Gardenista: the low-impact garden A sourcebook for sustainable outdoor spaces

The idea of designing ecoconscious outdoor spaces and prioritizing biodiversity in home gardens is relatively new, and the latest book from the Gardenista.com team is an excellent introduction to low-impact gardening for new and experienced gardeners alike. Covering everything from typical backyards to rooftops and small city spaces, the book provides in-depth tours of 12 gardens across the United States and the world, contesting the standard idea of a "garden." This gives the volume more of a coffee-table-book feel than a standard how-to guide, but it still includes all of the information readers need to create the eco-friendly garden of their dreams. Detailed guides, useful "Ask the Expert" pages, and 350 beautiful full-color photographs all provide inspiration and creative reasoning for eco-conscious solutions. By the end of the book, readers will no want longer want a standard manicured garden. Extensive resource lists are provided, including a "Gardenista 50" best-of equipment list that's perfect for helping newbies get started on their adventures. VERDICT This creative spin on the standard gardening guide is good for all public libraries.--Whitney Kramer