Pots in the Garden: Expert Design & Planting Techniques [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Ray Rogers (Author), Richard Hartlage (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2007

No longer a technique just for apartment dwellers or novice gardeners, the use of ornamental containers on decks, patios, terraces, and in the garden itself can save time, space, and money, while offering experienced home gardeners unique creative challenges, site flexibility, and experimental fun. Author and award-winning horticulturist Ray Rogers takes you on an engaging exploration into basic design principles as well as how to create focal points, use water, exploit the potential of empty containers, and more. Stunning photographs by Richard Hartlage provide guidance and inspiration, as well as visually explaining each principle. Gardeners at every level of experience will find inspiration and instruction in this comprehensive book.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Rogers points out that many people have a limited space in which to plant a garden and don't have a lot of time to pursue their hobby. He writes that one of the most space-saving and time-efficient ways to enjoy gardening is to include container plantings. They don't take up much room, although they can fill the entire garden. Container planting gives gardeners more control over the specific soil, water, light, and other conditions that plants need to thrive, and they can be used to cover walls and railings. Rogers discusses basic design elements, including color, line, form and mass, space, and texture, and he explores such topics as creating focal points. The plant groups discussed are annuals and perennials, trees and shrubs, cacti and other succulents, tropicals, bulbs, climbers and trailers, and aquatics. Included are 240 splendid color photographs. George Cohen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

“Filled with discussions about color, form and texture, this book doesn’t merely make plant and arrangement suggestions. Rather, Rogers instructs on design principles, pot selections, planting techniques and more, inspiring the reader to find his own style…”

San Francisco Chronicle

"Ray Rogers is a horticultural Einstein whose container theories are sure to inspire even the most insipid containers of garden relativity." John Bagnasco, , July/August 2007

"This 248-page book offers loads of inspiration for beginners and experienced gardeners."

The Orange County Register

"Since most of us probably don’t have exterior decorators to explain confusing matters like the role of contrast and vantage points around the grounds, the authors clear the air in layman’s terms."
(Charlotte Magazine )

"Rogers points out that many people have a limited space in which to plant a garden and don't have a lot of time to pursue their hobby. He writes that one of the most space-saving and time-efficient ways to enjoy gardening is to include container plantings...Rogers discusses basic design elements, including color, line, form and mass, spece, and texture. Included are 240 splendid photgraphs."
—George Cohen, Booklist (Booklist )

"...this spring I have shifted my thoughts to Design, with a capital D, because of...Pots in the Garden"
— Ann Raver, The New York Times (The New York Times )

"Pots in the Garden … blossoms with inspiring container creations for beginners and longtime gardeners alike."

(The Sarnia (Ontario) Observer )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press (February 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881928348
• ISBN-13: 978-0881928341
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,607 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars container gardening, March 13, 2007

By 

prafaces (NW Oregon) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pots in the Garden: Expert Design & Planting Techniques (Hardcover)

(This review focuses on the photographs in "Pots in the Garden.")
Picture quality is very good throughout the book, and in parts I and II ("the elements of design" and "bringing it all together") the picture content is excellent as well.
Unlike most container gardening books this one neither details container plantings nor uses captions, instead it inconspicuosly numbers each picture and then conspicuosly puts the number in the text with its corresponding description. Garden styles represented vary but the bold, Little-and-Lewis-type modernists lead the way, and even if this isn't your favorite style of garden you will probably love the containers featured in them!
What really sets this book apart is the variety of pots featured. Terra cotta and stone/concrete are great, and the English gardening books display some wonderful copper and lead, but those of you who especially love high quality glazed/rustic containers and know that it is not all that easy to find good examples of them will be happy to add this book to your collection.
The reasons I didn't give 5 stars are the book's slightly smallish size (9 1/4 x 8 1/2) and its 3rd part ("plant groups for containers") which, though it has some very interesting and unique plant picks (dark purple/black perennial clematis?), does not show most of them in containers; admittedly difficult to do, but David Joyce's "The Complete Container Garden" sure did it well. That's about eighty pages where pots are rarely pictured.
Overall a beautiful and inspiring book at a very good price.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed it all, May 14, 2007

By 

J. Schiller "j's jollies" (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pots in the Garden: Expert Design & Planting Techniques (Hardcover)

The book is an excellent reference source. Photos are beautiful. Numbering the pictures with the description very helpful. Lovely coffee table book. I have told other gardeners to seek the book out.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous book and inspired arrangements, July 30, 2007

By 

Jennie L. Locati (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pots in the Garden: Expert Design & Planting Techniques (Hardcover)

I purchased several gardening books together and this one was the highlight. Not only beautifully photographed but full of interesting suggestions and writing. My husband and I were able to immediately use some of the arrangements as inspiration for a new bed in our garden. Turned out beautifully!