Garden Stone: Creative Ideas, Practical Projects, and Inspiration for Purely Decorative Uses [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Barbara Pleasant (Author), Dency Kane (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2002

GARDEN STONE presents visual inspiration for creative ways to use stone in gardens, coupled with the practical information needed to carry out those ideas in home landscapes. More than 250 full-color photographs by Dency Kane demonstrate how gardeners can exploit the contrasting textures and colors of stone and plants to create all kinds of stone projects, from dramatic focal points to practical garden features. Stone images come from gardens in all parts of North America, celebrating the variety and beauty of stone in different geographic locations.

Basic information and clear examples help readers enjoy the magic of working with stone. Projects include patterned stone mosaic walkways, simple meditation gardens, a dry streambed planted with water-conserving plants, a raised herb garden, several rock gardens, a pocket pond, a stone-filled water garden, and stone and water features that attract birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. Gardeners will especially appreciate learning how to interplant in stone walls and paths, erect an espalier against a stone wall, grow a moss garden, and create unique stone sculptures.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Stone is one of the most beautiful and enduring building materials, and to exploit its qualities one must be aware of a number of specialized techniques. Both Pleasant's and Reed's offerings will allow readers to use stone as a creative material outdoors. These titles are in some ways very similar, showing readers a variety of techniques used to shape and place stones in their yards and providing ideas for creating paths and walls. They diverge in approach and depth Pleasant's title places a greater emphasis on gardening and landscaping details such as plant selection, while Reed's provides much more information on actually building things (and, as one might guess, building with stone is a lot of work). Both titles are well written and beautifully illustrated throughout. Larger collections will want both of these wonderful books, but if libraries are forced to choose only one, then Pleasant's gets the nod because of its wider appeal to both gardeners and builders.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Countering the growing trend toward the overuse, and often incorrect use, of stone in landscape design, Pleasant illustrates the distinction between stone that is simply placed in the garden and stone that is truly of the garden. The former often occurs without reason; the latter exists because it's both necessary and seems utterly natural. Although stone might be seen as an unyielding substance, Pleasant views it as a supremely malleable material, wanting only the creativity of those who recognize its artistic attributes. Truly, no stone has been left unturned in this encyclopedic discourse on the many ways it can enhance a landscape, from captivating pathways to romantic garden walls. Pleasant's enthusiasm is infectious, and her writing poetic and eloquent as she reveals, with the help of Dency Kane's striking color photography, stone's majesty and magic, elevating this most ancient of garden materials into the realm of garden art. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158017406X
• ISBN-13: 978-1580174060
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #617,844 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have the greatest job in the world, which is helping gardeners find neat ways to make the world a more beautiful and productive place. Writing feature article for Mother Earth News and other magazines helps to break up long stretches spent on books, and it's also great fun to talk with fellow gardeners, who are a constant source of new and better ideas.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An informative and practical text, February 5, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Garden Stone: Creative Ideas, Practical Projects, and Inspiration for Purely Decorative Uses (Hardcover)

In Garden Stone: Creative Ideas, Practical Projects, And Inspiration For Purely Decorative Uses, gardening expert Barbara Pleasant has produced an impressive compendium of tips, tricks, techniques, suggestion, and original ideas for blending stone, plants, soil, water, and light to create gardens of enduring beauty and inspiration. The informative and practical text is wonderfully illustrated by Dency Kane's 250 full-color photographs of lush gardens and garden stonework taken from gardens throughout North America. More than forty different gardening projects are presented, along with instructional line drawings to complete stone projects in association with highlight plants that are especially effective when used in the company of stone. Garden Stone is a unique and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and professional gardening reference collections.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful, practical book, May 9, 2002

By 

cindy krezel (east norwich, ny United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Garden Stone: Creative Ideas, Practical Projects, and Inspiration for Purely Decorative Uses (Hardcover)

This is a lovely book, full of practical advice, good ideas and useful tips. It's well written and easy to follow, perfect for anyone interested in adding stone to the garden or creating a garden in a stony site. But even those who may not have an application for the book will enjoy Dency Kane's gorgeous photographs. It's a great book for perusing and dreaming.