'This book is absolutely suptuous. It''s an ideal book to dip into at any point but you may want to do more than just dip...it''s glossy pages and beautiful photographs meant that I couldn''t stop looking until I''d been through every single page.
I have some limited experience of vegetable gardening but have no idea when it comes to garden design and ''non productive'' plants. Or I didn''t have until I read this book. The possibilities are endless and no-one is forgotten: from beautiful traditional cottage gardens, to steamy Mediterranean gardens, and from family gardens to urban gardens in limited spaces.
The most impressive part of the book for me though was the idea of building a sustainable garden. In the chapter on materials there is also a checklist considering among other things durability and impact on the environment as well as cost. This really is a design book for the 21st Century!
It''s hard to know where to begin to explain the imense amount of topics covered in this book. Case studies take you through ideas for adapting, introducing or keeping various features in established gardens, there''s advice on security, boundaries, fitting in with the neighbours, privacy, planning... the list is endless!
I love the use of colour and there are colour wheels explaining how to make the most of using colour in the garden -it''s all so informative and easy to follow.
Once you''ve planned, designed and sourced material and plants for your heavenly new garden, there is advice on how to maintain it.
All this from the experts at the RHS and backed by DK means I have on my shelf a source of information that I can really trust. This book truly is inspirational. Buy it for yourself or as a brilliant gift - the stunning photography alone is guaranteed to bring a little sunshine into a plant lovers life.' ( )