Big Gardens in Small Spaces: Out-Of-The-Box Advice for Boxed-In Gardeners

Whether you live in a tiny city apartment or have only a slender cement pathway outside your cottage door, //Big Gardens in Small Spaces// will help you fill your cramped quarters with plant life. You almost have to see the photos to believe it, but author Martyn Cox wields incredible creativity in his designs. In an otherwise dark, narrow stairwell, pots filled with vibrant flowers are bolted to the wall. On a stone wall, bright puffs of green ferns grow out between the cracks. In a cramped back yard, a forest appears through the use of hanging baskets and stacks of tightly-packed potted plants. Even rooftops become flush when covered with living plants. Not interested in flowers? What about vegetable gardens? Cox defies the odds. On a brick patio with no soil, he builds raised beds along the wall, filling them with dirt and vegetables. He trains fruit trees to grow along fence lines. He even plants potatoes in a large, plastic bag, which he can transport easily to the sunniest spots of the yard. Clever ideas abound in this compact guidebook. Best of all, Cox makes it possible for every urban dweller to experience the joys of gardening. Reviewed by: Amber K. Stott