Thursday, April 19, 2012

April 2012 Garden Book Reviews

It's the 20th of the month - and I'm going to tell you what I've been doing out in my garden!

I've been tweaking.  That's right.  I've been taking a good, hard look at my garden.  Not only did I cull out a few plants that had consistently poor performance, I've also been moving plants around.

And it's all because of a book.  That's right!  It's Garden Book Review time, and of course, you're invited to join in.


The book I've been reading is Color Your Garden by Jill Billington.  I found this book at a discount store, and although it was marked down considerably, I almost didn't buy it.  But what convinced me to purchase it was on the bottom of the cover: 'The Royal Horticultural Society'.  Surely they were experts!

So, I began to read.  And I began to look at my garden with a critical eye.

This book starts out explaining hue, value, and tone.  It then continues with an explanation of the mood colors evoke, and color as a design element.  The subjects of repetition, rhythm and movement, neutrals, graduation in color, graduation in tone, one-colored gardens, white gardens, red gardens, and pastels are all covered, giving specific plant suggestions for every color.  Light and shade are covered, as well as examples for small gardens as well as large ones.


I've never like the orange blanketflower here,
and adding the red carnations just made it worse.

Most of these are concepts I've read about before, but this book gives so many examples and suggestions, that I had to get up and go out in the garden.  Her suggestions made me realize that my garden needed more harmony, and bit less contrast.  Yours may need the opposite, and she tells you how to achieve it.

Changing out just a few plantings
made a big difference in making this area seem calmer.

This book propelled me to make changes to my garden.  What better recommendation could there be than action?  Do you need this book?  Maybe.  It would be of great benefit to anyone putting in a monochromatic colored garden.  It might be helpful if you are timid about color, using so-called "color rules", but would like to venture out into color more and give your garden a little pizzazz.  Or if you're like me, and use perhaps a bit too much color, it might help you see where the clashes are working and where they're being distracting.

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Now it's your turn!  You know the rules:

1) Any book about gardening, gardens, or has a garden influence in it is fine, except:
2) No links/reviews about growing substances that are illegal in the United States.  (I know I don't have to worry about my blogging buddies, but I thought I needed to clarify in case someone new tries slipping one in!)

Please be sure to read the other participant's reviews, too!

As a reminder, many of you may additionally be linking to The Sage Butterfly's annual Earth Day Reading Project.   However, if you prefer to link separately, her meme will be open through the end of the month, while this one closes in a few days.

Happy reading!





49 comments:

  1. I find it so satisfying when I finally get feed up and move something, which boths makes the area look better and often can improve the plant (elsewhere!).

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    1. It really is satisfying. I have been looking at a few more things to move - just need a little more courage! But it would help the area a lot, I think.

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  2. I like to find and read about gardening books and I can tell this one gave you ideas for harmonious color in your garden. It is fun to play in our gardens, isn't it?

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    1. This book had tons of ideas and suggestions, and solutions, too. I knew there were too many clashing colors there, but her suggestion of putting a grey colored plant in those areas made me quickly get up and steal some stachys from one area and put here. It looks a lot better.

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  3. Looks like a great book, Holley. By reading and learning, we can learn so much more than we already know. I love seeing what other people do in their gardens... SO interesting!!!

    Have a great weekend.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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    1. I do read a lot to learn. I generally find something in every book, and hopefully my garden will only get better. :)

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  4. It's like an art book. I used to tell my little art students..there are no mistakes in art

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    1. You would love this book. The author is an artist, and all the way through the book there are plantings painted in abstract art, showing the main color and design, and not the many details that we sometimes see instead of the whole picture. Gives an entirely different perspective.

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  5. It's always nice when you find a book that becomes a great influence on what you do in the garden. And it's these sort of books that you'll find you'll get back to over and over again in time. Treasure! :)

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    1. I do think I'll reference this book a lot, or at least read it over and over. I think there is a lot in there that I would need to read several times to get in my brain. I like books that make me think!

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  6. Hello Holley. I really like your book meme. I wish I had time to read all those interesting books. I also reviewed a book by the Royal Horticultural Society. I believe everything they say :)

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    1. There are a lot of books on my 'to read' list now, too. If I see another book with the Royal Horticultural Society name on it again, I will not hesitate a second in picking it up!

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  7. Your garden is quite colorful with all those beautiful roses. Garden books on color are always helpful and a joy to read and peruse.

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    1. I don't think I have ever read a book just on color in the garden before. I've read lots of books that have touched on it, but I didn't realize how much there was to say on the subject - and to learn!

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  8. "I've been tweaking" lol I love it! One of my most favoirte words!

    I'm going to have to check out this book, it sounds great :-)

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    1. I hope you find the book as interesting as I have. I often wish plants were like furniture - "move it over here, no - move it in this corner, no - move it just a few inches this way, yes, that's it - finally!" :)

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  9. A book on one topic sounds like such a great idea, almost no matter what the topic is. I find myself getting overwhelmed, trying to focus on color and texture and foliage and height and bloom season and attracting beneficials and so on and so on. This is my year to think mostly about texture and foliage, but I can already tell that I'll be regretting some color choices soon... I really appreciate how you list the books you've reviewed in a separate page so they can be found again later--this book sounds like one I'll want to track down once t-&-f year is over!

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    1. Maybe you've got a good plan there - just focus on one aspect at a time! As for the separate page - I was hoping it would help everyone. I knew it would help me, as there are several books I don't want to forget to read!

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  10. I finally got my act together and am participating for the first time! I have even organized a book giveaway.

    Your book sounds like a wonderful recommendation, Holley. I am always up for reading something about color! The only thing I disagree with is that your garden needs to be changed. Maybe I might have axed the blanket flower too, but other than that, I think your garden is pretty darn perfect just the way it is!

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    1. So glad you joined in - and a giveaway sounds wonderful! As for my book review - I knew color was important, of course, but didn't realize how much there was to learn about this subject!

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  11. When I first design a garden bed, I usually have some plants in mind. Sometimes there is a lot of color, sometimes not. This sounds like a very helpful book to help in developing a colorful garden. I look forward to tweaking my garden with this great tool. And thank you for the mention of The Earth Day Reading Project.

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    1. This really is a great book for color. It has helped me to correct some of my problem areas, but it would be even better if I had started with this book before putting the plants in! I hope you find it helpful, too.

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  12. Sounds like a great book! I love books with lots of examples, so I can really get a feel for what they are talking about in the garden. I try to at least put non-clashing colors together, but I know there is a whole other level up there with repetition and graduating shades and playing with more nuance.
    Thanks for hosting!

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    1. I believe this book would be beneficial to anyone. It has color paintings, so if you're visual, you'll learn from that, it has specific plant name, so if you design with specific plants, you can learn from that, and it has explanations and solutions for just about anything that has to do with color. The sections on monochromatic gardens is excellent, and I love that she talks about repetition using color, not necessarily the same plant. It also talks about when you want something to clash! I think you'll look at your garden differently after reading this book - at least, I did!

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  13. Hi Holley,
    Thanks for hosting! Do you think we'll ever run out of garden books? LOL Seems like there are more than we can imagine out there. And thanks to your MEME, we'll get another round of great books for the month of April. Your two garden shots... before and after photos are stunning! I didn't even recognize the two as being the same shot! That's a nice book if it can yield results with such a small change in planting schemes.
    Can't wait to see what else you're working on.
    My book is filled with the homespun goodness of garden writers Steve Bender and Felder Rushing as they conjure up stories about Passalong Plants. Enjoy!
    David/:0) Tropical Texana.

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    1. This has made me wish I had more reading time for all the wonderful books I've now been introduced to! I never knew there were so many wonderful gardening books, and I would have never known of most of them without hearing from other gardeners here. As for my garden photos, I only wish the roses had still been in full bloom when I took the second picture. But it was immediately satisfying to get those clashing colors out. They had been bothering me for a couple of years, but didn't really know what to do about it, so when I read in the book to add grey plants, I got up right then and moved things around! I think it looks 100% better now. Thanks for joining in - I love hearing about more garden books to read!

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  14. My garden could certainly use some harmony! I like your idea of adding gray plants to help with the color clashes. I may need a lot of gray! Thank you for hosting the Garden Book Review. I'm looking forward to seeing what others are reading!

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    1. I'm think I may need a lot more grey, too! :) I have never been afraid of color, but there are areas that have too much going on. The great thing is that now I know where I need things to clash! Thanks for joining in!

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  15. Somehow I always put off moving or removing non-performing plants but once I finally do it there is an incredible sense of satisfaction.

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    1. And the satisfaction is immediate! That's the best part - it's a wonderful sense of empowerment!

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  16. Another book to add to my nightstand. Thank you for the recommendation.

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    1. My book stack is growing taller - but instead of cutting down, I'm just trying to read faster now! :)

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  17. Hi Holley,
    I think I might have read that book awhile ago,thanks for the refresher.
    Color is a funny thing to get "right".
    Good thing for the saying "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" with my garden!

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    1. Beauty, and especially color beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. I think that's why the blanketflower never worked for me - it just wasn't right in my mind'e eye, even though I can't say why!

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  18. I'm always looking for another great garden book--this one definitely sounds worth reading. I always start a new garden area with a color scheme in mind, but after a year or two it gets abandoned and I have a crazy quilt of colors:)

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    1. I always end up with a crazy quilt of colors, too. Which I don't mind. I just wanted to know what to do with those areas that screamed at me every time I walked by! :)

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  19. I'm always looking for another great garden book--this one definitely sounds worth reading. I always start a new garden area with a color scheme in mind, but after a year or two it gets abandoned and I have a crazy quilt of colors:)

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  20. As usual I want to read the book you've reviewed! I'll add it to my library list :) I've joined in this month, with another flower arranging book.
    Ruth

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    1. Now that the roses are beginning to bloom, I'm going to start bringing more in to enjoy in the house. I will need to figure out how to arrange them! Thanks for joining in.

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  21. I really liked the bed before you moved things, but I see what you mean - it does look somehow look a lot more beautiful afterwards.

    I am pretty sure I'm not the first one to review my choice this month, but I hope my "newbie" perspective makes it a useful review for someone out there :)

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    1. What you can't see in the pictures is the pink rose placed behind the blanketflower. I really think that's why those never worked for me. And now, I'm hoping, the pink won't look like it's out of place. Not sure anyone's reviewed that book yet, but even if they have, I think multiple reviews on a book is great - it gives a different perspective and opinion, so I'm glad you joined in with it!

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  22. I'm looking out my window just now and see so many tulips that need to be moved after flowering........I'm always tweaking flowerbeds but there's always room for improvement. My favourite book on colour in the garden is by Christopher Lloyd though I've never written a book review in my life despite having shelves of gardening ones here.

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    1. Always room for improvement - so true! Especially since sometimes we don't see the bloom until after we have planted something. I just ordered several books by Christopher Lloyd, but I'm not sure I got the one on color. I'll have to get it, too, if I didn't. Since you love gardening books, I'd love for you to join in with a review some time. I think there are a lot of us looking for good gardening books to read.

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  23. You definitely made an improvement in that garden view. Sometimes it's hard to be subjective, but you know somethings not right. Right? I suppose it can be in the eye of the beholder, but I usually know whether somethings right from my eye or not.

    It's especially hard after reading a plant catalog. lol.

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    1. Thanks for saying that my changes made an improvement. It's sometimes hard to see in a picture. You're exactly right about us instinctively knowing if something's not quite right - I knew something was wrong there the second those blanketflowers bloomed. I just wasn't sure what to do about it.

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  24. Great book Holley...I need a bit more harmony and will check it out...linked in finally...

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    1. I hope you are feeling better. It really is a good book on color. And I didn't even realize I needed it so badly! :)

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  25. I missed your meme date, Holley, but entered at Sage Butterfly, and linked to your blog on my posting. Love your April choice. I need to do some serious tweaking. P. x

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    1. Pam, sorry you missed the deadline. I'll still include your book on my conglomerated list. :)

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