Customer Reviews

Natural Landscaping: Designing With Native Plant Communities

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I have the 1982 edition of this book - I stumbled across it and have been amazed ever since that such a book was written in 1982 before this approach to gardening/landscaping was popular.
It is tailored to the midwest, but the technical solidity and sound design concepts should apply anywhere.

Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Natural Landscaping: Designing With Native Plant Communities by licensed architect and landscaping authority John Diekelmann and natural plan restoration expert Robert Schuster is a fascinating, "user friendly" instructional guide on basic landscaping principles, as well as cogent, authoritative advice on how to restore wetlands and introduce native plant species for wetlands, grasslands, forests, and more. Black-and-white photographs as well as an inset section of color plates wonderfully illustrate this meticulous, fact-filled, professional quality, highly recommended "how-to" guide for anyone aspiring to enhance or restore native plant communities.

Natural Landscaping is an essential resource for anyone interested in landscaping with native plants. The importance of learning to use native plants is so important as we face continuing droughts in various parts of the country, including here in Williamsburg, VA. The book is so full of information that I find myself going back to it often. Many thanks to the authors for this fine volume.

Ever increasing my backyard prairie I was really looking forward to this book. Designing and using structure to create an "English Garden" of prairie plants rather than just scattering some seed. Good Idea! A prairie related book that is on a different topic than every other prairie book? Bring It On! Everything sounded cool up-front.

Inside the book, however, is page after page of black and white photographs. It's not fun. It's not exciting. I don't want my yard to look like that. Wildflowers are enjoyed for their color and great variety, to see them in black and white is a complete bummer. Flipping through this book is completely unappetizing. For me, the words and authority of the authors become completely lost. Much like a medical school textbook from 50 years ago, there are some color photographs in the center of the book. Printed on heavier page stock and with the description of each subject written in numerical order in the margin, the color photos are an unappealing interruption.

I'm surprised the University of Wisconsin published this book this way. Why would they choose to cut corners on a subject of which they have such a proud history? They have so many other great books on prairie matters.

I found this a $25 disappointment. I'd be happy to give it away.

A more appropriate title would be "Natural Landscaping: As Seen By Your Dog".