3 comments about New Mexico Gardener's Guide: Revised Edition (New Mexico Gardener's Guide).

1. Great pictures and great format. There is a picture of the plant along with all information about the plant on the same page, no need to search to match the plant with its picture.



2. I have scads of gardening books. When I moved South from Albuquerque and changed zones, I bought a half-dozen more.
   
   As I slowly decorate my new desert I find myself constantly going to this one...rather than the giant tomes that I purchased.
   
   Why? Because Ms. Phillips tells you how to grow the stuff. And, she's culled the zillions of plants down to the best...the easiest...the most forgiving. She tells you why, gives you the best cultivars, suggests companion plants. And, again, tells you why.
   
   Every time I ignore her advice, I'm sorry that I did.



3. Such a great resource for plants and how to take care of them. This is my second copy, since my first has gotten a little ragged around the edges.
   Also, eazy to use....

1 comments about Growing and Using Garlic: Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin A-183 (Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin).

1. Literally, a little thin. Not much info on Garlic; just the basic knowledge.
   
   Some good recipes, though.

5 comments about Martha Stewart's Gardening: Month by Month.

1. Over here in England, we are just beginning to be included in the Martha Stewart 'empire'. (Of cousre we have our own home grown lifestyle gurus, but I think a toughie like Martha could wipe the floor with the lot of them!) As a keen gardener I was eager to get my hands on this book to learn more about American gardening plants and styles, and ideas; to my surprise this book is in essence a rehash of the work of the very English Penelope Hobhouse, Rosemary Verey and Christopher Lloyd! Still, a good book, and a good read, despite the photographic quality not being up to the usual standards for garden books.

   Basically, it's good for inspiring beginners; however, if you want to garden in 'le style anglais' go to straight Penelope Hobhouse. As I believe they say in the States - she's got it going on!




2. I know, I know, this is Martha's stuff, the woman we all love to hate! However, the book is arranged in a friendly fashion, giving a month-by-month tour of her gardens, with information on typical chores she will expect from her gardeners that month!

   As with everything else Martha does, her gardens are on a grand scale and ambitious. What I like about this book are several things: she gardens in a similar climate zone to mine; her gardens are generally unpretentious, and her English-inspired style is one I enjoy. Each month, she lays out the work needing to be done for the various flower and vegetable gardens, then focuses on a seasonal aspect of her garden. The book is lavishly illustrated, and for those of us who are visual people--what gardener isn't?--the ideas are inspiring.

   The information is fairly basic, but actually useful to those who are beginning to garden on a more serious scale. She does not seem to depend heavily on chemical warfare and emphasizes such basics as good soil preparation and the other down and dirty aspects of good gardening. If your gardening budget can afford it and you find inspiration from good garden design photos, this book is worth your time and money.




3. Try the Margaret Roach book which is excellent or even a Jerry Baker book. Martha probably enever did any real gardening in Nutley, NJ.



4. Martha knows a lot about gardening, which she learned a great deal of from her father. Her book," Martha Stewart's Gardening Month By Month" is my favorite gardening book to return to again and again. In this book, she goes through each step of the gardening process in a month by month format, explaining what to do during each month of the year, as she shows you how she created her beautiful gardens at Turkey Hill Farm in Connecticut. You will learn how to plan your garden,about soil preparation,what and where to plant,all with gorgeous color photos. You'll learn about growing vegetables,fruits, flowers and herbs. She's even included some recipes! There is a handy index, bibliography and source guide in the back of this large 360 page book.



5. Don't automatically assume that this is just another slick, coffee-table book. I've owned more gardening books that I care to admit and during a recent 'clean-out' and general overhaul of my gardening library, this is one of the few books that stayed on my shelf. There are literally dozens of backyard gardening missives with bibliographies that read like a who's who of horticultural academia. In other words, so many out there are just passing around the same old information with a different cover page. Sure, Martha undoubtedly has hired assistance that most of us can only drool over, but she still has legitimate experience to offer which is what helps to separate this book from many of it's more mundane peers. She also takes the time to focus on heirloom varieties as well as offering the option of the organic approach (which she appears to favor) as well as chemical-based alternatives. It surely doesn't hurt that there are pages packed with almost unbelievable profusion whether it be from the flower or vegetable gardens, the property is truly a work of art, even if it is not by Martha's hand alone. This is the heady stuff of any gardeners wildest imagination come true and no matter whether or not it is attainable by the majority of us, it is a heavy dose of inspiration combined with practical and legitimately useful information as a welcome bonus. Well worth the read.

5 comments about Patio: Garden Design & Inspiration.

1. This book is an excellent sourse of inspiration for the garden designer who is tired of traditional garden design. Jamie Durie explores new materials and plant selections in a way that is comfortable and exciting. A must read for those of us who are tired of English garden design!



2. I must admit that I wasn't expecting much from Jamie Durie, knowing him mainly for his home renovation shows in Australia.
   However, after much searching through countless books on garden design in bookstores, I found his books to be far and away the best I've seen.
   His designs are very modern and innovative and the book gives a lot of insight into the design and construction process. Backgrounds and reasoning on particular choices made and goes into detail on subjects such as lighting, plants and materials.
   I own quite a few garden design books and I would definately rate this the best I've seen and just about every design in his books I would rate amongst the best I've seen.



3. This is the best of Durie's books and is an excellent companion for the California garden designer. The plans are helpful for understanding the layout of a garden, but the photos are what really make the book. The light modern style, clever detailing, and CA compatible plants give me new ideas every time I open it.



4. A definite must have. This is by far one of the best inspiring books for outdoor designs. If you are looking for something modern, minimalist, different from ordinary, don't look any further and buy this book. I designed my own terrace thanks to the great ideas and inspiration by Jamie Durie.



5. I've bought that book 'cause I'm planning to transform a small corner of my garden into a nice patio. But this book is about balconies, sky gardens, decks, pools, back yards, seaside retreats, etc...Nothing about patios!!! If you're looking for ideas for your patio, this probably isn't a good book for you.

2 comments about Holistic Herbal 4th Edition: A Safe and Practical Guide to Making and Using Herbal Remedies.

1. This is a comprehensive, authoritative, illustrated guide to herbs. Beautifully illustrated, each oversized page has two herbs per page that includes, the plant family name, common name,a paragraph desribing it's benefits, part used, collection,constituents, actions and preparation and dosage. In this informative book you will find the internal and external uses of herbs. There are over 300 illustrated pictures and an A-Z listing of over 200 herbs. There is a section that explains the systems of the body and some common ailments. Included here you will find which herbs work best to heal the ailment. Many of these herbs have been used by cultures for centuries for prevention of disease by drinking certain tonics or teas to help the various systems of the body. If you are interested in alternative medicine for well-being than this book is for you. There are many things you can take besides a little pill to cure your ills, try some natural medicine. This book is recommended for the beginner as well the seasoned herb practitioner.



2. David Hoffman's "The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal" is one of those rare books I keep nearby, as I'm constantly referring to it. Developed for the layman, Holistic Herbal provides sufficient overview of various herbal remedies to allow one to get their feet wet and feel competent while doing so. Part 1 of the book is a mere 16-page overview of the holistic concept - short, but if you weren't already sold on it, you wouldn't be reading the book, would you? Part 2 covers the practical aspects of herbalism, including the collection and preparation of the various herbs. This is one the areas where the work shines through, as Hoffman's descriptions and photographic accompaniments clearly and succinctly illustrate the process of making not only infusions, tinctures and decoctions, but also capsules, lozenges and suppositories. The latter part of this section also familiarizes the reader with the technical terms associated with herbalism, from abortifacients to vulneraries, in clear layman's terms. Part 3 begins the herbal itself, and its clearly expounded sections will have you referring back to it often. Each page has one to two herbs, with a photograph of the herb in question, a description of the parts used and their preparation, dosages and possible combinations with other herbs for varied therapeutic effects. Seemingly in recognition that this information could overwhelm the layman, Hoffman outlines on page 49 a home herbal medicine chest, with around 30 basic herbs as well as the (minor) equipment one will need in order to make use of them. The therapeutic index which lists the various ailments and their herbal remedies also emphasizes several herbal remedies within each category that are particularly efficacious for the ailment in question.

5 comments about Gnome and Garden: A Gnovelty Kit.

1. Mr. Gnome and his garden is just plain FUN. Gave it as a little birthday gift, she's enjoying having him on her desk.



2. I saw this in borders in New Jersey, while on Christmas vacation and fell in love with it.
   when I got home to Virginia, I went on the internet and bought it.
   It is the cutest thing and idea. Hope you will soon carry
   more like these.



3. It is not fair to make Gnomes into slaves. If you have made a gnome into a slave you should set it free and send it to rehabilitation. The legal form to set your Gnome free is at a website called [...]. They have a bunch of Freed Gnomes and a Gnome Underground Railroad and they give counseling to Freed Gnomes. love, Joey



4. I bought it for my co-worker, who LOVED it. The novelty seems to be the interchangeable scenery (super cute). I rated it 4 stars because while it's cute, and well put together, and the book was informative, the "fake grass" was really a green piece of foam in a little box. They could have used real "astroturf" and it would have gotten a higher rating from me. Also, because of the foam, it's hard to stick the flowers into the "scene".



5. August 29, 2008 is when I learned about the gnome book. You have changed my life. I have learned to appreciate the independence you seek and I am practicing your easygoing way of living. Thank you and I love you.

2 comments about Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas.

1. I love this book. I took it to the nursery with me to pick out my plants. I have started my native garden and all the plants are doing marvelously well- exactly as the book stated. I look forward to years of developing my Texas garden. I strongly recommend this book. I am a beginner gardener and really have no idea what I'm doing, but this book has helped me immensely.



2. Order was quickly received. Book was a gift and the person really likes it.

2 comments about Five Acres and Independence.

1. I have the 1973 version of this book (still available through Amazon). The 1973 version is really the original 1935 text (published in 1940) with a forward written in 1973. I suspect the 2007 version is much the same. The chapters are many and include: City vs Country Life, Tried and True Ways to Fail, Who is Likely to Succeed, Figures Don't Lie, The Farm to Choose, Where to Locate, Lay and Lay-out of Land, Windbreaks - Pro and Con, Essential Factors of Production, Renting vs Buying, Capital, Farm Finance, Farm Accounts, Water Supply, Sewage Disposal, Functions of Water, Drainage, and they go on and on for a total of 51 chapters with fairly small print so there's a lot packed into this book.
   
   The Appendices is roughly 40 pages and offers information about things like the number of plants you'll need per acre (or any size portion of land), how to figure what farm equipment really costs to own, and much more. Although the prices quoted to use in the formulas are laughingly low by today's costs - the math and theory behind them is still applicable.
   
   I felt it was worth the price for all that's packed into it that is still applicable today (although I bought mine in good used condition for about half the cover price).
   
   If you want to know more about this book, just read the reviews for the previous version.



2. Don't knoow much about it, was purchased as a gift. Received it in a timely manner in good condition.

No comments about Gardening with Hardy Heathers.

5 comments about Good Things (Best of Martha Stewart Living).

1. If you don't subscribe to Martha's expensive magazine (I don't), then this book is the only thing you need to own. It is the best of all the good ideas without weeding through ads.



2. ...these others books that I think are grand:

   The New Decorating Book (Better Homes and Gardens(R))
   by Better Homes and Gardens, Elegant and Easy Rooms: 250 Trade Secrets for Decorating Your Home, Elegant and Easy Living Rooms: 100 Trade Secrets for Designing With Style (Elegant and Easy).

   I used all three with my designer and the results were delightful. Martha is just so passe anymore.




3. Rehash of articles in her magazine. Avoid.



4. This book is a complilation of the "good things" column from Martha Stewart Living, 1990-1996. A few of the ideas, a customized sewing kit, decanting liquid dish soap from a bottle, slicing onions near a flame to keep from crying, tossing shellfish with corn meal to get rid of excess sand, keeping appliance warranties in an accordian file, preaparing a fruit butter with only a few ingredients, and using tea towels as simple window treatments, are easily accomplished by just about anyone.
   
   Yet, some of these ideas require being rooted in a skill that requires good hand and eye coordination. A nice knick knack shelf needs dedicated carpentry skills. An attractive table mat needs basic sewing skills and a sewing machine. Napkins become lovely unique after several minutes of hand embroidery.
   
   Look at this book at a library before committing to buying it.



5. Many of the ideas in this book come from Martha Stewart's early TV shows,shown in the 1990's (ie: but NOT the new TV shows that are now being shown).
   
   For those of you that are not familiar with Martha's early 1990's TV shows, I can add that those shows were fun to watch. There was not an audience, as the current Stewart TV shows have, and thus, Martha was able to pack more ideas in her earlier shows. Also, her earlier shows showed the projects much more carefully, and were ,thus, easier to follow.
   
   Well, this book is filled with many of those "good things" ideas & projects from her early TV shows, and are still inspiring today. Some of the ideas may look out-of-date (at first glance), such as the ribbon plate holders. However, the photos are still very pretty and the color combinations that Martha uses in this book hold up well even today.
   
   This book is now available for bargain prices at most AMAZON stores, so for the lower price, this book might be fun for novice admirers of Martha Stewart to read.