Review by Choice Review
It is hard to find authoritative books dealing with landscape gardening topics, let alone ones that cover a single topic. King does an excellent job of filling a gap in any library collection of gardening materials. He focuses this book on the perennial garden. Perennials are non-woody plants that can live at least two years. They do play a very important role in any garden, from the backyard flower patch to the impressive estate or public space. Perennials, however, cannot be planted just anywhere and in any manner. The author provides excellent planning and design techniques, accompanied by luxurious photographs of how the end result should look. The second section of this book concentrates on the plants themselves. Suggestions are made for which ones to use for effects desired and which plants will thrive in various locations: shade, waterside, high traffic, etc. Again, King's own photos enhance his writing and inspire readers to get working. Another excellent offering by a well-known garden designer and author of garden design books for any library collection. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. General readers; lower-division undergraduates; professionals. A. Wirkkala New Hampshire Technical Institute
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Garden designer King (Gardening with Tulips) here discusses various design philosophies for creating beautiful gardens with perennials. He explores factors such as combining shapes and textures, employing rhyme and repetition, and outlining planting schemes. He walks readers through different kinds of formal and informal stylistic expressions, from the familiar (the minimalist approach, using a limited pallet of plants) to the new (the German ecological approach). His last section is an observance of each season in the garden with a small selection of key plants and ideas for creating themes by concentrating on specific plants and color combinations, with practical tips included. Throughout, sumptuous photos illustrate his ideas and suggestions. Overall, this is a good introduction for gardeners who are serious about following proper design rules but not for those looking for hands-on instructions or plant references. An optional purchase for public libraries.-Phillip Oliver, Univ. of North Alabama, Florence (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
