Country Gardening: Design Ideas and a Practical Guide

When I picked up and paged through this book I was moved by the beauty of the gardens. It is photograph heavy and a great source of inspiration for my gardening endeavors. I picked up this book because I'm on acreage and gardening in this setting is extremely challenging. By looking at how different designers and home gardeners approach the difficulties of gardening on a massive scale, I was able to adapt to my environment and overcome some serious hurdles. In landscape design it often behooves the gardener to avoid getting one-sies of everything--planting in threes and fives with only a few specimen plantings is a good way to at least the initial look of a small garden. I knew this and realized that I'd have to go bigger, but until I saw for myself how the plantings were set up I didn't realize that planting in groups of fives is the equivalent of a specimen planting on this scale and planting in groups of twenties or fifties is more the way to go. Thank you Costco for your huge packs of bulbs ... The book also addresses bringing the wilder country look into small gardens, but this didn't apply to me. I was glad to compare the scale from one size parcel to another. The book is thin on technical advice. It's more of a tour. Think Street of Dreams for the gardener. If you're a novice gardener then this will definitely not be the only book you'll need to set up a country garden. But there are many books for novice gardeners out there. There aren't many books like this, and I recommend it.

This is probably the most enjoyable gardening book I have ever read. Mr. James writes with such great personal charm and wit that you can't help but smile and laugh often. He writes as if he is having a cozy chat with you. Mr. Haralambou's photographs are simply beautiful. Even though parts of the book are written for beginners, and I'm an experienced gardener, my copy is studded with "post it" notes so I'll be able to easily turn back and find inspiration and wisdom all over again.

Picking up this book is like opening a door to the sun shining rainbows of color. It is almost possible to smell the flowers and feel the rustling of the hummingbird wings.A tremendous book to have on your coffee table. You'll love the mini-vacations you'll have when you open these pages.Superb pictures and very well written.