4 comments about Drawing the Landscape.

1. Chip Sulivan's step by step instruction guides the reader to see the underlying structure in each of his renderings. This insight reviels an efficient method of organizing profesional quality landscape plans. His more informal sketchs show how to quickly get a feel for site illustration.

   As a landscape design professional, I recomend this book to my peers and to those new to rendering the landscape. I am confident that after studying this text, anyone would be able to better comunicate their designs.




2. i was looking for a book on this subject, the writer the publisher, it all looked perfect. but the book is soooo boring, after reaching a long way into the book you waste your time on artists rooms and clubs!! really! then when we finally start, it is like for ever, the process seems so slow... the book ofcourse is full of the writers own sketches which might not appeal to every one. what you might find here, at this price, you'll find for sure in more cheaper and more focused more useful books. i wouldn't recommend it personally.



3. Wonderful book! We're currently using it in our beginning studio class. Sullivan has a wonderful sense of humor, good skill building exercises and really good graphics. Highly recommend it for anyone wanting how to draw the landscape.



4. This book serves as a comprehensive reference for ways of thinking about drawing, applications of different media, the creative environment, drawing exercises, creating textures, shadows, and trees, composing the drawing, perspective drawing, plan, elevation, section, axonometric and isometric drawing, drawing the figure, and layout.

2 comments about The French Country Garden.

1. This is a reprint of a hardbook in softcover form with a new cover photo. The content is wonderful but I already owned the hardcover and thought it was a "new book".



2. This book is worth the investment. Photographs are of high quality and there are plenty of them. Did find the book not an easy read and believe more than a couple of pages could have been devoted to each garden. Just when you want to look around a corner to see what might be next, next was another garden. All-in-all a good book and if I ever get to France will have a better idea of where to start garden touring.

1 comments about Fallscaping: Extending your Garden Season into Autumn.

1. It past years, the fall season was considered as one of harvesting and getting flower beds and gardens cleaned up and ready for the winter. However the autumn of the year with its rainbow of foliage colors, visually attractive fruits, berries, and seedheads, and mild climatic conditions have changed the thinking of dedicated gardeners and landscapers as to what can be accomplished before the setting in of winter snows. This new concept of continuing to garden and brighten late-season landscapes is called 'fall scaping'. Now there is an illustrated instruction manual called "Fall Scaping: Extending Your Garden Season Into Autumn" which is a collaboration by horticultural experts Nancy J. Ondra and Stephanie Cohen featuring ten complete garden plans that combine flowers, trees, shrubs, ground covers, and grasses that are not only visually impressive in the fall, but designed to provide three-season appeal over a wide range of post-summer growing conditions. Of special note is a 'Fall Garden Care Primer' offers tips and techniques on planting, transplanting, staking, pruning, and maintaining gardens all year long. There is also cogent counsel on preparing plants for winter, as well as properly cleaning and storing gardening hand tools and power equipment. Thoroughly 'user friendly' and profusely illustrated by the full color photography of Rob Cardillo, "Fall Scaping" is very strongly recommended for any gardener with an interest in continuing to maximize their gardens during September, October, and November.

5 comments about In the Company of Stone.

1. Being a native resident of Vermont this book is very precious to me. I lived on a dairy farm with dry stone walls that were very plain. Dan Snow made the process into an art form as well as for practical use. The back of the book gives locations of some of his work here in VT and NH and I look forward to seeing some of it next summer. This book is one that should sit on a coffee table to be picked up and scanned by your guests rather than sitting on a bookcase shelf. The book is not only about the work of Dan Snow but a showcase of the photos by Peter Mauss, in color as well as black & white. It is a book you will treasure.



2. This is not a "how-to" book - it's better than that. It's a "why" book. The author expresses in his understated manner the "why's" of working with stone and for anyone who feels about stone the way he does (and I do)it is a delight to read - and look at. This book is absolutely inspirational and a joy.



3. If you love stones and stone work you'll appreciate the pictures but a book just can't manage to "show" the art involved in working with stone



4. Over a decade ago, Dan Snow repaired the hundred-year-old dry stone walls that wander across our property in Vermont. The tumbled stone had been evocative, but the symmetry of the reassembled walls has been an irresistible delight. I do not know Snow--he worked while we were away--but I have thanked him a million times for his art. In this book, he has somehow captured with words the sensory pleasure of organizing and reorganizing stones. The art of walling, as evidenced by Peter Mauss's photographs, and the skill of walling, as described by Snow, are compulsively fascinating, an adventure for the armchair dreamer.
   The text and illustrations blend carefully, and the color photographs sparkle. The reproduction of the black and white photographs varies in quality, alas. This is a charming book. An excellent companion book is Gordon Hayward's "Stone in the Garden."



5. Dan Snows stonework may be some of the best in the world. Of all the stonework I have seen over the years his stands of as the best of the best.
   This book illustrates much of Dans work demonstrating what is possible.
   Most of this work is dry laid stone which is an art in itself. For those who like work utilizing mortar I recommend Lew Frenches book. Buy this book if you love to view stonework that makes you say " WOW!"

3 comments about Building Bamboo Fences.

1. "Building Bamboo Fences" is beautifully illustrated with 31 pages of full color pictures and a fairly decent how to section about how to build them. One thing I do not like though is the books organization. There is a section of pictures and a section on history and a section illustrating construction technique. The book would be much more readable if these sections were mixed (i.e. the color pictures should be near the relivant history and how to illustrations. There needs to be a section discussing the different varieties and how and where to grow them. Bamboo grows nearly anywhere in the US, but tropical varieties are more rot resistant. There also needs to be a section on tools. Thin bladed knives are useless to split bamboo, but you would not get this from reading the book. And, where do you get tools and bamboo cultivars? It is not in the book...



2. "Building Bamboo Fences" has all the information you will need to build your own bamboo fence. Additionally, Mr. Yoshida has included a brief history of bamboo fences in Japan, a complete glossary of terms and many beautiful color photographs for inspiration. Fence diagrams range from simple see-through fences to more complex bamboo screening fences. The diagrams, techniques, and instructions for building different types of bamboo fences are clear, complete, easy to follow and even include tips on how to correct any problems you may have in construction. I turned an open work bamboo fence diagram into a trellis for my climbing rose bush in one afternoon. Whether you are looking to build simple edgings for garden paths or a full-screen fence - this is the book to use.



3. This is a Great book for bamboo lovers. Especially if you have access to the waste branches .I can't wait to do more with those! The more ideas here you try....the more the fever grips you.....Possiblities endless!
   Lots of pictures with great informative diagrams, inspiratinal ideas and plans as well as info on how to harvest and preserve poles. I like to fire harden....but watch out for explosions!
   One of the 2 best bamboo books I have seen. The other one is in Spanish

5 comments about Outdoor Rooms: Designs for Porches, Terraces, Decks, Gazebos.

1. Or if you love browsing Swedish furniture catalogues, buy this book! Unfortunately, I'm not a big concrete & steel fan or heavily into Swedish furniture. It's a lovely book but if, like me, you're looking for garden inspiration or expecting visions that incorporate trees and plants, look elsewhere and save your money. The designs for outdoor rooms in this book left me cold. I gave it a reasonably good rating because I realize that readers who love modern architecture will probably enjoy it.



2. When looking for fresh ideas and inspiration on how to create the prefect outdoor space you needn't look any further than this book. From a modern symmetrical porch to lush English gardens, it showcases a wide range of styles. With so much to choose from anyone can find something to suit their taste.

   Many of the outdoor rooms have pools. It is amazing how they manage to flawlessly integrate the pools into the environment without making them seem out of place or just thrown there. The magnificent outdoor spaces truly become a part of the home.

   I love the combination of styles and how they compliment one another. One room features the creamy white walls of Greece, a timber roof and hot Mexican colors in a cushioned seat. Large color photos tell the story with brief descriptions of each example.

   In the back there is a sampler of fine furnishing and accessories form a variety of different styles including historical, rustic, Mediterranean/island, and geometric. There is also a helpful directory of design professionals, photographers and product sources.




3. If you need ideas on how to create outdoor spaces for entertaining - this book is for you. Dining, lounging, dining, lounging... Even different photos of the same patio have different place settings on the tables to give you dining ideas. After a while, I began looking for spaces where you could do something other than dine, or lounge. Overall, nice photos of nice outdoor spaces, but limited appeal.



4. This is a great "thumb thur" book. It has really nice pictures of outdoor areas that are very "architectural".... Not helpful for the "average joe" looking for ideas to create your own backyard/outdoor patio/room.



5. This book will set your imagination on fire and motivate you to turn your ordinary backyard into a mini-paradise. Lots of pictures to drool over, you will find yourself thumbing thru it again and again..

5 comments about Plants And Landscapes For Summer-dry Climates Of The San Francisco Bay Region.

1. One would not normally read a book like this but would use it for reference. I read it through and learned an immense amount about workable plants to be used locally, especially nice plantings that do not need any or much summer watering. It is sumptuously illustrated with color photographs of many plants and discusses a number of varieties of many species, giving the origin of each. The price for such a book was not at all high. It's a good buy if you are landscaping or thinking of changing or adding plants to your property.



2. Great book, full of lovely photographs, concise information and plant combination ideas. Though a few of the varieties mentioned are a little obscure, most are readily available through San Francisco Bay Area nurseries and outlets. And for the professional landscaper, this book is a useful tool to show clients examples of the plants.



3. If I had the option I would be giving this book 4 1/2 stars instead of just 4- but there are a few minor problems that kept me from giving it a 5. The good points of the book other people have covered well- it has beautiful photographs and it has very good explanations of the bay area climate and why it presents unique gardening challenges and offers aesthetically pleasing and environmentally responsible ways of responding to those natural conditions and creating gardens that integrate well into the ecosystems around them.
   
   Another interesting thing about the book is that incorporates ideas from many different places- it was put out not by one author but by a municipal district- a fascinating idea I hope is emulated elsewhere. However while there is a positive that it has so much input from many different sources and gardening philosophies, it suffers a little bit from the too many cooks syndrome. It doesn't feature native plants exclusively, but it does feature some of them, trying to kind of incorporate the native approach with more conventional gardening. The problem is that for anyone who is interested in knowing which plants are native to California the information is presented in a very confusing fashion. A little icon of the state appears next to the general group of plants (like carex) if ONE of them listed below is native. Or more. You have to read about each entry to try and figure out which belong to which. In some cases you will figure out which one is not native by a note saying 'Native to New Zealand' in one subentry, like C. buchananii. In others, like manzanita, no information on where each comes from is given, which may be confusing to someone who is not familiar with native plants, and will know that all are native.
   
   There were also two errors I caught in the first reading- yarrow is not marked with a California symbol showing that there are native species in the state. Then there are sub-entries for Island Pink and common yarrow which don't state where they are from, so someone without prior knowledge of native plants wouldn't be able to figure that out from the rest of the text. In fact, the book is very inconsistent in stating where a plant is from. I think the final version of the book was not edited by someone familiar with native plants or they would have caught that and possibly found a clearer way of showing if a plant was native, such as putting a symbol next to the for entry Berkley sedge instead of up top with general heading of carex.
   
   So in short I would fully recommend this book to anyone who is solely interested in water-wise gardening in California and finding plants that are adapted to summer dry climates, but if you are a beginner with an interest in native plants with a few non-natives for accents, you will need another more specific book to supplement this one, as I think one would be a bit confusing. It is still a remarkable achievement and I don't mean to sound negative because I would still recommend this book- but I thought it was something potential readers should be aware of, even though it is perhaps a nit-picky thing. I think the editors bit off a fairly big chunk with this one, and overall did very well. Hopefully in future editions, these minor problems will be resolved.



4. This book is as useful as it is beautiful.
   
   The photographs are inspiring, but the sheer volume of detailed text is terrific. It's like having an encyclopedia and coffee table book, all in one. Every January I pull it off the shelf to flip through the pages and dream of spring.
   
   I find it to be less commercial than Sunset Garden--less interested in design and trend, more in water-saving and ecology--but FYI, there is a lot of overlap. While if I could only have one book for California gardening, it would be Sunset's, this one is much more fun and inspiring.



5. An indispensable guide for summer dry gardeners. Carefully researched and presented. Stunning photography by one of America's greatest garden photographers.

4 comments about Southeast Home Landscaping.

1. Anyone who loves to garden but who has no idea how to start will love this book. The photographs are incredible, the designs are easy to understand and its written in clear and concise terms for the novice gardner to understand and learn from.



2. The book was very nice with lots of plans but the cover had about a 3" cut from what looked like a utility knife.



3. If you don't want to rely on your own creativity for landscaping your property, you need to check out this book. It features 54 landscape designs covering almost any situation, like entryways, streetwalk plantings, corner gardens, slopes, shady areas, woodland gardens, passageways, gardens under trees, mailbox plantings, etc. Every design is beautifully drawn and lists every plant that is included. The plants can then be looked up in the plant directory in the back of the book for more detailed information. An installation guide gives detailed instructions and helpful illustrations on how to build patios, pathways, trellises, gates, ponds, retaining walls, and more. The book also features detailed sections on other landscaping issues such as preparing the soil for planting, buying plants, planting basics, caring for plants, pruning roses, training a vine on a support, and caring for perennials (complete with a list of deer resistant plants). Highly recommended!



4. This book has great pictures, design layouts and recommended plants to use together. I refer to it often.

1 comments about The Mathematics of Turfgrass Maintenance.

1. It should be named something like the "Essential Math Reference Book for Farmers, Landscapers, Golf Course Superintendants, Nursery Managers etc." What a wonderful and easy to use reference book for anyone dealing with the frustrating world of area measurements, volume/fertilizer/pesticide/irrigation/seeding rate calculations, and spreader and spayer calibration. I've worn out one copy and am on my second. I use it on my farm, at work as a pesticides applicator, and in my landscaping business. This is a must-have book for folks like me that hate math but have to use it almost everyday....believe me your money won't be wasted on this one and it won't just collect dust on your shelf.

5 comments about Landscape Construction.

1. I found this book to be very thorough and detailed in its approach to a variety of landscape construction issues. It has detailed pictures and diagrams that illustrate the processes and make it easier to understand. The information is up to date, easy to read and a great learning tool for the student, professional or hobby person. As a landscape student, I find it a great resource book.



2. Just another really expensive textbook with no real information provided. The Better Homes and Garden series has much more how-to information, great photographs, and ten percent of the cost too.



3. I found clear concise information on this subject rare until discovered Mr. Sauter's Landscape Construction. There is a host of Better H & G / Sunset books available, but those are really idea/coffee table books written for the weekend warrior. If you really want to know the best-practices and standards for the industry, this is the reference for you. Great for the student and pro alike.



4. This book is full of incredible and professional information related to Landscape Construction. It's not meant to be a DIY book you'd get from Home Depot or Lowes. This book is meant for students and professionals wanting to learn best practices regarding Landscape Construction. Amateurs, landscape designers and architects can gain some valuable insights, too. We used this book as our textbook in the various landscape construction classes I took, studying to be a landscape designer.



5. I'm glad I decided to buy this book, despite its high price. Having just recently become a landscape designer/contractor, it proved invaluable many times in the course of our company's first big job. For example, the sections on stone paving were very helpful when we were building a flagstone patio, as they helped us select the best foundation and edging materials.
   
   I like the way the book is arranged, i.e. having a large section on paving, beginning with materials and site preparation for paving in general. This is followed by a chapter on each of the specific paving materials, such as concrete, unit pavers, dry laid stones, mortared paving, and granular paving.
   
   The extensive section on retaining walls, which I am about to take advantage of in our next job, is arranged similarly.
   
   This book is the industry standard. It is used as a text in City College of San Francisco, and it is also listed as a resource in the California Contractor's State License Board's Study Guide for the Landscaping (C-27) License Examination.
   
   So if you want to do landscape construction, I highly recommend this one.