlooked, in many ways, moss is perfect: it provides year-round color, excels in difficult climates, prevents soil erosion, and resists pests and disease. In The Magical World of Moss Gardening, bryophyte expert Annie Martin reveals how moss can be used in stunning, eco-friendly spaces. The beautifully illustrated guide includes basics on designing and planting a moss garden, and an inspiring tour of the most magical public and private moss gardens throughout the country.

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Book SynopsisThis title is a practical guide to designing and planting your garden, with 15 plans and over 200 inspirational pictures. It helps how to successfully plan a garden, from a large family space to patios, balconies and even roof gardens. It contains advice, tips and great ideas on the basics of good garden design, as well as how to create a style that suits your needs. It offers over 15 plans for well-planned gardens, with stunning photographs showing them in all their glory. It gives step-by-step guidance on a range of hands-on projects, including constructing a trellis, building overheads, creating shade, and installing garden lights. It is an inspirational and practical book that will guide you from drawing your first plans through to planting preferences and adding the finishing touches. Often gardening is about maintaining the status quo, but sometimes it is about new plans and a change of design. This book will guide you through such exciting opportunities, offering help and advice on how to make the most of your garden shape and size, planning the different areas and elements, and filling the new spaces with exactly the right planting schemes for you. Divided into three sections, the book first takes you through initial surveying, basic patterns and different kinds of design. The next chapter gives guidance on boundaries, walling, creating shape and focal points and other practicalities. The last chapter offers ideas and projects to follow for gardens, patios, balconies and roof gardens, ranging from entertaining areas to chill-out zones, and different styles from elegant formality to an enchanted jungle. Illustrated throughout with 200 images, this is an invaluable guide to garden planning.

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Book Synopsis'Designer Matt Keightley's first book is a thing of beauty and a valuable source of design inspiration - a stylish guide to a stylish garden.' - Gardens Illustrated Do you want your outdoor space to look as stylish and as well designed as your home? RHS Design Outdoors will give you the ideas and know-how you need to make that happen. Award-winning designer Matt Keightley has curated a collection of 35 gardens, created either by him or by other leading contemporary designers, that will provide the inspiration to transform your outdoor space. Gardeners features include award-winning designers Jo Thompson, Tom Stuart Smith, Tony Woods, Charlotte Rowe and Andrew Wilson. For each case study there is a detailed plan, information on the plants and materials used and a wealth of gorgeous photography by leading garden photographer Marianne Majerus.The designs are organized into five categories: Showstoppers at Home - high-design concepts that are nonetheless achievable; Family-friendly - gardens that incorporate play areas and socialising; Minimalist - spaces with larger areas of hard landscaping and bold, restrained planting; Plants First - gardens where more than half of the outdoor space is planted; and Other Spaces - roof terraces, basement areas and front gardens. This wide array of garden styles means that there is inspiration for all types of garden, and for all types of gardener.

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Book SynopsisIn this book, Sharon Amos explains how to design and create a beautiful garden for little or no money, offering tips on bartering for clippings, getting a bargain at garage sales or neighbourhood fairs, digging up suckers or adapting wild species and controlling them in a garden environment. She provides a comprehensive directory of 80 plants including detailed advice on where and how to grow a wide variety of garden favourites, from snowdrops to poppies. With beautiful illustrations, Plants for Free is the perfect gift book for cultivating your garden on a budget of next-to-nothing.

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Book SynopsisA highly original study of eccentric English garden-makers and their extraordinary gardens In English Garden Eccentrics, renowned landscape architect and historian Todd Longstaffe-Gowan reveals a series of obscure and eccentric English garden-makers who, between the early seventeenth and early twentieth centuries, created intensely personal and idiosyncratic gardens. They include such fascinating characters as the superstitious antiquary William Stukeley and the animal- and bird-loving Lady Read, as well as the celebrated master of Vauxhall Gardens, Jonathan Tyers, who created at his home at Denbies one of the gloomiest and most perverse anti-pleasure gardens in Georgian England. Others built miniature mountains, shaped topiaries, displayed exotic animals, excavated caves, and assembled architectural fragments and fossils to realise their gardens in a way that was often thought excessive. With quirky and compelling illustrations and chapters including “Lady Broughton’s ‘Miniature copy of the Swiss Glaciers,’” “Topiary on a Gargantuan Scale: The Clipped ‘Yew-trees’ at Four Ancient London Churchyards,” and “The Burrowing Duke at Harcourt House,” English Garden Eccentrics brings together garden and landscape history with cultural history and biography. The book engagingly reveals what it is about the gardener and his or her creation that can be seen as eccentric and focusses on an area of garden history that has scarcely been explored: gardens seen as expressions of the singular character of their makers, and therefore functioning, in effect, as a form of autobiography. This lively and accessible book calls on gardeners today to learn from example and dare to be eccentric. Distributed for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British ArtTrade Review“This fine book by the garden historian and landscape architect Todd Longstaffe-Gowan raises the bar considerably on what constitutes a garden eccentric. . . . What really makes this book work, though . . . is Longstaffe-Gowan’s impeccable research combined with his ability to tell a story. . . . It is obvious that he cares about these people and believes their gardens function as a form of autobiography.”—Ann Treneman, The Times“A glorious cabinet of curiosities . . . English Garden Eccentrics is a compilation of enjoyably singular case studies but if there is an overarching theme it is that in gardens we find reflections of human yearning.”—Lucy Lethbridge, Financial Times“The book is rich in unexpected insights into cultural history that give a broader context to its theme.”—Bruce Boucher, Art Newspaper“English Garden Eccentrics profiles about two dozen mavericks who astonished visitors with sculptured terrain. . . . Hydraulics powered thunderous waterfalls, man-made mountaintops were covered with pulverized white stone to simulate snowfall, and grottoes teemed with ceramic gnomes or pet kangaroos.”—Eve M. Kahn, New York Times“[Todd Longstaffe-Gowan’s] new book divulges grottoes, toy hermits and a ‘parlour of Venus’ of questionable taste. . . . As most of them are unfamiliar, his detailed presentations enlarge the range of conventional histories of English gardens.”—Robin Lane Fox, Financial Times“Todd Longstaffe-Gowan defines eccentricity as behavior that’s ‘strange and, intriguingly, both engaging and disturbing.’ The historic garden-lovers in his new book fit the profile.”—Peter Saenger, Wall Street Journal“One of the strengths of this book is that Todd Longstaffe-Gowan has chosen garden makers who are mostly lesser known and in some cases virtually unknown. This is also an exceptionally well-made book. . . . Some well-known examples of garden eccentricity are included, but in every case the author provides new details.”—Tim Richardson, Literary Review“In English Garden Eccentrics landscape architect and author Todd Longstaffe-Gowan reveals a fascinating array of English garden-makers who, between the 17th and 18th centuries, created idiosyncratic gardens incorporating miniature mountains, exotic animals, caves and topiary.”—Bath Magazine“Worthy research and interpretation. . . . England was awash with eccentrics throughout the 19th century. Many of them populate the pages here—surely, one of the author’s chief difficulties was who to leave out.”—Steven Desmond, Country Life“As well as being a historian, Todd Longstaffe-Gowan is himself a gardener and practising landscape architect, and English Garden Eccentrics is enriched by the depth of his working knowledge. His experience also gives him an imaginative sympathy with each of his garden-making subjects who as a result spring from the page as real, if highly unconventional, human beings.”—Susan Owens, Times Literary Supplement“In his portly and absorbing new book, Longstaffe-Gowan. . . rescues from obscurity the dramatis personae of a long-lost, almost unimaginable world. . . . So rich are their details, so compelling their stories . . . English Garden Eccentrics is simply unputdownable.”—David Wheeler, The Oldie“The author delights us with the surprising tales behind the 20 or so individuals who from the early 17th century through the beginning of the 20th century fashioned a range of unusual gardens. . . . The stories are amusing, at times tinged with sadness but always informative and very entertaining. Each chapter is to be savoured because these gardens functioned as a form of biography, with each personality revealing themselves through their creativity. . . . I loved this book.”—Advolly Richmond, Gardens Illustrated“[Todd Longstaffe-Gowan] has brought his encyclopedic knowledge of the gloriously idiosyncratic gardens and garden makers of England to life in this sparkling text. If only there was as much imagination in the oeuvres these days. Hopefully, Todd will trigger a renaissance of the eccentric.”—Jinny Blom, House & Garden“Those who plan to enjoy green thoughts in green shades this summer should be accompanied by Todd Longstaffe-Gowan’s English Garden Eccentrics, a delightful, book-length survey of the work of many of the eccentric gardeners of England over the past 300 or so years.”—Michael Glover, The Tablet, “Summer Reading”“This book, considered simply as a reading experience, must be one of the most delightful in the canon of garden history. It is well written, beautifully produced and copiously illustrated.”—Brent Elliott, Garden History“Longstaffe's eyes are fixed firmly on the snippets of information about the wilder reaches of the human psyche which his research has unearthed and he conveys those snippets in prose which is both lucid and lively.”—Tim Longville, Hortus“This superbly researched collection explores the nature of eccentricity, expressed in garden creation from the 18th century onwards. It abounds with illustrations which tantalise our imagination since many of these eccentricities have disappeared over time.”—Jeremy Garnett, London Landscapes

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Book SynopsisShunmyo Masuno, Japan's leading garden designer, is at once Japan's most highly acclaimed landscape architect and an 18th-generation Zen Buddhist priest, presiding over daily ceremonies at the Kenkoji Temple in Yokohama. He is celebrated for his unique ability to blend strikingly contemporary elements with the traditional design vernacular. He has worked in ultramodern urban hotels and some of Japan's most famous classic gardens. In each project, his work as a designer of landscape architecture is inseparable from his Buddhist practice. Each becomes a Zen garden, "a special spiritual place where the mind dwells."This beautiful book, illustrated with more than 400 drawings and color photographs, is the first complete retrospective of Masuno's work to be published in English. It presents 37 major gardens around the world in a wide variety of types and settings: traditional and contemporary, urban and rural, public spaces and private residences, and including temple, office, hotel and campus venues. Masuno achieved fame for his work in Japan, but he is becoming increasingly known internationally, and in 2011 completed his first commission in the United States which is shown here.Zen Gardens, divided into three chapters, covers: "Traditional Zen Gardens," "Contemporary Zen Gardens" and "Zen Gardens outside Japan." Each Zen garden design is described and analyzed by author Mira Locher, herself an architect and a scholar well versed in Japanese culture.Celebrating the accomplishments of an influential, world-class designer, Zen Gardens also serves as something of a master class in Japanese garden design and appreciation: how to perceive a Japanese garden, how to understand one, even how to make one yourself. Like one of Masuno's gardens, the book can be a place for contemplation and mindful repose.Trade Review"Locher's stunning presentation highlights 37 master gardens in Japan and abroad (including in the U.S.) that embody a transcendent marriage between the primal elements of nature and metaphysics. […] With 320 color photos and designs, Locher captures the mystery and mastery of Masuno's work." --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review"This showcase of the work of Japanese garden designer Shunmyo Masuno marries clear exposition of the designer's philosophy with drop-dead gorgeous color art." --Publishers Weekly, 2012 Best Book, Gardening"Zen Gardens endorses a spiritual approach to the process of garden design, whereby the design and its inherent aesthetic qualities are allowed to grow from the place, rather than being imposed on it. Illustrated with more than 400 drawings and color photographs, this book is a wonderful source of inspiration for creating beautiful, contemplative landscapes."-- Garden Design Journal

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Book SynopsisGardeners are generally always looking for inspiration. Rather than force her own creative ideas on you, author, gardener, and horticulturalist, Helen Yoest teaches you to recognize and act on your own creativity. Easy-to-follow sections are divided into four basic priorities when thinking about your garden: Garden Basics, Garden Styles, Garden Elements and Your Garden Environment. Chapters include how to create rhythm, scale, and balance along with curb appeal to shape your owns ideas as well as a chapter on creating a sustainable garden environment where plants and animals can live together. Also learn about the importance of selecting the perfect space and sketching out your plan first, how to use containers effectively, as well as how to incorporate other features including water, walkways and walls.

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Book SynopsisA regular presenter on BBC TV's Gardeners' World, Adam has seven Chelsea Gold Medals to his name. He set up his own international garden design consultancy in 1996, followed by the Adam Frost Gardening School in 2017. In 2013 he helped set up the Homebase Garden Academy, which trains young employees for the RHS Level 1 award, and in 2014 he became an RHS Ambassador to focus on raising the profile of gardening among secondary-school students and community groups.Trade ReviewA solidly reliable and practical guide to designing, constructing and maintaining your garden, written by an experienced gardener. * Gardens Illustrated *Frost, a Chelsea gold-medal winner, andregular Gardeners' World presenter, isa hand-holding guide, presenting his advicein bite-sized chunks.This practical, wellillustrated book is mostly likely to appeal tothe neophyte starting from scratch. But thereis plenty the more experienced can learn fromFrost's detailed designs and planting plans. * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisTake the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are an absolute beginner or a green thumb, plan and track your garden with this keepsake guide and logbook. A garden is what you make of it, whether it’s potted plants on a patio, a slender patch of perennial flowers along a walkway, or raised beds for a variety of vegetables. No matter where you live or what types of plants you want to grow, this book is the perfect gardening companion. As more than a garden planner and logbook, the thoughtful primer and expert tips in these pages will help you develop a garden that’s more personal and ultimately more rewarding. Accompanied by beautiful illustrations and a layflat binding for easy writing, you’ll find: Pages for planning and mapping out your garden Instructions on how—and when—to start seeds and transplant seedlings How to attract beneficials and ward oTable of ContentsIntroduction A Garden Primer YEAR ONE YEAR TWO YEAR THREE YEAR FOUR YEAR FIVE

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Book SynopsisGrow a glass garden and beautify any space with the exquisite decorative items you've created. George W. Shannon and Pat Torlen, two master teachers and artists, offer an array of glorious patterns for stained glass flowers, butterflies, birds, birdfeeders, planters, lanterns and mobiles. Using dozens of close-up photos, they teach all the basics of both copper foil and lead came construction, from materials and tools to how-to techniques.

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Book Synopsis'Is farsainn beul a' bhothain'There is always a welcome at the hutAre you ready for the good life? Huts, whether in the country, by the sea or near to home, are a glimpse into nature, letting us slow down and enjoy the details of life's little things and create time for self-care, health and a sustainable way of living.Whether you will design alone, build as a group, or just want to find the perfect spot for a restful interlude, PeterMacQueen shares his knowledge and insight on all things hutting - from foraging and places to stay, to firemaking and solar panels - alongside some seasoned hutters who share their tales of the joys and challenges.Full of tips, stories and recipes, The Art of Hutting will teach you how to create the ultimate sense of wellbeing and community, take the sting out of nettle soup and even bake the Hebridean way!

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Book SynopsisTransform small spaces to make a big difference.Join activist Tayshan Hayden-Smith on his mission to turn grey, concrete jungles into green sanctuaries planting seeds not only in the ground but also in minds to bring joy to people, places, and planet.Small Space Revolution shares the amazing work of individuals and organizations around the world to inspire you to:RECONNECT with community and the natural worldRETHINK how we teach the next generation and ourselvesREGENERATE the complex ecosystem beneath our feetREWILD urban spaces and make way for nature to thriveREPURPOSE materials for a waste-free worldRECHARGE to tune in to yourself, others, and your surroundingsREVOLUTIONIZE the way we live action the change you want to seePacked with simple ideas and practical projects from choosing climbers for cover to repurposing plastics to build a greenhouse discover how you can take action to transform your own personal or c

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Book SynopsisAmong the first titles published in 1978, with more than 150,000 copies in print in three editions, Japanese Maples is a Timber Press classic. Japanese maples are unlike any other tree. They boast a remarkable diversity of color, form, and texture. As a result of hundreds of years of careful breeding, they take the center stage in any garden they are found. In the last decade, the number of Japanese maple cultivars available to gardeners has doubled and there is a pressing need for an up-to-date reference. This new fourth edition offers detailed descriptions of over 150 new introductions, updates to plant nomenclature, and new insights into established favorites. Gardeners will relish the practical advice that puts successful cultivation within everyone''s grasp. Accurate identification is made simple with over 600 easy-to-follow descriptions and 500 color photographs.

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Book SynopsisThis stunningly illustrated monograph immerses readers in Campion Hruby Landscape Architects' enduring and meaningful gardens and reveals the careful thought and intention that goes into the firm's garden design process.

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Book SynopsisRevised, updated and expanded edition Joy Larkcom's classic guide to growing your own vegetables.Trade ReviewAs any allotmenteer will tell you, this is the GYO bible, by the Delia Smith of the vegetable garden

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Book SynopsisThe Kew Gardener's Guide to Growing Cacti and Succulents is the latest title from the Kew Experts series, giving you everything you need to master the art of growing cacti and succulents.

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Book SynopsisOrganize your gardening life! This handy journal keeps track of everything a passionate gardener needs to know in one spot. Individual plant history pages allow you to keep a yearly log of how you're doing with each crop. Set annual goals, keep a record of your work, track your performance, and note what you've learned over each season. Keep a record of plantings, soil chemistry, fertilizing, compost rotation, pest issues, weather, watering needs and more. Chart garden design and plan next year's layout. Gardening enthusiasts can archive all the important information here. With a convenient 6x8 size that fits easily in a tool bag, My Gardening Journal is the perfect gift for the gardener who has everything.

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Book SynopsisAs a reformatted edition, this beautifully illustrated book provides an inspirational and practical introduction to the traditions of Japanese Zen gardens, using natural materials such as wood, bamboo, rocks and pebbles. Emphasizing the value of shape in trees and shrubs with the subtlety of colour through the varied greens of foliage and moss, Serene Gardens is the only book that explains how western plants and materials can be used to achieve the natural, minimalist look so beloved by Japanese garden designers.There are instructions and tips for selecting plants and materials which are readily available, as well as plant lists and climate zone maps to aid western gardeners. As the wealth of stunning colour photographs from around the world demonstrates, Japanese garden design is concerned with a reverence for nature and the overall effect is of tranquility. Serene Gardens will help people to create much-needed oases of calm in their own outdoor spaces.

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Book SynopsisAn in-depth exploration spanning 800 years of the art, essence, and enduring impact of the Japanese gardenTrade Review 'Sophie Walker: a name to watch.' – Independent ' The Japanese Garden offers an explanation of the semantic foundations of Japanese garden design... The book could act as a very good alternative guide to an ambitious horticultural trip. Rather, however, Walker's point is that we should embrace the ethos of Japanese gardening – that it exists to transport our minds and build our inner worlds, rather than be used to expand our experience of what is around us – and channel that appreciation of nature into garden design... Japanese gardening isn't so alien, as anyone who has found connection and peace in their garden will know. As Walker says: "Many a great thought has occurred while weeding the garden". In Japan, the gardens are designed to encourage those who admire them to think, too.' – Daily Telegraph'An incredible ode to the beauty and tranquillity of the country's gardening tradition... Will make you want to book a flight to Kyoto immediately.' – AnOther'A beautiful book.' – Spectator'Just leafing through Sophie Walker's The Japanese Garden brings a feeling of calm and tranquillity... Walker covers their history and meaning, unravelling a little of their mystery.' – Sunday Times'An impressive, informative and very readable book, written with considerable passion from an artistic perspective.' – Japan Society Review 'Packed with over 300 images and poetic prose, The Japanese Garden takes you on a journey... This isn't just a book for keen gardeners, it's a source of art and design ideas and concepts for anyone in need of inspiration and visual stimulation.' – VICE'A well researched and thorough book, offering fresh insights into the art, culture and aesthetics of the Japanese garden. The gardens featured have been carefully curated... The reader is taken on a journey of discovery through thought-provoking writing and beautiful imagery... [Sophie Walker] is passionate about her subject and the reader will find much of interest in her scholarly writing... This beautifully designed book will certainly open the reader's eyes to the cultural wonder that is the Japanese garden." – Reckless Gardener'The Japanese Garden isn't just filled with beautiful photographs but it traces 100 years of Japanese gardening history... Amazing photographs.' – Monocle'This engaging book examines more than 90 magnificent gardens spanning 1,200 years of design. It offers fresh insight into the art of the Japanese garden.' – Town & Country'Recommended reading for potting shed and armchair... Even if it did not contain original essays by Tadao Ando, John Pawson and Anish Kapoor, this would a superior book... A must for anyone serious about the topic.' – Daily Telegraph'The act of seeing, and the concentration of seeing, takes an effort. The gardens impose that effort on you if you want to see them. It's another way of ordering your vision, and it slows down your vision.' – Richard Serra 'Japanese gardens present a world that is profoundly un-human. The driving principle is not anthropocentricism, but rather keeping in step with the providence of the universe.' – Lee Ufan 'There are many books that have been written on Japanese gardens, on their beauty, their philosophy and their history. What is so significant/exceptional about Sophie's book is the way in which her essays unveil the very contemporary relevance of the subject. I love her writing; she brings the ancient art of these gardens into the context of today.' – Luciano Giubbilei, garden designer

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Book SynopsisCreate a colorful garden with tiles galore! A beginner-friendly guide, Garden Mosaics opens with insightful chapters on understanding the materials, tools, and techniques necessary to prepare and get started. Using ceramic, vitreous glass, marble, mirrors, or granite tiles, you'll move on to create 19 stunning mosaic garden projects that range from simple to elaborate, from one-of-a-kind pots, garden ornaments, and bird baths to stepping stones, garden tables, wall panels, and more! Each design contains step-by-step instructions and coordinating photography, as well as pattern templates. Authors and talented mosaicists Emma Biggs and Tessa Hunkin have written more than 5 books on mosaic art, design, and techniques.

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Book SynopsisSuperb new edition of the gardening classic - with a new introduction by Monty Don'Invaluable to those who want to plant a trouble-free, all-year-round garden with minimum care - or watering' FLORATrade ReviewI return to Beth Chatto's books constantly. For those who are new to her work, you are entering into a life-long relationship with a wise friend and gardener -- Monty DonInvaluable to those who want to plant a trouble-free, all-year-round garden with minimum care - or watering * FLORA *

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Book SynopsisFrom back-of-an-envelope list to flower-filled paradise - Brilliant and Wild: A Garden from Scratch in a Year gives even the most inexperienced gardener the chance to create a beautiful and wildlife-friendly outdoor space - from nothing - in just twelve months. Award-winning photographer, Jason Ingram, followed the author over the course of a year, as she created the garden shown in the book for her sister. This highly practical book provides new gardeners with step-by-step instructions on how to create a low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly perennial garden that will bloom within months and be fully established within a year. Trade Review"Beautiful." * The Lady Books of the Year *"This charming book is aimed squarely at inexperienced gardeners with a modest budget who want quick results. Like all the best gardening books this one leaves you itching to get out in your own patch." * Daily Mail *"Anyone faced with a small, empty garden could design and plant their borders using just this book for guidance." * The Garden *"I approve of the way Lucy flags up flower shape and height as being key to a successful border...there's lots of information about individual plants...a useful 'flower calendar'...lovely photos by the brilliant garden photographer Jason Ingram really bring it all to life, too." -- Alan Titchmarsh * Waitrose Weekend *"Feeling inspired by Chelsea Flower Show? Novice gardeners can take heart with this new book that shows you how to create a beautiful and wildlife-friendly space in just twelve months." * A Little Bird *"An encouraging book, especially for the beginner." * The Irish Garden *"A great practical manual for the novice gardener. A great guide to making an easy, low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly perennial garden." * Garden Heaven *"Help is on hand from this delightful new book that gives a step-by-step guide on how to start from scratch and get your garden blooming within a year." * Daily Mail *"Both practical and inspirational." * Country Living *"There’s a wealth of inspiration, practical guidance and passion for an environmentally sympathetic model of gardening that leaps off the pages and will have you skipping merrily down your own garden path, well on the way to constructing your own brilliant and wild garden, in no time at all. " * Garden Weeds and Words *"An infectious approach...Urban gardening has long ignored the nature around it, but even if one garden in every street adopted Bellamy's plan, our cities would be more buzzing and beautiful. Brilliant and Wild makes that seem enticingly possible." * Gardens Illustrated *"Bellamy makes gardening simple, expressive and joyful. Anyone can do it cheaply and with little spare time." * Evening Standard *"Required reading...a simple guide for total beginners who want to achieve a wildlife friendly haven rich in color and form." * Gardenista.com *

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Book SynopsisThe UK's leading no-dig gardening expert, Charles Dowding, draws on his years of experience to show how easy it is to start a new vegetable garden.Any plot - whether a building site, overgrown with weeds or unwanted lawn - can be turned into a beautiful and productive vegetable area. Charles''s no-nonsense and straightforward advice is the perfect starting point for the beginner or experienced gardener.The book takes you step-by-step through everything - from planning, clearing the ground and the early stages of starting a vegetable garden, to growing in polytunnels and greenhouses. There is also helpful guidance on how to use mulch, ways to minimise digging, and planting/sowing tips across the seasons.Filled with labour-saving ideas and the techniques that Charles uses to garden so successfully, How to Create a Vegetable Garden is illustrated throughout with photos and tales from Charles''s first year in his new vegetable garden.Trade ReviewAnother inspiring yet practical book from Charles Dowding. -- Rozie Apps * Permaculture Magazine *It is impossible not to feel inspired by the unique combination of helpful guidance and enthusiastic encouragement of experimentation. As Charles proves, there is no plot of land too wild to tame, a building site too overgrown with weeds or an unwanted lawn that can't be turned into a productive and beautiful garden area. -- Chris Allen * Gardening TImes *This is yet another book that will, as a manual, be on my bookshelf, but it will sure spend more in my hand than on the shelf. -- Michael Smith * Green (Living) Review *How to Create a New Vegetable Garden is the best vegetable gardening book I have read for a long time. -- ThePottingShed.co.ukIf this doesn't encourage more of us to turn our gardens into productive and beautiful spaces, I don't know what will. -- Anne Swithinbank, broadcaster and gardening writerWhether you're a dedicated gardener or a newcomer to the word of growing, take a look: Charles's methods work beautifully. -- Mark Diacono, gardener, food writer and broadcasterHow to clear weeds and grow great plants: Charles explains from a wealth of experience. -- Sarah Raven, journalist and garden writerTable of ContentsForeword by Steve Mercer Introduction Part One: Clearing ground and preparing soil 1. Starting points 2. Beauty in the food garden 3. The setting 4. Clearing ground 5. Mulching 6. Building beds 7. Dig versus no-dig (with compost) 8. Dig versus no-dig (without compost) Part Two: Sowing and growing 9. Raising plants under cover 10. Early sowing and plantings 11. Successional sowings and plantings 12. One bed, one year 13. Growing under cover 14. Hot beds 15. Perennial vegetables Appendix: Seasons and climate zones Glossary Resources Index

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Book SynopsisPlanting a natural garden that is gorgeous through every season, whatever the climate, from the driest summers to damp, rain and even frostTrade ReviewWith today's global warming gardeners are finding it harder and harder to continue with the English country garden tradition and are discovering new ways of planting. This timely book is about a most viable alternative - Mediterranean gardening. Anyone who has visited the continent will have noticed the colourful groundcover so proliferate around the coastal regions and smelt the aromatic maquis so endemic to the area. It is a scent and sight instantly recognisable and believe it or not, eminently suitable to our climate. Author Pattie Barron has made two Mediterranean gardens so far in her gardening career - one in the ideal situation of a southerly-facing terrace but the second in harsher conditions - flat and with a northerly aspect. Still learning but obviously very experienced, she divulges her secrets of success from soil preparation, mulching, plant selection and aftercare. Being drought-tolerant the main care needed is over winter when our climate turns wet and cold but using a decorative mulch of stones or gravel will assist and ensure that the plants survive to prosper for another year. Whether you prefer the delicate greys, pinks and lilacs of yuccas, lavenders and cistus or the more vibrant nerium oleanders, anagallis and papavers, the range of Mediterranean plants is huge and sure to suit every gardening taste. In addition to plant choice the book includes inspirational ideas for garden decorations such as mosaic tables, painted pots and shell grottoes for you to add that definitive Mediterranean touch. This is a superbly illustrated and well-written book full of ideas for existing or prospective drought-tolerant gardeners, no matter their location or soil type. - Lucy Watson

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Garden Media Guild Book Photographer of the Year 2015'This book will inspire readers to envision what is possible even in the smallest, most improbable spaces'.Publishers Weekly'Just looking at Marianne's stunning photographs made me want to go outside and start re-thinking my plot....I defy any reader not to find a style they can feel comfortable with in this book, there are plenty of ideas which can be adopted, even for the most difficult location'.Reckless GardenerThere is no one way to design a garden. The variations and breadth of possibilities are astonishing but it is the choices of the individual that make the world of gardens so exciting. Creating a garden is part common sense and part instinct but we all need inspiration to help us realize the garden we want. Garden Design: A Book of Ideas is the must-have visual reference for garden owners, architects and designers. With over 600 images by award-winning photographer Marianne Majerus and incisive advice from garden designer and best-selling writer Heidi Howcroft, this book takes the reader from getting the concept right to choosing the perfect finishing touches for your outdoor space. The gardens featured are large and small, urban and rural in a wide range of styles from contemporary to classical to naturalistic. Every aspect of designing a garden is explored, from assessing your plot and soil to choosing a style as your inspiration, selecting the right components (be they hard landscaping, boundaries or plants) and tackling more challenging spaces.Trade ReviewThis book will inspire readers to envision what is possible even in the smallest, most improbable spaces. * Publishers Weekly *Just looking at Marianne's stunning photographs made me want to go outside and start re-thinking my plot....I defy any reader not to find a style they can feel comfortable with in this book, there are plenty of ideas which can be adopted, even for the most difficult location. * Reckless Gardener *

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Book SynopsisTo create a garden that gives pleasure throughout the year is the goal of every garden-maker. The greatest designers maintain that it is the garden in winter that sets the scene for the remainder of the year. Designing and Creating a Winter Garden takes the reader through the process of designing a new garden from scratch or re-working an existing garden, with winter as the key, formative season. The first part of the book deals with design considerations and ideas, including: assessing the site and its opportunities and constraints; designing the basic framework for winter; making use of low, winter light and using sparkling colour; pots, containers and statuary in the garden, and finally the maintenance of the garden in winter. The second part comprises a detailed catalogue of suggested plants and their uses, grouped into: evergreens; winter-flowering trees, shrubs and perennials, including those that are strongly scented; shrubs with coloured and textured bark and finally, uTrade ReviewSo I was very keen to see Sally’s new book and, after reading it, I can say that it’s delightful and will be of enormous use to both new and experienced gardeners. This book will be supremely useful to gardeners of all levels. I know it will always give me, and so many others, a feeling which Sally describes upon seeing the first bulb shoots in January: ‘simply joyous’. -- Rosemary FitzGerald, Hardy Plant Society Journal. * Hardy Plant Society Journal. *

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