Bloom's Best Perennials and Grasses: Book Review for Bookpleasures.com

Bloom’s Best Perennials and Grasses, Adrian Bloom, Timber Press

At last, a book for gardeners who are overwhelmed by the huge size of iconic estates, when they study them for design inspiration. Adrian Bloom understands the predicament; he is a reliable mentor for the do-it-yourself gardener. In this book, he acknowledges that it is impossible to scale down an estate garden to fit a suburban plot or to copy a prairie, meadow, or wildflower garden in a small garden space. Instead, Mr. Bloom advises readers to use the famous gardens only as a source of learning for plant use and combinations. His publication contains a wealth of illustrations that demonstrate how one can create lush gardens of any size while using a select, pre-determined group of perennials and grasses.

The author’ premise is that gardeners should work only with reliable plants. One is grateful to Mr. Bloom for sifting through over 8,000 species and cultivars of perennials and ornamental grasses to create a collection of 400 plants, which he then distills down into 12 essential ones. All recommended plants have proven to be timeless, best performing, and reliable in both the UK and the USA.

The reader is also encouraged to include woody plants and shrubs into landscapes, to enhance the garden with year round visual interest. According to the author, these plants are critical to the success of a garden, because they supply continuity, formality, focal points, and backgrounds; they balance out the seasonal transformations that perennials and grasses display.

To say that this book is lavishly illustrated is to beat an old metaphor to death; but that is exactly what the author has done. Image after image of successful, easy to copy, plant compositions fill each page. By including images of plant combinations in realistic settings, and by giving us not one but two and sometimes three garden designs to a page, the author has created a publication that one might call a page turner, because each image is more inspiring than the one that precedes it.

The book divides conveniently into six segments: five chapters plus an in-depth directory of plants that surpasses the combined previous five chapters in size. The first chapter illustrates the author’s main theme that plants need shrubs to enhance them. Chapter 2 is a pictorial essay on how a combination of both perennials and grasses enhance gardens. Because the choice of plants can be overwhelming, in Chapter 3 the author narrows down the vast number of plants to twelve. Chapter 4 deals with the history, origin, and growing conditions of plants because the author believes that understanding what a plant needs is essential to achieving success. Chapter 5 discusses the systematic process to follow in creating and maintaining a garden. Finally, the book ends with a plant directory that is a cornucopia of information about four hundred reliable plants, a feature that happens to be this reviewer’s favorite section. The photos are beautiful and inspiring, the information is clear and interesting, and the advice is timeless.

Adrian Bloom has accumulated over a half century of experience as a nurseryman and hands-on gardener. He is past owner of the world-renowned Blooms of Bressingham nursery in the UK, and appeared on the television program BBC Gardening World. He is also the recipient of the Victorian Medal of Honor from The Royal Horticultural Society. In America, Mr. Bloom appeared on the PBS television program The Victory Garden and received a Medal of Honor from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.

The author belongs to a new generation of horticulturalists who have embraced a style of modernity in the garden that is neither cold nor minimalist. All of the images that Mr. Bloom has collected for this publication have a lush meadow spirit where ornamental grasses are abundant among the perennials. What sets these gardens apart, from traditional romantic ones, is the luminosity captured in the grass plumes, the rich, bold, and earthy colors of the flowers, and the sensuous textures of the foliage. Readers, who are looking for design elements that are both contemporary and warm, will be inspired by the forward-looking garden ideas in this book. The plants suggested may be traditional but the gardens are not.

A Conservatory Garden Can Be a Paradise Under Glass: Book Review for Bookpleasures.com

Paradise Under Glass: An  Amateur Creates a Conservatory Garden  Ruth Kassinger, Harper Collins 

The publisher would have us believe that this book is a history of growing plants in glass houses. It is far more than that. This is a chronicle of one person’s wade into unknown waters and returning strengthened by the experience. Richly detailed anecdotes, drawn from the world of botany, history, science, and backed by a bibliography of over 90 publications, are spun into fascinating tales that create a background to a story of personal triumph. For in the end, this book, ostensibly about botany and horticulture, is really a story about loss and letting go, about nurturing and rebirth, and about love and serenity.

The story begins at a low point in the author’s personal life, when a convergence of events ignites the author’s desire for a conservatory of her own.  Her children are away at college, a sister has recently died of a brain tumor, and the author herself has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. A walk through Washington D.C. on a cold winter evening brings her to the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory where she is dazzled by the jungle of greenery. It was ironic that she should choose to grow plants indoors, as an affirmation of life; up until then, she had been unable to care for even one houseplant. This publication, therefore, is the chronicle of the author’s personal growth from a low ebb in her life to the crest of a new found passion for horticulture.

Through a talent for story telling, the author takes us on a journey  through  the historical evolution of residential greenhouses, the sea voyages and adventures of 18^th and 19^th century plant collectors, and the history of the development of Botanic scholarship. Readers will learn how to shop for and populate a conservatory, about the history of the toxic pesticide industry, and how installing a swimming pool in a home conservatory changes the dynamics of family life.

Furthermore, one is taught about the evolution of the plant breeding business, how to grow food on walls in order to save precious land, and why we should look forward to algae providing us with inexpensive energy for our power plants, cars, and planes. Moreover, readers will learn, in a most touching way, that for each of us there is a defining moment when paradise on earth is revealed, in most unlikely places.

One will discover that this is more than just a chronicle of the history of conservatories, greenhouses, hot houses, winter gardens, and solariums. Be prepared to be enchanted by stories of travel, adventure, and rebirth. It is the sign of a great author who can take several seemingly unrelated topics and synergize them into a subject of substance. I have just finished reading an intricately woven tapestry.

Designer Plant Combinations: Book Review for Bookpleasures.com

Designer Plant Combinations: 105 stunning gardens using six plants or fewer, Scott Calhoun,                      Storey Publishing

There is a new language of garden design, and it is decidedly American. Appropriately named the New American Garden, it takes its inspiration from the recently introduced meadow gardens, the warm climate and flora of Southwestern USA, as well as a casual garden style that seeks to embrace the informality of nature. The New American Garden style is an alternative to traditional design. It is more relaxed, requires no deadheading or pesticides, and uses tough perennials such as Perovskia and Echinacea as well as ornamental grasses. 

The author makes it very clear that some old rules about gardens design no longer apply. We now allow ourselves greater freedom to combine plants in original and creative ways. Contemporary designers and horticulturalists have deconstructed the rigidity associated with traditional color groupings and borders. Greater value is given to texture and shape more than flowers and colors. Native plants are included in the designs and perennials are mixed with trees, shrubs, annuals, accent plants and grasses. 

It is apparent that when the author decided to introduce this topic to his readers, it was not his intention to design gardens, photograph them, and add some explanatory text. Instead, he consulted the best and the brightest in American horticulture and design, including the talented Dutch designer Piet Oudolf whose work represents a successful pushing of the boundaries of contemporary gardening.

The book focuses on innovative ensembles, created by these prominent designers, using a maximum of 6 plants. The author and his colleagues believe that by limiting plants to no more than this number, one can create bolder, more cohesive, designs. The resulting plant combinations are not intended to be self-contained gardens, only portions of them. By breaking up a landscape into segments, readers will find it easier to start using plants in innovative ways.

Another interesting development of the New American Garden has been the relaxed attitude towards perennial maintenance, recognizing seed heads for their beauty, form, and foraging value. Furthermore, the monotony of the flowerbeds may be broken up by planting in graduated heights by placing some tall plants at the front of the border. Contemporary designers encourage gardeners to include globe shaped plants such as Verbena bonariensis or Allium Christophii, tomentose plants whose little hairs seem to illuminate them, and neon-colored perennials such as Papaver  Turkenlouis. When bold colored perennials are part of the plan, the gardener is encouraged to paint background walls in bright colors to balance out the bold. This is the only aspect of the new philosophy that did not sit well with this reviewer.

The liberal use of ornamental grasses results in softening the usual stiff or formal plantings by adding movement and dynamism. This contributes a sense of wildness and feelings of spontaneity. Annuals are recommended to add color and excitement; they enliven, brighten, and fill in empty spaces. Bold sculptural plants such as Yucca and Agave are recommended for drama. 

The author and his colleagues also believe that diverse groundcovers are more interesting than lawns and that attractive patterns may be created when different groundcovers are mixed together. For an effective multicolor groundcover treatment in warmer gardening zones, the author suggests using red-yellow Gaillardia pulchella combined with blue Scenecio vitalis. Newer cultivars of colored Heuchera are effective groundcovers as well as they combine effectively with light green Persicaria Virginia Lance Corporal.

The new phiolosophy also encourages the planting of woodland gardens that include trees and shrubs as they provide  the largest benefits with the lowest maintenance. Today, it is possible to find dwarf trees and shrubs that have been bred for the shrinking American garden. These smaller plants combine quite successfully with interesting perennials as the structure of their foliage provides a backdrop for other plants. 

Readers who expect illustrated garden books to be breathtaking and awesome will not be disappointed. Mr. Calhoun has searched wide and far to include only the most eye-catching combinations in this book. The graphic design of this publication is also commendable as the layout of image, text, and detailed background information is incomparable. The reader will be impressed. For those that still believe that landscapes need to be designed in the antique manner of the English, this publication will be a revelation when they see how the Revolution of 1776 has finally trickled down to the gardens of North America. 

The Gardens of Japan: Book Review for Bookpleasures.com

The Gardens of Japan by Helena Attlee with photographs by Alex Ramsay, Frances Lincoln 

Japanese gardens belong to a tradition of artistic landscaping that began over a thousand years ago. Readers with only a vague idea about this subject will be surprised by the mesmerizing images that await them; the serene gardens visited in this publication are both spiritual and beautiful beyond words. 

Hosen-in, temple garden, 14th century.

The Gardens of Japan is a guided tour through 28 historic landscapes, each one a living work of art.  While the background information is comprehensive, it is an easy topic to grasp. This is due to the masterful way in which the author, Helene Attlee, has classified the evolution of the Japanese garden into 5 historic eras. For each period, she explains how the ancient designers created gardens, the function of the garden for its time, and how the designers intended it to be appreciated by visitors.

Japan’s garden history begins in the Hein era, from the 8^th to the 12th century. In this period, parks were rererred to as pond-spring-boat-gardens. Water played a key role in the design because landscape was admired from a pleasure boat.

The second era, called Pure Land, spanned the 11th century. Records dating back to this period include manuals for designing gardens that begin with instructions on how to select a beautifully shaped rock.

Ryoan-ji , Zen garden 15th century.

Kare-sansui gardens of the third era span the 12^th to the 14^th century. This period accompanied the growth of Zen Buddhism, which influenced the physical appearance of gardens. Essentially, they were austere and monochromatic compositions depicting abstract versions of natural landscapes. Rock and stone were the primary elements used in designs where meticulously raked gravel symbolized water.

Ginkaku-ji, Zen garden, 15th century

Unlike gardens of other eras, where visitors admired nature by moving from one scene to another, Zen gardens were contemplated from a stationary position.

During the 16^th to 17^th century, the fourth era saw the introduction of Momoyama or the Tea Ceremony Garden. Here the visitor would stroll through an idealized landscape before arriving at a building used for the ceremony. The garden included a twisted path to a tea house, flanked with naturalistically planted evergreen foliage. Within the path, stepping-stones, placed at specific intervals, controlled the pace of the visitor’s movements. The garden contained groves of pruned trees, artificial rolling hills, and elaborate rock arrangements. From inside the tea house, there was always a framed view to the outdoors that recreated a famous landscape.

The fifth era, the Meiji period, extended from the 19^th to the 20th century, when designers incorporated western influences into their gardens. A wide range of foreign plants began to appear, as did the rolling manicured lawns of the English. During this time, many private gardens, belonging to Japanese aristocracy, were converted into public parks.

The author deftly separates the tour of the gardens into 28 chapters so that the reader can study and appreciate one garden at a time. Each chapter explains the historical context in which a garden was created, and is illustrated with superb photographs. There are more than 130 stunning color images in this publication.

Hosen-in, temple garden, 14th century.

Of special interest to this reviewer are two ancient gardens that resonate with a modern architectural idiom. The first, Hosen-In was built as a temple garden about 700 years ago. Its design allows the visitor to admire the garden from inside the temple. The “windows” of the temple are floor to ceiling rectangular openings, reminiscent of picture windows introduced by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 20^th century. The second garden is the Katsura–Rikyu. Built in the 17^th century, it became an inspiration to other early 20^th century architects, such as Gropius and Le Corbusier, who were astonished by the design and described it as ”a model of modern architecture.”

It is amazing to learn how urban Japanese people, living on the cutting edge of technology, will gather annually in ancient gardens to celebrate the beauty of the spring flowering trees and the fiery foliage of autumn. While these festivals are over 1500 years old, they are as relevant to Japanese society today as they were in antiquity.  For those readers who would like to experience the gardens and the festivals first hand, The Gardens of Japan includes a map of garden locations, with contact information both for gardens and for tourist offices.

The landscapes featured in this publication exemplify all that is beautiful and serene about a Japanese garden - a park where “nature has been condensed, reproduced in miniature, and trained to perfection”. Photographer Alex Ramsay is to be commended for placing us inside these 28 gardens and filling us with awe.

The Gardener's Color Palette: Book Review for Bookpleasures.com

The Gardeners Color Palette, paint your garden with 100 extraordinary flower choices Tom Fischer & Clive Nichols, Timber Press

The title says it all. Designing with flowers is an art and many gardeners with a penchant for creative expression report that planning flowerbeds is akin to painting. Imaginative gardeners will be pleased that the contents of this book are arranged by color, like a box of watercolor paints, making the planning and execution of a floral color composition in the garden a much easier task.

The book is divided into ten color-based chapters: Red,  Orange-Peach, Yellow-Cream,  Green-Chartreuse,  Blue,  Lavendar-Lilac-Mauve,  Pink-magenta,  Deep Purple-Maroon-Plum,  Brown- Bronze- Copper, and  White-Ivory. Within each of the ten color chapters, are photographs of ten flowers, including perennials, bulbs, and flowering shrubs. Some are popular and well known and some are uncommon flowers such as Fritillaria, Corydalis, and species Lilies. Every plant is profiled with its Latin and common name, a pronunciation guide for the Latin name, its classification as perennial, bulb or shrub, the height and spread at maturity, bloom time and hardiness zone. In addition, each profile includes clearly identifiable care symbols for light and moisture requirements. Most impressive, however, is the wealth of information encapsulated into a few lines of expert advice that accompanies each plant’s profile. Mr. Fischer writes beautifully; each paragraph is a gem, like each breathtaking image that accompanies his text.

Some of the plants included in this book are hardy from zone 6 and up and are, therefore, new to me because I garden in Zone 5; that does not make them any less admirable. Of the 100 plants featured, here are a few that I have added to my wish list:- Red Helenium Rubinzwerg, Orange Helenium Wauldtraut, Yellow Helianthus Lemon Queen, Pulmonaria Blue Ensign, Purple Veronicastrum virginicum Apollo, Pink Sanguisorbia obtuse, Purple papaver orientale Patty’s Plum, and White Actaea matsumurae White Pearl. I am indebted to the author not only for introducing me to some new varieties of plants but also for reminding me about some forgotten old favorites.

Since a garden book is only as good as the collaborating photographer, it is a delight to discover Clive Nichols’ exquisite close-up photos of the 100 flowers. Selecting Mr. Nichols was one of three wise decisions made by the publisher. Another was to have asked Mr. Fischer to write the book, in the first place. Moreover, the best decision of all was to market this book at a price so attractive that it makes an excellent party favor, get- well present, or Christmas gift. If I were hosting dinner, I prefer that a guest bring this book rather than a box of chocolates. If I were a bedridden gardener, I hope someone would send me this attractive publication to cheer me up. When Tom Fischer first sat down to write this book, I’ll bet he never imagined he would be creating the ultimate hospitality gift.