Seascape Gardening: From New England to the Carolinas [Paperback]

Anne Halpin (Author), Roger Foley (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2006

Gardening by the sea is unlike any other gardening experience in the world. The gentle, misty light, moderate climate, and natural beauty of the coast only make seaside gardens more beautiful. Add to that the pleasant memories of summers spent by the sea as a child, and the allure is irresistible for most any gardener or ocean-lover.

But aside from the scenic landscape and romantic setting are serious challenges to be overcome. The East Coast is known for its extreme weather—storms blow in during the winter with gale-force winds, spraying sand and salt on every plant in their path. Even during the summer, high winds, fierce sun, and periods of drought challenge the toughest plants. Seaside gardens must be able to tolerate the elements and still look good.

Author Anne Halpin is a renowned garden designer and writer who lives on Long Island Sound. She navigates the rocky shores and sandy dunes of the East Coast from New England to South Carolina, showing readers how to plant and care for seaside gardens that work with the elements, not against them. Keeping in mind those who only dream of living by the sea, Halpin also offers portraits of successful seaside gardens up and down the coast, with stunning images from award-winning photographer Roger Foley.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this lushly illustrated how-to book, veteran gardener Halpin (Homescaping; etc.), herself a seaside gardener on Long Island, delves into the difficulties, pleasures and practicalities of gardening by the sea. She presents an overview of the geology and geography of the Atlantic coast from Maine to South Carolina and discusses the elemental challenges of seaside gardening—wind, salt, flooding, sand and sun. Suggestions for ways to work with or overcome these conditions include finding and sheltering an appropriate garden site, using native plants, creating windbreaks and improving the often poor seaside soils. Halpin presents "profiles" of 11 gorgeous seaside gardens varying in locale, from rocky southern Maine to marshy Maryland, and structure, some with formal and difficult-to-maintain plantings, others using native plants for low maintenance, with intriguing comments from the gardens' designers and caretakers about their failures, successes and passion for oceanside gardening. These gardens are mostly designed by landscape architects and professionally maintained, and may intimidate the DIY seaside gardener, but the book brims with practical information and lists of plants appropriate to particular situations. Almost half of the volume is devoted to an illustrated encyclopedia of seaside-compatible species, addressing hardiness, tolerance and recommended varieties. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Ann Halpin does a wonderful job describing the successes and challenges of beach gardening."—Ursula Sabia Sukinik, Washington Gardener, September-October 2006 (Ursula Sabia Sukinik Washington Gardener )

“An encyclopedia guide to creating a variety of hardy landscapes.  Inspirational, waterfront gardens along the East Coast are followed by advice on choosing  perennials, grasses and tress, plus planting and maintaining them.”

-- Waterfront Home & Design

 

“Beachfront gardening is unique and complex, but Halpin guides her fellow Long Islanders, offering planting and design advice, maintenance suggestions, [and] solutions to the biggest challenges.”

Newsday

 

 

“[This] well-written, beautiful book will help seashore gardeners deal with the special challenges of coastal conditions and enjoy the rewards.”

The American Gardener

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (May 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580175317
• ISBN-13: 978-1580175319
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 9.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,141,271 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gardening by the sea, January 12, 2006

By 

W. Oliver (Alabama) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seascape Gardening: From New England to the Carolinas (Paperback)

I don't live by the sea and have never gardened there but I received this book as a galley and I enjoyed it very much. Seaside gardeners have a lot of challenges including salt spray from the ocean, harsh sunlight, erosion and extreme sandy soil that lacks nutrients. The author writes about the different geographical environments along the Atlantic seacoast (from Maine to South Carolina) and then explains how a garden can be created in these conditions. Creating a sheltered space is essential and good information details how to find the best site, choosing a garden style, working with color schemes, improving the soil, using containers and how to use structures and hardscapes. Line drawings as well as photos nicely illustrate the text.

The middle section of the book profiles 11 different gardens in various locations along the eastern coast. These gardens are beautifully photographed and the owners describe the challenges and rewards of their gardens.

The last section of the book profiles the best plants to use and include trees, shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses, vines and ground covers. A chart for each plant gives details as to zone, exposure, salt tolerance, drought tolerance and deer resistance. A detailed description of the plant and recommended cultivars are provided as well.

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Extrememly disappointing., October 2, 2006

By 

M. Chapman (coastal MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seascape Gardening: From New England to the Carolinas (Paperback)

Somewhat inspirational but not enough practical detailed information.
I didn't like the author's attitude of superiority.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine guide to the shrubs and landscaping choices which enhance an Atlantic environment, September 2, 2006

By 

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

This review is from: Seascape Gardening: From New England to the Carolinas (Paperback)

Anne Halpin's Seascape Gardening From New England To The Carolinas may not reach the West coast but East Coast residents will find this a fine guide to the shrubs and landscaping choices which enhance an Atlantic environment. The seaside residence offers special gardening challenges: salt and coastal conditions affect plant choices and growing conditions. Halpin here explains these conditions and how to best work with them.