5 comments about On Garden Style.

1. A typical garden of the rich who are possessed with image and lack of originality. The photos are very nice.



2. This book is a must read. It is fabulous. Lots of helpful information. Makes you see your yard in ways you never thought of before.



3. I love Bunny Williams but this book is a big let-down. Maybe I was spoiled after reading "Affair with a House".



4. You can look at a garden in many different ways. As a renown interior designer and president of one of the country's leading interior design firm, Bunny Williams views gardens as outdoor rooms. She applies the universal design principles that are common to architecture, landscape architecture and interior design to her garden design and achieves amazing results.
   
   "On Garden Style" has five parts that includes 15 chapters. It covers a number of topics including imagine (personal style and putting your dreams to work, etc.), good bones make good rooms (garden walls, floor and passageway, and roof overhead), furnishing the garden (containers, ornament and furniture), planting with style (inspired planting, kitchen garden, and maintenance), the gardener in winter, selected gardens, garden guides, plant lists, and container planting schemes.
   
   In "On Garden Style," Bunny Williams and Nancy Drew explain complicated design principles in plain and simple English and introduce them to ordinary garden lovers.
   
   "On Garden Style" has 288 pages and many beautiful interior photos. It is a great garden design book in plain and simple English.



5. I am an avid gardener and an avid admirer of Bunny Williams. This book was a perfect combination of both. It is filled with gorgeous gardens, but it has ideas and suggestions that will fit any size of garden or budget. I particularly loved the way that the book was organized. For example, if I want to look for ideas garden design, garden walls or containers, I can go to a chapter dedicated to the subject. When you read the book, you also have a strong sense of Ms. Williams' love for gardening and her commitment to a healthly environment. She inspires you to dig in the dirt and enjoy the glories of nature. To top it all off, it's a beautiful coffee table book that, in my house, will show that it is well used!

5 comments about To Have & To Hold: Magical Wedding Bouquets.

1. this book is as good as anything i have seen on this subject[and probably better than most]



2. Es una estupenda referencia sobre las ideas que buscan las personas cuando de solicitar ramos para boda se refieren... incluso algunas quinceañeras lo han tomando como referencia para escoger el ramo que llevarán a la iglesia.



3. I bought this book for my sister who is getting married soon. She loved the book! It has given her great ideas and pictures for her to express to her florist what she wants. Most of the bouquets are unique and the wrappings around the flowers are a wide variety and have great ideas. I would recommend the book.



4. I'm marrying in November and went to the library to look up books on wedding flowers; this one came out to be my favorite so far. Although some of the advice is a little too frou-frou for my tastes (if you want Spring flowers in December, then have at it!), the bouquets and flowers are gorgeous. I actually read the captions for the photos more than anything else.
   
   The book is quite inspiring with several flower types that you never thought to use, plus interesting wrapping of the stems.
   
   My biggest cheer is for the size and quality of the photos. You can search online all you like for beautiful bouquets, and most of the time you get pixelated crap with colors that don't match the flowers at all.



5. When looking for something fresh and new for my wedding flowers, I sifted through dozens of books that showed the same old arrangements and nothing new or creative. I own another of Stark and Adler's books, and was pleased to see they had written a wedding flower book. I was over the moon after ordering the book. The designs are simply beautiful! The flower choices are artistic, simple and help a bride to choose the right flowers for the growing season in which her wedding takes place. I carried this book to my florist and we recreated several of the arrangements for my bridal bouquets and table arrangements. Everyone was impressed with the floral arrangements and the vibrant color choices. This is the one book you need, if you are looking for a fresh, vibrant and artistic look for your wedding.

5 comments about The Emperor Wears No Clothes: The Authoritative Historical Record of Cannabis and the Conspiracy Against Marijuana.

1. This is a very good legalization pot book and was one of the first to really break through the scene. There is lots of facts here to get through and lots of oddball type stories that you will enjoy. This is what makes the book unique. All these strange but true stories about hemp.

   Some here are asking questions about the whole conclusions that Jack Herer draws. The truth is that he is confused about the difference between government modified Hemp, unmodified hemp and Drug based cannabis cultivars. If you really want to know more about those differences then you need a grow book. I recommend The Cannabis Grow Bible by Greg Green for that. It has an Issues section in the back that deals with these topics of question. But remember Jack Herer wrote this book in an era of information suppression and so it was hard to find out everything that he wanted to know.

   This book has spawned countless other legalization books. Yes it does appear almost cartoonish or tabloidish but the facts are all here. In the end it is a very good book about pot laws and political corruption which asks all the right questions.

   No one has ever died from using cannabis. That is not a bad fact to know at all.




2. This is the original marijuana expose book that started the revolution of obtaining knowledge and science to break the reigns of political pseudo-science. Not the latest book on the subject but the original and very important.



3. Although some of the historical data can be called into question, the essential claims of this book remain unrefuted by the disinformation campaigns of the anti-marijuana lobby. Herer shatters cannabis myths; he shows, with hard data that: pot has absolutely no toxicity to human tissues; pot has anti-carcinogenic properties; the tar, although greater in proportion than tobacco, is completely water-soluble; smoking marijuana shortly after having a stroke prevents the swelling of the brain -- and consequently much of the brain damage and loss of function associated with strokes.



4. This book is filled with info that people have no clue about. Maybe if more people read this book and was more knowledgable about the GREAT effects of Hemp then maybe people would fight to make this planet and life on it a great deal better. Better health wise, environment would be 10 times better, economically and so on... The facts are in the book. One person may say how can you believe all the info he writes...etc...well there's tons of research to back him up and he tells you the sources if you want to look them up yourself. It's all about the money and power folks that's why it's not legal but if they were smart then this could be their way to help our lives, our planet, and have all the power and money to go with it but for some reason they'd rather kill us, our planet, and still have the money and power. All it takes is people knowing the truth to fight against them and this book tells it. I'll be passing it on to everyone I know.



5. This book is a must read for every citizen of the United States. The United States is driving people to drink and cannabis would be a much better and safer alternative to alcohol. Jack Herer's book is highly entertaining and very informative and presented in an extremely interesting format. Read this book and pass it on. Spread the word. This book should be on the number one best seller list.

5 comments about The Summer Book.

1. This is a unique book, full of beautiful illustrations, easy to use recipes, quotes and ideas for making Summer a special season.



2. Susan Branch is a talented woman. Her cookbooks are beautifully illustrated with her drawings throughout. Her stories convey a warm sense of family and fun and will make you daydream about summer even in August.
   
   Her recipes are simple and fairly easy to make and she leans heavily towards family friendly comfort foods with a little bit of pizazz. In fact, it is her ideas for presentation that make some of the recipes so special (the Bowl of Vegetables comes to mind...a simple twist on crudite that is elegant and delicious).
   
   Those with picky children may find this book to be a surprising source of ideas (Lemon Linguini, Corn Salad, Lemon Chicken, Sweet Potato Fries, Kiwi Cups and Tortilla Roll-ups to name a few).
   
   Her recipe for Crab Cakes is very good as is the one for Fish Tacos. Her recipes for vegetables are among her best; very simple and often quick ways to make vegetables special without drowning them in anything.
   
   The Profiteroles recipe is my husbands favorite; the shells are simple to make and freeze very well. I love to make the Crostini for parties, the recipe is very flexible and all of the variations are a treat.
   
   I love that she is not afraid to mix ideas and food and drawings and inspirational sayings all together in one book. You might not think that a quote from Gandi and a recipe for Jell-o shots could co-exist, but they do, and it works.



3. Great book I enjoy reading cookbooks and this is a cozy heart warming along with recipes. Once I got this one had to order more. The recipes are easy and good. I enjoyed the whole book. Its very cute with all the little drawings and stories. I'm hooked on her books.



4. This book is delightful. If you enjoy gardening,herbs,cooking and summer fun,this book will bring you pleasure. Simple,light and tasty recipes.It is a great book to pick off the shelf in Feburary and escape the winter blues.



5. THE SUMMER BOOK hand written and illustrated by Susan Branch is a visual delight from cover-to-cover.
   
   Her beautiful handwriting (which is an art form all by itself) is so cleverly complimented by the illustrations and flourishes she adds to every page.
   
   This is more than a cookbook. It is a glimpse at a way of life that many of us long to live. It is the way the author/illustrator looks at life that leaves so much to imagination for the reader and a longing for another book of the season.
   
   Seasons change and THE SUMMER BOOK leaves this reader (im)patiently waiting for the arrival of another from the talented Susan Branch.

5 comments about From Concept to Form in Landscape Design.

1. Very impressed with how the author demonstrates how you can take an element, whether it is a sea shell or fern frond, and how you can actually integrate it in a landscape design. Being a student in Landscape Architecture, I find it very useful in design projects.



2. I found this book to be great for when you have designer's block. This book is filled to the rim with illustrated examples and makes a great quick reference. The best thing about it is it doesn't cost an arm and a leg like most design books.



3. This book is going back a lot faster than it got here! Deals almost exclusively with very modern landscapes that you would see in the southern part of the country. The designs tended to be very geometric, rigid and unnatural. If you prefer a more classic, free flowing landscape design, then this book is not for you.



4. The cover is very misleading. It is being returned within 20 minutes of opening the package.



5. Architects, landscape architects, and urban planners are graphic thinkers. A simple graphic can communicate more design intent than many, many words. "From Concept to Form in Landscape Design" can help design professionals to concretize their ideas and design concepts into visible graphics and forms. Once you put your ideas on paper as specific forms, you can improve and fine-tune them.
   
   "From Concept to Form in Landscape Design" covers philosophical concepts, functional concepts, geometric form development, naturalistic form development, principles of design (basic elements of design, organizing principles, integration of forms), unconventional and provocative design, and various case studies.
   
   "From Concept to Form in Landscape Design" has 192 pages and many line drawings and interior black-and-white photos. It is a good tool to assist design professionals to concretize their ideas and design concepts.

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.

5 comments about 1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die.

1. I have just finished writing the ZEN OF WATERING YOUR GARDEN. Which some may consider a "coffee table book" but it is really a challenge to the reader to get out and garden. This book of public and private gardens is filled with beautiful gardens which I think are nice to look at but untenable for any gardener to achieve. The Zen of Watering provides more practical stimulation to get out and garden with its 70 quotes juxtaposed to 145 full-color photos.



2. To cover 1001 Gardens in 960 pages is an almost impossible mission, yet Rae Spencer-Jones and his 70 contributors accomplished it.
   
   Every garden listed in "1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die" follows a standard listing format of designers, owners, garden style, size, climate, location and a brief description of the garden. Some of the gardens listed have half-page size color photographs. This book is very useful for you to gain a rough idea of the gardens nearby when you visit a city, it'll let you know about the existence of a garden and help you decide whether to visit it or not. To this end, I think "1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die" is successful.
   
   All the gardens are arranged by geographical locations, including North America, Europe, Asia, Central and South America, Africa, New Zealand and Australia. I find the "Climate Classification System," "Useful Address," "Garden Directory" at the end of the book very helpful.
   
   "1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die" has 960 pages and color interior photographs and is a useful quick reference for garden tour!



3. This very thick book has beautiful pictures that inspires one to plant a garden & travel the world.



4. For garden-lovers a 1,000 page book crammed chockfull with gardens the world over is an enticing prospect - though the suggestion you must all see them before you die is a bit fanciful, and symptomatic of the depersonalized, random consumerism of today's "must-see", "must-have" and "must-do" lists. Unfortunately, the book itself is not quite what it could have been. Quantity decidedly triumphed over quality. Photographs are mostly small, often quite crude and grainy, and as often unnaturally, even luridly colored. Many hardly give an impression of a garden at all, but instead focus on detail or architecture. Descriptive entries are brief and superficial. Entries are arranged geographically, from north to south and from west to east, with remarkably confusing results. The accent is very strongly on Europe, the whole of China being despatched in less pages than the Netherlands. If you are looking for a gazetteer to guide you to interesting gardens while planning a travel itinerary, this book might just give you a useful handle. If you are looking for pleasing garden images or indepth information, look elsewhere.



5. This was a great Mother's Day gift any gardener would love. Beautiful pictures of gardens around the world.

5 comments about Attracting Birds to Your Backyard: 536 Ways to Create a Haven for Your Favorite Birds (A Rodale Organic Gardening Book).

1. This book is worth its weight in gold. It is loaded with tips on gardening and attracting birds. Good for novice and old timers. Once can never know enough and new ideas are always welcome.



2. I like this book. I'm a new bird watcher and this book has many good hints.



3. This is a great beginners book. It lacks some types of birds, for pros, but for backyard bird lovers like me, it's perfect. I love the tips and heads up on how to train, feed and attact all types of birds in my area. It even has a page on building a birdhouse!! Lots of homemade treats to give you feathered friends a big smile...LOVE IT!! JK



4. I really like the way this author writes: clear succinct explanation scattered with vivid personal anecdotes. This is a sturdy oversized trade paperback that will stand up to years of thumbing through it and carrying it outside.
   
   It's stuffed with beautiful color drawings, side-bars, tables, and landscaping plans. The table of contents is a huge, comprehensive list of topics from A to Z, touching upon everything from bird anatomy to different types of feathers to the coloration and shapes of eggs to project lists to attract birds in all four seasons.
   
   If you can have only one general book on birding, I would recommend this one. With its clear writing and all its illustration, it would be suitable for motivated fifth-graders on up. It also covers so many different common birds that it's not limited to just one American region. Highly recommended. Longer review at OrnateBirdGarden-dot-com.



5. This book is great for those with short attention spans. :)
   
   It's an A to Z format of topics from Acorns to Zinnias. Individual little sections focus on food sources (i.e. acorns, berries, cherries, salvias, suet), common individual backyard birds (bluebirds, cardinals, swallows, etc.), procedures (banding, feeding, first aid), and more. The topics are logical and easy to read and provide lots of little useful tips and tidbits for attracting birds to your yard.
   
   The sections on individual birds generally include getting to know them information and a brief summary of how to attract them as well as some brief information on various types and where they are found.
   
   As an example of the plant sections, the ornamental grasses section gives a short overview of gardening with grasses and best grasses for birds with a chart that includes the plant name, bird attracted, plant description and culture.
   
   The back of the book includes sources, recommended reading, a USDA plant hardiness map and a zone map.
   
   The information is not in-depth (most of the sections are 0.5-1.5 pages long), but it's fun to read and filled with ideas for creating a haven for birds. A few of the more popular sections are given a little more space (water gardens have six pages for instance).

5 comments about Organic Marijuana, Soma Style: The Pleasures of Cultivating Connoisseur Cannabis (Marijuana Tips).

1. ..I learned to respect the plant as a living object. I really enjoyed this book. This is not for the beginner but should greatly improve someone who has a basic understanding. I think it's more for turning the hobby into a form of artwork. He teaches you how to look for body language in your garden and grow the healthiest organic medicine you can.



2. Good book, but not comprehensive.
   
   If you're just starting out and want a good book that covers the fundamentals I would start with either "Grow Great Marijuana" or "The Cannabis Grow Bible". Both are are good introductory books with GGM as a Dummies book and TCGB as a great intro to genetics and breeding.
   
   However, this book makes a good addition to the library and it's worth the price.



3. I was pleasantly surprised that a such a small book could deliver so much information. I have yet to discover a better book on Organic Cannibis cultivation. Even if you are not growing in Soil or totally organic it will still give you some great growing ideas.



4. I was really pleased with the outlook this book gave me on growing medical cannabis. It contain lots of helpful imformation and it simplified my approach to growing Cannabis. SOMA actually speaks of the Cannabis plant with a respect and reverance that is rare in American culture where the plant is categorized negatively and used as a symbol for rebellion. I suggest this book to all of my friends and all those interested in growing and I hope that this kind of reverance for this perfect plant becomes contagious in our society.



5. This book was a good read. Everything I want to know about growing and cultivating my plants was there. Along with some great tips for my plants and thier health.

1 comments about Table Flowers: Innovative Floral Designs for Entertaining.

1. As always, Paula Pryke leads the way with inovative and beautiful floral creations. This book contains fantastic photos and instructions on how to create the same design or how to upgrade it. Whether you are a novice or season floral designer, this book is one you will want to have in your floral library. All of her books are real treasures and great value for the money.