Landscape gardening Books

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Book SynopsisAn updated edition of the Rizzoli classic to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of this seminal American landscape designer. A landscape architect, city planner, and creative genius who transformed the American landscape, Frederick Law Olmsted was a man of passionate vision and drive. He defined the profession of landscape architecture and designed America’s most outstanding landscapes, many gorgeously illustrated here, including New York’s Central Park, Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, the U. S. Capitol grounds, and the Biltmore Estate. During a remarkable forty-year career that began in the mid-1800s, Olmsted created the first major urban parks and park systems in this country, along with widely influential suburban residential communities. He was a pivotal figure in the movement to create scenic reservations and national parks, such as Niagara Falls, Yosemite, and Yellowstone, and he contributed to the design of many academic campuses, includi

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Book SynopsisCreate the landscape of your dreams! This practical, easy-to-use guide covers everything you need to know to design a customized and dazzling landscape. Using a simple 12-step method, Janet Macunovich shows you how to assess your site, set a budget, choose plants, and make final adjustments before planting. With help from handy checklists, helpful illustrations, and creative techniques, Macunovich stresses the importance of considering future maintenance as you design a functional and elegant landscape you’ll enjoy for years to come.

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Book SynopsisFrom the dazzling orange leaves of Flame Grass to the feathery purple haze of Switch Grass, ornamental grasses can add a vibrant and colorful dimension to any garden. Nancy J. Ondra shows you how to use grasses on their own or in tandem with perennials, annuals, and shrubs to add visual interest and texture to your outdoor space. Insightful profiles of dozens of varieties of ornamental grasses enlivened by Saxon Holt’s stunning photography will inspire you to create your own dynamic, grass-filled gardens.

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Book SynopsisTurn your outdoor landscape into a rich, living canvas of color and texture. Encouraging experimentation, Stephanie Cohen and Nancy J. Ondra show you how to plan a garden that incorporates unique combinations of plants to achieve stunning effects. With an overview of garden design fundamentals and 20 sample garden plans, Cohen and Ondra will inspire you to play with creative juxtapositions of vibrant hues and subtle textures. Let your imagination run wild as you create your own unique and original garden designs.

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Book SynopsisTrees and shrubs can bring regal silhouettes, delightful shade, and spectacular foliage to any home landscape. With detailed profiles of hundreds of tree and shrub varieties that include information on availability, size, hardiness, and special characteristics, Penelope O’Sullivan shows you how to use these plants to add structure and texture to your outdoor space. Create a vibrant landscape full of springtime blossoms, summer shade and fruits, autumn foliage, and winter evergreens.

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Book SynopsisFrom nibbling on fruit bushes to destroying flower beds, unwanted deer pose a frustrating and challenging obstacle to even the most patient gardeners. Rhonda Massingham Hart provides insights into deer behavior and offers a variety of proven techniques to keep your deer problem under control. Learn how to choose the best fence types, landscape with plants deer detest, make effective homemade repellents, and much more. You’ll have all the information you need to maintain a pristine, deer-free landscape.

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Book SynopsisCreate a gorgeous lawn that is free of harsh chemicals. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know to grow and maintain a thriving lawn using organic gardening methods. With expert advice on planting the best grass varieties, nourishing the soil, watering, fighting weeds, and sustainable maintenance, Paul Tukey helps you create a luscious and inviting lawn that is pesticide-free and safe for your children and pets.

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Book SynopsisGround covers are a pretty and practical way to bring diversity, elegance, and durability to open sweeps of lawn. Give your landscape a vibrant new palette that is both sustainable and low-maintenance through plantings of herbs, shrubs, mosses, and more. Barbara W. Ellis provides a variety of full-color lawn designs and professional planting advice to get you started. You’ll be amazed as your ordinary lawn transforms into a striking display of color and texture.

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Book Synopsis“Delightful!” —The New York Times Book Review Discover a world of beauty and creativity! Chanticleer has been called the most romantic, imaginative, and exciting public garden in America. It is a place of pleasure and learning, relaxing yet filled with ideas to take home. And now those lessons are available for everyone in this stunning book! You’ll learn techniques specific to different conditions and plant palettes; how to use hardscape materials in a fresh way; and how to achieve the perfect union between plant and site. And Rob Cardillo’s exquisite photographs of exciting combinations will be sure to stimulate your own creativity. Whether you’re already under Chanticleer’s spell or have yet to visit, The Art of Gardening will enable you to bring the special magic that pervades this most artful of gardens into your own home landscape.

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Book SynopsisThis book presents a chronological review of garden design which both simplifies the big picture and supplies a rationale, with examples, of the merits and demerits of each design period while reflecting on the social conditions which generated each one. It gathers together design ideas and their implementation over the last 500 years, presented in historical order and simplified to allow easy digestion by the reader, particularly if meeting the subject for the first time. As such the book demystifies history and identifies the relative importance of new approaches in design, particularly where they are seen to be progressive. Essential examples from each design period or style are included, based upon their contribution to the progress of design and relating to their value, particularly in the teaching of garden and landscape design principles. Thus the reader will be able to quickly grasp the essence of historical design styles, discover where they can go to see them for themselves and to appreciate how relevant they are to present day theories of design.By concentrating on Britain's own heritage the book offers a sound understanding of influences and thereby helps to inform design practice. Since the principles of design are universal, it will be of relevance in many countries throughout the world. The book is illustrated with photographs, diagrams and plans, creating a readily-accessible and informative volume.Trade Review'Anyone looking around a park, a garden or an estate landscape, wondering how and why it came to be like it is, needs this book. ...such impressive detail and knowledge. ... There's a sense of being in the hands of a very competent no-nonsense teacher with his eye on the ball. It's so clear, informative and concise. ...this book is added value. It makes you think as well as look. An education, in fact.' Gloucestershire Gardens & Landscape Trust Newsletter 'Gordon Haynes identifies principal designers during the period, extant examples, and the principal components, before going on to discuss in detail the history and design, contextualising the features which define the stage using pictures and photographs where possible to illustrate his points.' ProLandscaper 'I am very impressed with this very comprehensive and ordered publication concentrating on our British landscape history. I particularly like the way it covers the specific architecture and landscape features of the period and relevant historical landscape, in a way that none of the other texts we currently have on our reading lists really cover. ...it also fills in many gaps with the less known therefore providing us with a detailed and comprehensive resource and account of our landscape history.' Senior Lecturer, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK '...a beautiful book that is ideal for touring the rich history of the British garden and landscape architecture... The book is of course also suitable as teaching material about history, with an extensive bibliography for further study. ...a pleasant book...' Blauwe Kamer '...will open eyes and minds and encourage designers and students alike to look deeper into the subject of garden history. ...it will give them an insight into garden history, this being extremely important'. Garden Design Journal '...Gordon Haynes... seeks to acquaint the reader with the relationship between good landscapes and examples drawn from history. ...this book is the ideal companion for travelers to Britain who enjoy touring famous country houses'. Chicago Botanic Garden '...an account (and an extraordinarily wide-ranging one) of garden styles in Britain from 1500 to the present day, but it is also a pithy critique of attempts, particularly in recent years, to categorise and conserve the best parks and gardens that survive from the parst. ... It is written with great good humour and in a relaxed, non-academic style. Although primarily appealing to readers who are relatively new to garden history or conservation, even the most jaded of experts will surely enjoy this fresh approach'. Historic Gardens Review 'It is refreshing to find a book on the history of landscape and garden design which focuses on British gardens. ... I enjoyed this romp through garden history, which clearly explains the differences between the various garden design periods without going into too much detail or theory. ...anyone with a curiosity or love of garden design in the UK would find this an admirable reference aid.' Dorset Garden Trust Newsletter

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Book SynopsisLandscape design isn't so much about rules that guarantee to create the 'perfect design every time', but rather it is a series of guidelines and suggestions that will help to save time and money, as well as generally reduce the frustrations that many design forms often lead to. This ia a title filled with such guidelines, some for the new home owner to help with the many 'first time garden' situations and pitfalls that tend to arise, as well as some for the more experienced home owner who is being challenged with alterations, changes in garden styles or themes or simply looking at old sites in a new light. Combine this with dozens of ideas, plant and hard landscape suggestions, as well as numerous beautiful photographs, which help foster imaginative yet personalised designs, it becomes a book that will help the informed, adventurous, beginner or even laid-back home owner to create beautiful and distinctive surroundings to their homes. Beautifully and simply set out, it takes the home owner through a series of logical yet important steps intended to make garden designing a joy rather than a mystery or frustration - dealing with such aspects as site analysis, plant functions and choices, hard landscape options, thoughts on garden revamping, as well as realistic scenarios for costing a project and pointers on where to find professional assistance if stuck with a problem. Aspects such as water-saving concepts, ways to encourage wild life, and thoughts on environmental or regional approaches to garden design are also included.

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Book SynopsisDividing the county of Hertfordshire into four broad regions—the “champion” countryside in the north, the Chiltern dip slope to the west, the fertile boulder clays of the east, and the unwelcoming London Clay in the south—this volume explains how, in the course of the middle ages, natural characteristics influenced the development of land use and settlement to create a range of distinctive landscapes. The great diversity of Hertfordshire’s landscapes makes it a particularly rewarding area of study. Variations in farming economies, in patterns of trade and communication, as well as in the extent of London’s influence, have all played a part during the course of the postmedieval centuries, and Hertfordshire’s continuing evolution is followed into the 21st century. Lavishly illustrated with maps and photographs, this authoritative work is invaluable reading for all those with an interest in the history, archaeology, and natural transformation of this fascinating county.Table of Contents1 A county in context 2 Hertfordshire's 'champion' landscapes 3 The landscape of east Hertfordshire 4 The landscape of west Hertfordshire 5 The landscape of south Hertfordshire 6 Woods, parks and pastures 7 Traditional buildings 8 Great houses and designed landscapes 9 Urban and industrial landscapes 10 Suburbs and New Towns, 1870 - 1970

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Book SynopsisTen gardens made in Italy by the most respected Italian garden architect: this is a book for lovers of greenery and the Italian landscape.The ten gardens brought together in this book — located in different regions of Italy, from the wetlands of Piedmont to the gentle hills of Tuscany, from the lush Riviera to the sunny coasts of the South — reflect the variety of the Italian territory and its extraordinary biodiversity.In his gardens, Paolo Pejrone tackles the task of designing greenery with great humility, placing himself at the service of nature and never vice versa. He respects the genius loci, plans seasonal blooms, prioritizes native plants, and studies exposure to sun and shade to minimize watering needs and make the most of the land''s resources. In full harmony with the rhythm of nature, Pejrone''s gardens are a manifesto of sobriety and sustainability.The book offers the opportunity to see places not open to the public, includin

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Book SynopsisAs urban life is reimagined for greater sustainability, resilience, and adaptation, Living with Yards explores the possibilities of how we can coexist with our urban habitats. By conducting in-depth visits to more than forty yards and sharing her results, Lang provokes us to think about what else these realms of daily life might become.Trade Review“Living with Yards is a smart, innovative approach to daily living with new possibilities for urban development.” Kathleen Stewart, University of Texas and author of Ordinary Affects“Living with Yards offers a considerable measure of realistic hope for a more sustainable shared future.” Peter Graham, Concordia University and author of Traces of (Un-) Sustainability: Towards a Materially Engaged Ecology of Mind

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Book SynopsisAs urban life is reimagined for greater sustainability, resilience, and adaptation, Living with Yards explores the possibilities of how we can coexist with our urban habitats. By conducting in-depth visits to more than forty yards and sharing her results, Lang provokes us to think about what else these realms of daily life might become.Trade Review“Living with Yards is a smart, innovative approach to daily living with new possibilities for urban development.” Kathleen Stewart, University of Texas and author of Ordinary Affects“Living with Yards offers a considerable measure of realistic hope for a more sustainable shared future.” Peter Graham, Concordia University and author of Traces of (Un-) Sustainability: Towards a Materially Engaged Ecology of Mind

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Book SynopsisA practical, hands-on guide for creating schoolyard gardens using native Southwestern plants, fully illustrated with photographs, drawings, and design plans.Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgments Introduction by Kim Duffek About This Book Making Outdoor Classrooms a Reality The Need for Wildlife Habitat and Native Gardens Bioregions of the Arid Southwest Chapter 1: Schoolyards The Schoolyard as an Outdoor Classroom Overview of Schoolyard Environments Introduction History of Playground Design with Applications for Contemporary Playground Design Nature and Play Adult Memories of Valued Play Places Implications for Design Learning and the Natural Outdoor Classroom Schoolyard Garden Types Art Gardens Cultural History Gardens Ecological Gardens Literacy Gardens Vegetable Gardens Chapter 2: Design Theory Introduction History of Garden Styles Prehistoric "Gardens" (20,000-3300 BC) Ancient Egyptian Gardens (3300-500 BC) Ancient Mesopotamian (3500-538 BC), Sumerian (3500-900 BC), Assyrian (900-625 BC), and Neo-Babylonian (611-538 BC) Gardens Ancient Persian Gardens (539-331 BC) Ancient Greek Gardens (700-136 BC) Ancient Roman Gardens (510 BC- AD 476) Ancient Chinese Gardens (1600 BC- AD 1279) Japanese Gardens (AD 575-1600) Medieval European Gardens (AD 476-1350) Islamic (Moorish) Gardens, Spain (AD 700s-1400s) Italian Renaissance Gardens (AD 1350-1765) French Grand-Style Gardens (AD 1495-1750) English Romantic Gardens (AD 1715-1840) Spanish Colonial Gardens (AD 1492-mid-1700s) Colonial and Early American Gardens (AD 1630-1840) American Romantic Gardens (AD 1830-1930) Victorian Gardens (AD 1820-1900) Classical Beaux-Arts Gardens (AD 1893-1930) Modern Gardens (AD 1930-late 1970s) Postmodern and Contemporary Gardens (AD mid-1970s-present) Design Fundamentals Design Principles Design Elements Chapter 3: Beginning the Design Process Introduction A Design Process for Planning Outdoor Classrooms, Wildlife Habitats, and Gardens Identify Participants Write a Design Program Conclusion Chapter 4: Site Research and Design Synthesis Review and Evaluate Previous Steps Site Research Site Selection Site Inventory Site Analysis Design Synthesis Conceptual Design Zones, Spaces, Design Features, and Spatial Sequencing Circulation Patterns Testing Design Concepts Preliminary Design Final Design Chapter 5: Design Essentials Introduction Project Funding Grants and Cash Donations In-kind Donations Organization of the Fund-raising Process Design Features Earthworks Ponds Plants Shade Structures Storage Areas Pathways Seating Walls Signs Maintenance Weeding Fertilization Pruning Bird Feeders and Bird Baths Accessibility Requirements Safety Project Evaluation and Revision Outdoor Classroom and Schoolyard Habitat Assessment Criteria Chapter 6: Ecological Principles and Wildlife by Kim Duffek Introduction to Wildlife Ecology Elements for Survival Food Resources Water Availability Providing Shelter Space to Survive Pollinator Gardens and Wild Visitors Introduction Hummingbird Gardens Butterfly Gardens Bee Gardens Moth Gardens Bat Gardens Fly Gardens Wildlife Gardens Completing the Web Pest Control Decomposition Unwanted Visitors Seeds for Thought Words of Inspiration Appendix: Regional Plant Tables by Kim Duffek References and Additional Reading

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Book SynopsisWood is one of the most common materials used in landscape design, whether in walls, fences, decks, pergolas, or other freestanding structures. This book provides essential information for those who design, specify, and install wood in landscape design, including thorough explanations of wood's properties and behavior when exposed to the elements.Table of ContentsACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix 1. INTRODUCTION 3 WOOD AS A BUILDING MATERIAL 3 HISTORY OF WOOD IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE 5 2. MATERIALS AND PROPERTIES 21 WOOD COMPOSITION 21 SIZING AND SURFACING 26 FINISHES AND COATINGS 32 WOOD PRESERVATIVE TREATMENTS 41 MECHANICAL FASTENERS AND CONNECTORS 44 WOOD CONNECTORS 50 ADHESIVES 54 3. CONSTRUCTION METHODOLOGIES 57 STRUCTURES 58 FENCES 64 GATES 86 RETAINING WALLS 93 FREESTANDING WALLS 97 DECKS 99 ARBORS AND PERGOLAS 127 FREESTANDING STRUCTURES: GAZEBOS, PAVILIONS, AND CABINS 135 BRIDGES 158 APPENDIX A ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS AND SUSTAINABLE METHODS OF WOOD PRODUCT PRODUCTION 173 APPENDIX B SPECIFICATION STANDARDS 185 APPENDIX C SAMPLE SECTION ORGANIZATION 187 APPENDIX D RELEVANT ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES 189 GLOSSARY 191 REFERENCES 197 INDEX 199

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Book SynopsisIntroduces techniques for preserving the natural land on which we build new homes, offices, or even shopping centers. This work stresses that the unnatural landscapes so common in America literally exist on artificial life support. It also discusses the importance of soils, and argues for the preservation and maintenance of natural habitats.Trade Review"For offering workable alternatives in nontechnical terms to ecologically minded home owners, contractors, and architects, the Wasowskis' book is highly recommended." - Library Journal"

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Book SynopsisAmong the most beloved sites at the Getty Center, the Central Garden has aroused intense interest from the moment artist Robert Irwin was awarded the commission. First published in 2002, 'Robert Irwin Getty Garden' is comprised of a series of discussions between noted author Lawrence Weschler and Irwin, providing a lively account of what Irwin has playfully termed "a sculpture in the form of a garden aspiring to be art." The text revolves around four garden walks: extended conversations in which the artist explains the critical choices he made - from plant materials to steel - in the creation of a living work of art that has helped to redefine what a modern garden can and should be. This updated edition features new photography of the Central Garden in a smaller, more accessible format.

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