the poetry in this book is amazing and beautiful. Particularly memorable is the half of the book made up of a series of poems written from a missionary to her fiance, each one dealing with a certain "topic". Beautiful writing from a young new poet who will be more recognized soon, I hope.

This book contains plans for making various outdoor items that can be made in two days, or less. It starts out with a description of the various hand- and power-tools that would be needed to build these projects, then wood and its selection is discussed, and finally techniques of construction are discussed. Each project includes a cutting list, list of tools and sundries (screws, etc.), an exploded diagram, detailed step-by-step instructions, and a number of beautiful color(!) photos.

According to the introduction, the simplest projects are a bird table (a freestanding birdfeeder), an obelisk (a sort of three-dimensional trellis), trellises, and a trough with trellis (a trellis and box combination). The next category of projects includes an archway, box table, coldframe (sort of a mini-greenhouse for seedlings), garden bench, garden bridge, plant stand, potting bench, tool caddy, and Versailles tub (an open-topped box). The third category includes a box bench, box chair, and etagere (a sort of ornate plant-stand). And finally, the most difficult projects are a lounger, obelisk for the Versailles tub (it's more symmetrical than the other obelisk), and a tool store (a mini-shed).

These projects are absolutely wonderful! This book is good for both beginning woodworkers, and those of more medium ability. I have already made a trough and trellis, and look forward to making other things. This book is bright, with lots of color pictures, and of a very high quality. I highly recommend it!

I recently became very interested in growing my own plants from seeds(ordered online) and also trying to propagate some others from cuttings.

The only problem is that things are not so easy as they seem, and my first attempts were a failure.

This way, this book has helped me a lot, because it is aimed at the beginner. Like, how could I know that I had to keep some seeds in the refrigerator for some months before they could germinate? :)

The book also has step-by-step pictures about how to mix a good soil, how to make a decent cutting, using rooting hormone, etc...

It is a pretty basic book, but its information is so valuable that I find myself constantly reaching for it. Of course there must be better books with more precise information, but this book certainly got me started and I'm sure it's all the reference a beginner needs to start growing his own seeds ot trying to propagate his own plants.

It's clearly written, it's short and the most important aspect is that it has step-by-step pictures in every single chapter.

Surely it is a lot easier now to make my cuttings successful, since all I had to do was trying to repeat all the basic steps described and PICTURED in the book.

I believe this is the right book for someone who is willing to start growing or propagating his own plants and doesn't want to read an entire encyclopedia about plants.

I know it doesn't seem to be very promising, since it's such a short and small book, but I'm sure it will get you started and with good results.

It packs plenty of valuable info, it's clearly written and it has plenty of instructive color pictures. And it's very well priced too. I am glad I have my copy.

This is Corless-Smith's (not Corliss-Smith's) best long poem--oh honey! dim yr lights, we are scooting into Eden.

Spectacular Books made a pretty thing, too.

The authors blend together a very inspired combination of modern crafting techniques and garden beauty. All of the projects display 'class' and use high quality materials, not a country looking craft in sight in this book. One of my pet peeves with many craft books is the tendency to try and use stuff from around the house (like tin cans or off looking fabric scraps). To me these things just end up looking like cheap stuff put together with a glue gun. If I'm going to invest my time in crafting I want it to look pleasing and delicate to the eye when finished. I want people to say 'where did you find that!' instead of 'oh, it looks like you've been busy'.

My favorites were seed cards, woven lavender candle cuffs and a whole section entitle 'Garden Spa' with very clever ideas including herbal blend bath teas, a sage bolster and a petal potpourri tea-light holder.

The authors have a delicate touch. A perfect match for incorporating the simple beauty of the garden into handmade items.

Smarts,humor, a great guide to learning how to garden and while keeping a smile on your face!

I bought this book several years ago and placed it on a shelf. What a mistake! Out of all my garden reference books, this is the one I now go to first. It is laid out very well. Each plant has a description of foliage, stem, flowers, fruit. Then hardiness, soil req., pruning, sun/shade, Problems, propagation. There are varities of interest and "stick drawings" of the eventual shape along with sizing at 5, 10 & 20 years. There are LOTS of great photos. There is even a great reference section in the back on selecting plants. The only negative is the book doesn't have conifers. I hope the author writes more books!

Allen Lacy says the "gardener's eye" is comparable to a "gift of what Christians call grace--a gift that comes from outside, that is apart from one's own intentions." The gardener's eye is an artistic vision, an aesthetic experience, a recognition of beauty.

Sometimes art is created by humans, mostly it comes from nature. He begins his book in winter, writing at the desk in his study. Looking out the window he notes "even in winter there is always something to see." Birds are about and the paulawnia bark is grey and stained green from the algae growing on the trunk. He can see the color and texture of the blackish bark on the White pine.

In the next chapter, he remarks on the beauty of thistles, the bane of farmers and the emblem of Scotland. He says the Scottish thistle is impossible to ignore with it's outsized stem and leaves and it's ability to inflict pain. "My love affair with thistles has been going on for years. So have the visits from stangers who stop in the driveway and ask fo a closer look at these giants of the summer garden."

A few miles away from Lacy's home is a garden filled with tall bearded Irises (German Irises). Named for the Greek Goddess of the rainbow, the irises are many hued. The hybridzers have done their job and created a palette of every color. At the appropriate moment every year he drives to the neighbor's garden to see the Irises in bloom.

Page after page Lacy moves futher afield, past a cotton patch near Durham NC, to Middleton Place in South Carolina where the garden established in 1741 has become a point of horticultural pilgrimage for Americans and visitors overseas alike. Vita Sackville-West, she who built Sissinghurst, once traveled to this spot. "Stand I indeed in England? Do I dream?" she is reputed to have said.

Lacy notes the Arends nursery in Germany, now run by his granddaughter Ursula Maubach is the source of the wonderful Astilbes found in many American gardens. There's A. taquettii 'Superba' with it's "tight, dense spikes" as well as pink 'Cattleya' and plumey 'Ostrich Feather.' Some of the Astilbes are fragrant, smelling like Jasmine.

Lacy notes that every wise gardner should attend to Ms. Elizabeth Lawrence's works. Ms Lawrence gardened in Charlotte and Raleigh North Carolina, and was a trained horticulturist. Lacy himself has edited some of her material. He likens her writing to Henry David Toreau, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Lafcadio Hearn, Sarah Orne Jewett and Eudora Welty--another southerner and a friend.

Lacy visits many places and at the end of his book returns to his study, where the autumn leaves are falling, the new school semester is beginning (he taught philosophy at Richard Stockton College for years), and his travels are over for the summer.

I recently purchased this book because it was so well organized, and it has over 1,000 nice color photos of the plants. You can quickly select a plant based on color, size, and what part of the season it will bloom. It will also advise you on hardiness, and whether it needs sun or shade. Since I will be landscaping almost 1/3 of an acre this year, it helps take the guesswork about placement of plants when trying to create a layered effect of texture and colors. I have been recommending it to all of my friends! I'd give it more than 5 stars if I could. Enjoy! :)

This book divides plants and shrubs into hieghts and seasons and then allows the reader to flip parts of the pages to mix and match by virtue of the pages being quartered. You can flip page sections to arrive at the perfect verticle combo, like those children's books that allow you to put an alligator head on top of a mouse body with duck's feet because the pages are divided. It's the easiest, most fun, comprehensive book on gardening I own - and I've got tons of 'em. This is a must own for anyone planning a garden, or who wants a quick plant reference with all of the most important information you need at your fingertips. each 1/4 page has the size, seasonality, care, good illustration, flash symbols, region, latin name, and brief review of the plant.