Customer Reviews

Garden Retreats: Creating an Outdoor Sanctuary

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I found Barbara Ashmun's new book 'Garden Retreats' a truly inspiring read. By intimately relating her impressions of youth and how her own style developed, the author encourages readers to look within themselves for clues to what their own unique garden retreat might be. Barbara's book guides the reader in the process of creating a truly individual space. Written in gentle poetic prose, the book transports the reader within the retreats she so well describes. Garden Retreats abounds with practical ideas for creating retreats, from creating a private place, to setting the mood with colors and textures, structures and a lot more. The book glows with stunning photographs by Allan Mandell which makes it so inspiring to copy the ideas pictured. I highly recommend this book to novice as well as experienced gardeners.

My favourite refuge from the world is my garden. It is a place for quiet meditation, peaceful thoughts and tranquil rememories. Whether you enjoy the simplicity of sitting in the shade of tree, or have the exquisite joy of enjoying the calming waterfalls and lush greenery of a Zen garden, you will thoroughly enjoy this delightful book. You do not need a lot of space to create your own retreat. As you will discover through the book, all it truly takes is a little creativity, and a labour of love to create your own magical retreat, a little piece of Heaven on Earth. I loved this soothing book with its touch of philosophical splendor and beautiful photography. Whether you prefer an English country garden or a more spiritual retreat, you are bound to find some inspiring little tips on how to create your own "time in the sun" in this wonderful little book.

This book will most certainly teach you the essentials of creating a quiet garden space for thought and reflection. The range of ideas is extraordinary and the photos will inspire you. However, the text is at times rather "sappy", i.e., a bit too sentimental and too tritely philosophical. I found myself racing through the prose to get to the design elements but was very satisfied with the useful content, once found.

"Garden Retreats: Creating an Outdoor Sancutary" by Barbara Blossom Ashmun is one of the few garden books on my shelves that has great writing, great content, and great photography. Her writing is beautifully sensual as it puts into words the feelings one would have visiting any of the private West Coast garden retreats described in this excellent book. She clearly explains how to make the patio, the path, or decorate the arbor that makes the retreat a special hideaway from the rest of the world. Allan Mandell is an outstanding photographer whose wonderful photographs capture the mood and depict Ashmun's words perfectly. This book makes creating your own retreat seem like a definitely achievable goal.

I have this book sitting on my coffee table. Makes it easier to flip through it throughout the day and imagine the many possibilities, delight in the colorful photos, pick up some helpful information, and be warmed by the author's sincere, encouraging tone. This book covers most everything you'd need to know, without getting bogged down anywhere. It's a fun read, and I'd highly recommend it.

If you think of a garden as a place for spiritual regeneration, then you'll love Garden Retreats. The author has found a lovely balance between the practical gardening/garden design info and expressing the feeling of some very diverse gardens, from Zen style to English cottage. It's really well organized by features like entryways, pathways, canopies and sheltering walls. If you garden, this will fire you up with inspiration. (Oh, did I mention that the photos are stunning? a perfect complement in tone to the text.)

This book will most certainly teach you the essentials of creating a quiet garden space for thought and reflection. The range of ideas is extraordinary and the photos will inspire you. However, the text is at times rather "sappy", i.e., a bit too sentimental and too tritely philosophical. I found myself racing through the prose to get to the design elements but was very satisfied with the useful content, once found.