Synopses & Reviews
With the growing recognition that a wisely and sensitively planted garden has a lot to offer to wildlife and the food web, more and more people are looking for ways to make their gardens environmentally friendly. However, gardeners have tended to assume that they need a lot of space to create habitats for wildlife and to evoke wild and natural places. In Natural Gardening in Small Spaces, renowned plantsman Noël Kingsbury refutes that presumption, showing how even in a small garden you can create a sustainable ecosystem that looks great — and, once established, largely looks after itself. More than 150 glorious photographs of small natural gardens provide visual confirmation of Noël Kingsbury's contention that even the smallest garden can provide a natural haven.
Review
In chapters that nicely mix explanatory text with color photos, Kingsbury walks would-be greenthumbs through shady gardens, backyard grasslands and dryer habitats, suggesting plant species and design ideas and offering tips on how to care for different kinds of plants in different kinds of envirinments.
Review
andquot;Good ... on the designingand#8211;theand#8211;space issue.andquot;
and#8212;Jamaica Kincaid,New York Times, June 1, 2003
Review
Refreshing resource for the habitat designer.
Review
"Whether in a city or modest suburban yard, or a country environment, Kingsbury's sound advice orients gardeners towards thinking and planning in terms of an ecosystem as they develop a design scheme that joins together aesthetic elements and handsome plant combinations."
—Alice Joyce, Booklist, May 28, 2003 Booklist
Review
Shows how even small, urban spaces can be adapted to sustainable and ecological gardening.
Review
"The author imparts a working knowledge of how plants grow in nature."
—Science News, July 5, 2003 Science News
Review
"Good ... on the designing–the–space issue."
—Jamaica Kincaid, New York Times, June 1, 2003 The New York Times
Synopsis
Even in a little garden you can create a sustainable ecosystem that looks great and, once established, largely looks after itself. Includes more than 150 photographs of small havens.
About the Author
Noel Kingsbury is a well-known designer, commentator, and writer on plants, gardens, landscape, and the environment. His doctorate in horticultural ecology from the University of Sheffield focused on the selection and management of ornamental perennials and he is still engaged in active research in this field. Noel is interested in combining natives and non-natives in ecological planting schemes and a passionate advocate for sustainable plant combinations that require minimal intervention from the gardener. He trials plants and gardens at his home on the border between England and Wales and travels widely.