The Perennial Gardener's Design Primer (Hardcover)

~ (Author), (Author) "WHETHER YOU'RE A BRAND-NEW GARDENER or a veteran of the spade-and-trowel brigade, starting a perennial garden project can be both exhilarating and overwhelming..." (more)
Key Phrases: Exploring Perennial Partners, Knock Out, New England (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Garden design is less rule-bound than it once was, but many novices approach it with trepidation. By bringing a refreshingly relaxed attitude to a well-worn topic, Cohen and Ondra give it friendly appeal. Both are professional designers and private enthusiasts who believe "you don't really know a plant until you've killed it." Readers who follow their ample, practical advice are much more likely to create beautiful gardens than to kill many plants, and even experienced gardeners will pick up some tips. First, the authors "demystify" perennial design, explaining how to approach a project, choose plants, plan the design and add details for extra appeal. They then explain how to "put perennials to work," focusing on specific designs and including handsome color sketches, schematic plans and lush photographs. Each of their designs accomplishes a goal—solving a problem with site conditions (e.g., excessive shade or sun), achieving a desired color effect, maximizing seasonal impact—and comes with a detailed list of recommended plants and alternate selections. Finally, in the "From Theory to Practice" section, they document the two-year histories of a new border, a major expansion and a garden renovation. The conversational text and photographs comparing early plantings with second-year results are great confidence builders for neophytes. Helpful appendixes include a zone map, a comprehensive plant list in an easy-to-use chart format and a reading list.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Just when it seems there couldn't possibly be anything original to say on the subject of perennial-garden design, along come two authors with a breezy style, down-to-earth advice, and a refreshingly open approach to prove you wrong. Cohen and Ondra bring their lifelong personal and professional passion to the creation of a design manual that tells both the novice and experienced gardener what to do, what to use, and just about anything else one would need to know to create vivid designs. Presented in a conversational, understandable manner, the authors' liberal use of puns, quips, and catchy phrases also makes the book a joy to read. Especially helpful are 20 original, plant-by-numbers designs addressing a variety of garden challenges; and thoughtful information about garden renovation will be savored by new homeowners who have inherited someone else's mistakes, or established gardeners weary of their current landscaping. Plant charts, reading lists, and detailed descriptions of more than 475 perennials round out this welcome addition to any garden library. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (February 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580175457
• ISBN-13: 978-1580175456
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #923,019 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 20 plans for different kinds of gardens, March 6, 2005

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

This review is from: The Perennial Gardener's Design Primer (Paperback)

Perennials may be put in their place using an organized design pattern and Stephanie Cohen's teaching background blends with nursery owner Nancy Ondra's experience with rare plants to make for an excellent set of design tips in Perennial Gardener's Design Primer. Here are 20 plans for different kinds of gardens, along with designer tips, checklists, and a list of recommended reliable perennials. Color photos and plenty of diagrams and charts pack life into a recommended gardener's planning guide.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Design Manual, November 17, 2005

By	Ronda Thomson "Jordy's gramma" (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Perennial Gardener's Design Primer (Paperback)

I have purchased many Garden design books. I want something to just give me an idea and Ill go from there. This book does just that. The color ideas, what to plant with what. Has detailed sketched designs as well as many photographs of actual flower beds.
The quick reference Planning Chart has to be one of my favorite things about the book.
Would I buy it again? yes, I think I would

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perrennial Gardner's Design Primer, August 9, 2005

By	garden bee (Chattanooga) - See all my reviews

I have over 50 gardening books, but none of them compare to this one for gardening design. It has a wide variety of garden designs with exact directions for placement. The only drawback I see in this book is for southern gardners. I was not familiar w/all of the plants & I suspect most of them are for northern gardens.