Balcony, Terrace and Patio Gardening (Gardener's Bookshelf)

The book, written by an elderly lady, is quite to the point and gives very practical advices. The photographs are not too glossy but give a good inpression what roof gardening is all about.

BALCONY, TERRACE AND PATIO GARDENING is a friendly little book filled with observations about the "change" in life, when one must, alas, abandon the larger garden and cultivate an appreciation of horticulture on a much smaller scale. Although Margaret Davis is writing from the perspective of one who has had much experience in larger areas and her target audience is the retired individual like herself who faces this prospect of downsizing, her discovery of the positive aspects of working in a reduced space such as a balcony or townhouse lot are relevant to younger folks who find themselves in similar circumstances with desire to grow favorite plants they knew as children. Ms Davis understands that some of the most difficult aspects of balcony gardening will probably be wind control, equipment storage, and perhaps, if you are located within the 10 feet or so near the ground, pests. However, if you are fortunate enough to have some sunlight you can grow a variety of sun-lovers such as roses and various herbs. Bougainvilla might work if the climate is warm enough and Camillas will thrive in shade. Hanging baskets are a must, and vegetables are not outside the realm of possibility. Ms Davis is thrilled with citrus trees, but I have only managed to kill them. She also says walls have great potential for trellises that can act as plant supports. The downside of this book is that it is not well illustrated. The text is dotted with very small black and white photos, and the publishers included a small section of color plates in the center of the book, but other than cryptic notes such as "window view" "Chrysanthemum bonsai in Tokyo" the pictures are not terribly well captioned. Some of them are beautiful, like the photo of the fuchia growing on a patio table. The best shot was placed on the cover and shows an actual composition. Buy this book for Ms Davis narrative which is friendly and unassuming.