Synopses & Reviews
Succulent plants offer dazzling possibilities for garden design. From the undulating lines of Agave americana 'Marginata' to the frilly-leaved rosettes of Echeveria hybrids, succulents come in sculptural shapes, intriguing textures, and sizzling colors. Better still, these elegant plants--which survive drought by storing water in their leaves, stems, or roots--require only minimal maintenance to remain lush and alluring year round. Featuring the work of more than 50 professional garden designers and creative homeowners in dozens of private and public succulent gardens and containers, this complete design compendium is as practical as it is inspirational. Lavishly illustrated with over 300 photographs, it gives design and cultivation basics for paths, borders, slopes, and containers; hundreds of succulent plant recommendations; and descriptions of 90 easy-care, drought-tolerant companion plants. A chapter on growing succulents in cold climates identifies those that thrive in zones 8 and below. The comprehensive "plant Palette" is an especially helpful resource, encompassing tall, treelike, and immense succulents and companion annuals, bulbs, ground covers, perennials, trees, shrubs, grasses, and vines. The succulent gardener's canvas holds rich possibilities; here beginners and experienced designers, landscapers, and collectors alike will find what they need to visualize, create, and nurture the three dimensional work of art that is the succulent garden.
Review
"Debra Lee Baldwin is passionate about succulents, grows them with panache in her own garden, and has tapped into a community of like-minded souls who are creating wonderful landscapes with them. She inspires us to look at succulents as living sculptures whose myriad shapes and colors create striking effects. Many people know about succulents, but using them well in the landscape is another matter. Designing with Succulents shows us how; it's inspiring, practical, and complete--a treasure for any gardener who loves these otherwordly beauties." Sunset
Review
"This is the best book ever published on the subject of succulents." Pat Welsh, author of Pat Welsh's Guide to Southern California Gardening Library Journal
Review
"...easy to understand writing style is user friendly to the backyard gardener, yet the breadth of information is just as appealing to the expert. Baldwin should be commended for what might be the best succulent landscaping book written to date."
Review
"Those designing a new landscape and those hoping to add these botanical treasures into an existing garden will find Baldwin's gorgeously illustrated, detail-rich guide a worthy purchase."
Review
"Inspiring, practical, and complete -- a treasure for any gardener who loves these otherworldly beauties."
Synopsis
Lavishly illustrated with over 300 photographs, Designing with Succulents gives design and cultivation basics for paths, borders, slopes, and containers; hundreds of succulent plant recommendations; and descriptions of 90 easy-care, drought-tolerant companion plants. Beginners and experienced designers, landscapers, and collectors alike will find what they need to visualize, create, and nurture the three-dimensional work of art that is the succulent garden.
Synopsis
Succulent plants offer dazzling possibilities for garden design and require only minimal maintenance to remain lush and alluring year round. Featuring the work of more than 50 professional garden designers and creative homeowners, this complete design compendium is as practical as it is inspirational. Lavishly illustrated with over 300 photographs, it gives design and cultivation basics for paths, borders, slopes, and containers; hundreds of succulent plant recommendations; and descriptions of 90 easy-care, drought-tolerant companion plants. Beginners and experienced designers, landscapers, and collectors alike will find what they need to visualize, create, and nurture the three-dimensional work of art that is the succulent garden.
About the Author
Award-winning garden photojournalist Debra Lee Baldwin wrote
Designing with Succulents (2007) and
Succulent Container Gardens (2010), both bestsellers. She is a regular contributor to the
Los Angeles Times and major gardening magazines. Debra's specialty is showing how top designers use these architectural, waterwise, low-maintenance plants in a wide variety of creative, eye-catching applications.
Debra has presented at the Huntington Botanical Gardens, the Denver Botanic Garden, and major flower shows in Philadelphia, Seattle, and San Francisco, to name a few of many prestigious venues. Her own garden near San Diego has been featured in Sunset, Better Homes & Gardens, the San Diego Union-Tribune, and other publications.