Home Repair Book Store > Home Repair books beginning with F
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The Front Garden: New Approaches to Landscape Design |
Author: Mary Riley Smith
Published: 2001-02-27 |
List price: $22.00
Our price: $19.80
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In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served.
As of: January 05th, 2009 06:38:10 PM
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Customer comments on this selection.
 Oldie but goodie......
When Mary Riley Smith's THE FRONT GARDEN was published in 1991, it became an instant hit with me. Other writers have jumped into the subject since then, but Riley's book retains the freshness of relatively new and creative original ideas. I began my front garden over 20 years ago, when we moved into a seven-year old house here in Arlington that sat back from the street on a narrow lot. The front yard is much bigger than the back yard, and it pained me to see all the wasted space. The front yard received much sunlight, the back is in shade. Anyone with a desire to grow most of the perennials available in these times knows, that most of them do better in sunshine.
So, when the dogwood badly planted in the hot sun succumbed to borers, to the amazement of our conventional neighbors, we rototilled the front yard and created a huge swath of flowers and shrubs. I used many of the ideas in my own head (for better or worse) until I found Smith's book.
Although "only" a paperback, the book includes many stunning photos of gardens in the front yard--along driveways, beside houses, next to porches. Best of all Smith includes some simplistic designs (what every new gardener needs) showing various plants for your geometric or herb or vegetable garden. Did I say vegetable? Yes, indeedy. I grow hot peppers, beans, and last year melons in raised beds. We have a terraced garden made from timbers sitting in the middle of the front yard where you are likely to see tulips in the spring and beans later on. This year, if you pass by, you will see purple peppers in the petunias (ornamental veggies are the "in" plant).
I've noticed over the years that my neighbors are filling in their wasted spaces (front yards) with flowers and veggies. The kindest comments of all come from the passersby who stop to admire the garden and go away with a smile. One woman said "Thank you for opening up your garden to the street."
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