tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post3244463161044634784..comments2024-01-19T10:47:36.411-08:00Comments on Roses and Other Gardening Joys: Garden Book Reviews September 2013HolleyGardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892421871044249940noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-19955129241696148442013-09-25T06:19:34.630-07:002013-09-25T06:19:34.630-07:00So glad you joined in! I hope you like the book. ...So glad you joined in! I hope you like the book. Like you, my favorite type of garden is structured, but with abundant, loose plantings. I agree that it makes the mess look intentional! :)HolleyGardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14892421871044249940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-40144043218438137282013-09-25T02:26:26.559-07:002013-09-25T02:26:26.559-07:00Hooray, I just managed to sneak in with a review! ...Hooray, I just managed to sneak in with a review! I've had the draft saved on my blog for a few days and thought I was going to run out of time :) As usual I want to read the book you've reviewed! I love formal layouts combined with casual planting, a little bit of structure definitely makes it all look more planned and less messy even when it is messy!Ruth @ Camellia Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17129384344777788376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-19300678257479798852013-09-24T06:40:22.300-07:002013-09-24T06:40:22.300-07:00I know what you mean about life becoming crazy. I...I know what you mean about life becoming crazy. It's hard to keep up with it all. I also agree with you on your last sentence - once a formal garden is established, it can be a pleasure for years, long outliving the gardener. Good luck on creating the garden of your dreams.HolleyGardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14892421871044249940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-73336356353503214922013-09-24T06:37:22.709-07:002013-09-24T06:37:22.709-07:00I love structure in gardens, too. And before read...I love structure in gardens, too. And before reading this book, I thought I had a fairly formal garden. But the gardens in this book are truly and completely formal - symmetrical and geometric. They are gorgeous, though.HolleyGardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14892421871044249940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-44090037830872194122013-09-24T05:05:50.876-07:002013-09-24T05:05:50.876-07:00I think it has been ages since I visited your blog...I think it has been ages since I visited your blog. Life is crazy -- shall I work, write my blog or visit other blogs -- just missing on my favorite hobby :-(. I love seeing both formal garden. Somehow either it should be formal garden or informal, wild, natural beauty place. I am trying to create that formal beauty in our garden now. Takes lots of time, money and energy though once established, KLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06737654325235566310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-89047443554476839312013-09-23T22:22:15.412-07:002013-09-23T22:22:15.412-07:00Your post made me wonder about the definition of f...Your post made me wonder about the definition of formal. For me it means a garden, not necessarily with rules, but with structure. Mine has structure and it makes gardening much easier.b-a-ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01565084697297328338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-4805271126958222392013-09-23T15:31:14.334-07:002013-09-23T15:31:14.334-07:00I do think formal gardens need much less maintenan...I do think formal gardens need much less maintenance than say, a herbaceous perennial garden. Even in my mixed border garden, I am constantly having to do some type of maintenance to it. The author states that formal gardens went out of style when a large variety of plants became easily available, and I think he is probably right about that. Although I love formal gardens, I do seem to want HolleyGardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14892421871044249940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-28716802526176121512013-09-23T15:27:22.739-07:002013-09-23T15:27:22.739-07:00I hope you enjoy it! :)I hope you enjoy it! :)HolleyGardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14892421871044249940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-63514378994604640982013-09-23T09:09:35.460-07:002013-09-23T09:09:35.460-07:00Hi Holley, that sounds like a great book. I love f...Hi Holley, that sounds like a great book. I love formal gardens, but always thought that they are very high maintenance. It is interesting that the author states it differently. Great very inspiring photos of the Annie duPont Garden!<br />Christinaorganicgardendreamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11122516730008378516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-28873096107286638132013-09-23T08:49:10.606-07:002013-09-23T08:49:10.606-07:00The widget has disappeared and I can't add my ...The widget has disappeared and I can't add my book. Here is the link:<br /><br />http://gardenseyeview.com/2013/09/23/gardeners-guide-to-frost/Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13420133886162844400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-50223797952851620712013-09-23T08:45:42.529-07:002013-09-23T08:45:42.529-07:00I love it! Thanks for the great review, Holley! ...I love it! Thanks for the great review, Holley! I'm looking forward to reading this one!Anastasia Abboudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09461842616822341008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-5928038520520666822013-09-23T07:05:33.341-07:002013-09-23T07:05:33.341-07:00I'll be thrilled to have you join in, Pam! I ...I'll be thrilled to have you join in, Pam! I am very interested in hearing which books you bought, and which ones you really liked!HolleyGardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14892421871044249940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-42515949677294011872013-09-23T07:03:11.177-07:002013-09-23T07:03:11.177-07:00I read The Laskett, and loved it. I didn't ev...I read The Laskett, and loved it. I didn't even realize I had another book by the same author until I pulled this book off the shelf to do this review. No wonder I liked the book so much!HolleyGardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14892421871044249940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-57258684414878386452013-09-23T07:01:24.236-07:002013-09-23T07:01:24.236-07:00Thanks for joining in, Donna! :)Thanks for joining in, Donna! :)HolleyGardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14892421871044249940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-55867059487065379852013-09-23T06:53:04.672-07:002013-09-23T06:53:04.672-07:00I like little touches of formality in gardens. I ...I like little touches of formality in gardens. I think structure compliments abundance and the chaos that can accompany gardens when they get a bit overgrown in the summers. HolleyGardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14892421871044249940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-31385835123861918102013-09-23T06:43:50.687-07:002013-09-23T06:43:50.687-07:00I do think that formal gardens take longer to matu...I do think that formal gardens take longer to mature. I can remember waiting for my boxwoods to finally grow together to form a hedge. I often wondered if they ever would! (They finally did, and I'm so glad I waited!)HolleyGardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14892421871044249940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-12696245628979126722013-09-22T15:04:13.446-07:002013-09-22T15:04:13.446-07:00Interesting perspective, Holley. Formal gardens ar...Interesting perspective, Holley. Formal gardens are not my first love, but I enjoy visiting them when I am in England. I bought several new gardening books this year and will join in your meme, if not this month, I'll start in October. P.xPam's English Gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01359787694149174369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-34798505777228993382013-09-22T05:27:41.074-07:002013-09-22T05:27:41.074-07:00Roy Strong...now there is a name I remember from a...Roy Strong...now there is a name I remember from a book called The Laskett. The growing of his garden was very interesting and would love to read more of his work. Gardens are not his first career or writing subject. I use to read a garden book a month but in recent years they just are not there.... not sure if I have become pickier or if publishers have decided they are not worth publishing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-80326174852582191072013-09-21T20:12:11.607-07:002013-09-21T20:12:11.607-07:00Sounds like a great resource for the formal touch....Sounds like a great resource for the formal touch...I will be joining in on Monday!Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13420133886162844400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-35031601344182010642013-09-21T19:49:49.331-07:002013-09-21T19:49:49.331-07:00I like to visit formal gardens, even though they&#...I like to visit formal gardens, even though they're not my style. This looks like a great book, though--offering suggestions for adding varying amounts of formality.Beth at PlantPostingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473637655960119672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-69437729636338817482013-09-21T15:53:02.785-07:002013-09-21T15:53:02.785-07:00This sounds like a very helpful, beautiful book. I...This sounds like a very helpful, beautiful book. I like that the author gives timeframes and how long to expect till maturity. While my garden is very natural, my arbor garden is my attempt at formality. (You may remember me calling it the Lady Garden) It seems like it is taking forever to meet my expectations! It is going into its fifth year, and maybe next year it will be worth looking at.debsgardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15656883577922890561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-13675076539193359372013-09-21T07:06:28.676-07:002013-09-21T07:06:28.676-07:00I don't know why formal gardens got the reputa...I don't know why formal gardens got the reputation for being maintenance heavy, as most formal gardens are evergreen heavy. And you're right - formal gardens don't easily "blend in", and I guess that's why there aren't many these days!HolleyGardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14892421871044249940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-84593598033502710802013-09-21T06:58:21.730-07:002013-09-21T06:58:21.730-07:00I think that was the entire point of a formal gard...I think that was the entire point of a formal garden. We "rule" over nature by putting in a garden, even an informal one, and a formal garden just emphasized that point because there are no straight lines in nature! HolleyGardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14892421871044249940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-64606839495989411872013-09-21T06:55:49.736-07:002013-09-21T06:55:49.736-07:00I, too, love looking at photos of formal gardens, ... I, too, love looking at photos of formal gardens, and dream of putting in a formal area somewhere. Maybe one day I'll actually do that! I have The Laskett and loved it even more than this book, I think. I hope your library gets it in. HolleyGardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14892421871044249940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7485248345006754419.post-34855519316254070322013-09-21T06:47:52.487-07:002013-09-21T06:47:52.487-07:00It never really occurred to me until I read your p...It never really occurred to me until I read your post, but I can see how a formal garden might actually be easier to maintain than an informal one. Most of the work is at the beginning - setting up the structure. Whereas with an informal one, there is constant work trying to keep it from degenerating into messiness. A formal garden would be totally wrong for my yard and neighborhood, but I Sarah/ Galloping Horse Gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01863804034201109102noreply@blogger.com