Customer Reviews

Big Ideas for Northwest Small Gardens

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This book delivers what the title promises. The writer, a Master Gardener based in Seattle, sets out to help her readers to "find space where you think there is none and help you decide what to do with it".

The book has seven chapters. The first is a general introduction to the topic, looking at issues such as soil, watering, air quality and gardening on a slope (this was really useful for me). The other six each look at one area of the garden, such as the side garden, the front garden, and balconies. At the back of the book there are lists of trees, shrubs, perennials etc that should do well in most small Northwest gardens. The book is nicely illustrated with photographs by Jacqueline Koch.

I had the feeling that the writer has truly experienced the pleasures and problems of a small garden in the Pacific Northwest. She is knowledgeable, articulate and enthusiastic about the topic, giving fairly comprehensive information in a limited space. She doesn't shy away from awkward topics such as what to do about gaps in hedges.

This is a good, honest, value-for-money book for the Northwest gardener.

I have wanted this book which is clear, concise and perfect for my habitat. I really shouldn't complain since the book was so inexpensive and I love it -- BUT -- when a book is listed as "--very good" I don't expect the cover to be bent in the middle (then was straightened out) so it was clearly folded on itself in the middle of the cover nor do I expect it to be dirty. That is the received condition of the book. The cover is coated so that was easy to clean (so easy one wonders why the seller didn't do it). As I said though it is a book I really wondered and at an almost free price.

Love the book! The size, information, photos, and recommendations are perfect for the small space gardener. I live in Seattle and the local author provides lots of practical ideas for urban gardening in the Pacific NW. As many gardening books I have on the bookcase, I often find myself referring to this whenever I need some inspiration.