Blue Planet Garden Blog

Ebook Giveaway – Everyday Feng Shui: A Plant Lover’s Guide to Garden Design

What makes a California garden designer, whose education and experience is firmly rooted in Western design principles, think she can write a book about Feng Shui?

The short answer is, she can’t.

Like many of you, however, I consider myself a life-long learner. And when the subject at hand relates to garden design, so much the better. I’ve been dabbling in one specific aspect of Feng Shui for several years now, and recently published an eBook on the subject. What sets Everyday Feng Shui A Plant Lover's Guide to Garden Design (On Your Own Design) apart from other books on garden Feng Shui is that rather than a complex system of space planning, the focus is on the plants themselves.

The Creative Cycle

I’ve concentrated on one of the core tenents of Feng Shui—the Creative Cycle. At the heart of the Creative Cycle is the belief that all things have their origin in one of the five elemental groups: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water or Wood. Just as Western garden principles strive to create balance in the garden, Feng Shui similarly focuses on harmony, teaching that for a garden to be truly welcoming, all five elements should be present. Now here is the fun part: each of the elements can be represented by specific plant characteristics! A perfect design tool for gardeners, as we already see plants as the heart and soul of the garden.

Here is a brief description of each of the five elements:

Fire – Symbolic of energy and aggression. Represented by the color red and triangular or jagged, sharp shapes.

 

Earth – Symbolic of harmony and balance. Represented by the colors brown and yellow and square, flat-topped shapes.

Metal – Symbolic of creativity and collecting. Represented by the colors white, silver and gray and by circular or domed shapes.

 

Water – Symbolic of meditation and reflection. Represented by the colors blue and black and by wavy, meandering shapes.

 

Wood – Symbolic of growth and trust. Represented by the color green and by rectangular shapes.

What makes this approach to garden design so appealing, is that rather than replacing traditional Western design principles, it enhances them. As an example, take the following photo:

From a Feng Shui perspective, this front yard is suffering from an excess of Earth (represented by the square shapes of the lawn, driveway and severely-pruned bushes) and Wood (via the color green). Peaceful to the point of boring. Zzzzzz. The key to bringing it back into balance is through the introduction of the other elements on the Creative Cycle. If this were my client, I would begin by removing the unnaturally-shaped shrubs, downsizing the lawn and adding curved planting beds. Budget allowing, I might even add a curved path from the street to the front door. These changes would bring in Water’s meditative influence. Next comes filling the beds with plants in a mix of colors and textures, making sure to include plants with variegated foliage to bring in a touch of Metal’s elegance as well as some sharply-textured New Zealand flax or aloes to channel Fire’s bright energy.

While similar conclusions can be reached without recourse to the Creative Cycle, of course, determining what is wrong with an existing garden is often more challenging than creating a new one from scratch. Why not add another diagnostic tool to your gardening toolkit? Not to mention it’s just plain fun to rethink an outdoor space through the lens of the Creative Cycle.

If you are looking for easy-to-implement ways to make your garden a more enjoyable space that is alive with positive energy, then Everyday Feng Shui provides a roadmap to achieving a new level of harmony in your garden. No need to redesign the garden’s entire layout or rip out and replace planting beds wholesale (unless you enjoy that sort of thing, of course). With a few additions or subtractions, almost any garden space can become more balanced, welcoming and harmonious.

To learn more, go to Amazon and download a sample of the book. Or better yet, leave a comment here or on my Facebook page. I’ll be giving away 3 copies, winners to be announced next Thursday, December 13th. As an FYI for those of you with gardeners on your Christmas list, if you’ve never given a Kindle book as a gift before, it’s incredibly easy. All you have to do is enter the recipient’s email address and voila! It’s done. Should you prefer to bestow your gift in person, simply have the gift certificate emailed to yourself.

In the unlikely event that you're not interested in this giveaway, check back next week anyway. I'll be giving away a copy of the just released Why Grow That When You Can Grow This?: 255 Extraordinary Alternatives to Everyday Problem Plants.

Update 12-13-12: The winners are in!

Chosen by a random number generator, congrats to commenters  #8 Loree/Danger Garden, #13 Sheila Schultz and #15 Judy Tilson. Keep an eye on your email for a message from Amazon!

Book Review: The 50 Mile Bouquet

 

As a garden designer, the word sustainable has been a part of my lexicon for quite some time now, and as a dedicated foodie, I’m a regular at my local farmers markets, where I know the benefits to be had from choosing organic produce, cage-free eggs and grass-fed beef. But it wasn’t until I met Debra Prinzing and learned about her passion for seasonal, locally grown flowers that I thought to apply these ideas to the floral trade.

 

The 50 Mile Bouquet: Seasonal, Local and Sustainable Flowers is the result of years of interviewing and photographing sustainable growers, designers and florists from all over the country. Most of the book paints a series of individual portraits, whether it is a husband-and-wife team working 16 hour days to grow peonies and dahlias in Washington state, or San Francisco floral designer (and personal friend) Baylor Chapman, who transformed the unused edges of an asphalt parking lot into her own sustainable, outdoor "warehouse".

 

I now understand that the bulk of the industry is made up of “factory flowers”, bred to be shipped long distances and therefore doused with chemical preservatives to make the trip. Between the chemicals and the carbon footprint of transporting a flower hundreds - or even thousands - of miles, it’s easy to reach the conclusion that sustainable, local flowers are a far better environmental choice, not just for the planet but in our own homes as well.

 

Despite sharing sobering facts like these, the book is not a giant lecture on sustainability (and if you’ve read some of my past reviews, you know I hate being lectured to), but rather a celebration of the beauty of old-fashioned, seasonal blooms and the spirit of community. Many of those interviewed talk about the rewards of selling directly to floral designers and the general public, and the pleasure they take in sharing how their blooms are grown and should be cared for.

 

And the photos! The 50 Mile Bouquet’s co-creator is renowned photographer David Perry, whose beautifully realized pictures not only highlight the charm of an old-fashioned bouquet, but also capture the individuals who have dedicated their careers to, in the words of Diane Szukovathy “leaving the land in better shape than we found it.”

 

The 50 Mile Bouquet is a love letter to the joy that comes from a fresh posy of seasonal, local blooms. Lingering over photos of decadent, pastel-colored peonies or reading about the bride who picked and arranged the vibrant dahlias of her wedding bouquet will have you wondering how anyone could prefer an outrageously priced, chemically-doused box of long-stemmed roses.

 

 

Roundup - Garden Book Giveaways

In the mood to up your gardening game but short on cash this spring? Fortunately, publishers and bloggers are being more than generous with giveaways this year, so your chances of scoring at least one freebee are better than average. Here's what I found on a quick tour of some favorite blogs:

Edibles Contest

Timber Press and Peaceful Valley are offering a plethora of goodies here, including organic seeds and five edible gardening books! Contest ends March 23. As an added bonus, I finally worked the word "plethora" into a blog post.

 

Earthworms 101

Gardenrant is not only offering Amy Stewart's recently re-released classic The Earth Moved: On the Remarkable Achievements of Earthworms, here but Nature's Footprint is throwing in a few worm composting bins to help you put your new-found knowledge to work right away. If Gardenrant doesn't show you any love, you have a second chance at North Coast Gardening, where Gen is running the same contest. Both posts include a great how-to video on worm composting.

 

Updated Garden Classic

And last but by no means least, Gardening Gone Wild is giving away five copies of The New Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (Sunset Western Garden Book) here. I had a chance to page through the book at the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show this week, and the latest revisions (such as plant photos instead of drawings) have taken the garden bible we westerners rely on to a whole new level. Contest ends April 13. If you want to try your luck twice, or like me, keep a copy in your office and in your car, North Coast Gardening is giving you a second chance to win.

Good luck and good reading!

Book Review: Small-Space Container Gardens

Instead of my usual attempt at a witty opening sentence, for once I’m cutting right to the chase: I absolutely love Small-Space Container Gardens: Transform Your Balcony, Porch, or Patio with Fruits, Flowers, Foliage, and Herbs!

Written by Fern Richardson, author of the hugely popular blog Life on the Balcony, Small-Space Container Gardens covers just about everything you want to know about container gardening. Filled with useful information, but written in a relaxed, chatty style, it’s a great cover-to-cover read, while also working well as a reference guide if you’re looking for specific tips, such as container plants that attract butterflies or how to choose the correct potting soil.

The book is divided into 8 chapters. The first chapters cover the basics of container gardening, going beyond the containers themselves to share design tips on furniture, lighting and flooring, as well as suggestions on coping with environmental conditions such as windy balconies. Fern’s personal experience with balcony gardening strongly informs this section of the book, and although anyone interested in container gardening will find plenty of useful information, cash-strapped apartment dwellers with a crafty streak will undoubtedly feel they’ve hit the mother lode. Two things I particularly liked in these chapters: an easy-to-understand section on combining colors and a clever and affordable idea for adding modular flooring to balcony gardens.

 

Awesome interpretation of the color wheel for gardeners

Later chapters cover different styles of container gardening, including potager gardens (fancy French term for a kitchen garden with a structured design, pronounced puh ta zhay), planting for privacy, succulents and attracting wildlife, a chapter I particularly enjoyed.

 

The muse for this balcony garden is the path of succulents and the shabby chic urn at the Huntington Botanical Gardens.

A monarch butterfly enjoys a meal, courtesy of a thoughtful container gardener

Sprinkled throughout are DIY ideas geared towards saving money and adding a personal touch to a garden. One of my favorites is the homemade birdbath pictured below, which is shallow enough for bees and other insects to use. I’m thinking of trying this one in my own garden, although my obsession with purple suggests I’ll be painting it a different color.

 

 

What I liked:

• The book has a good mix of professionally researched information and personal preferences. I like the fact that Fern recommends not only a category of plants (like calendula for edible flowers) but then tells us her favorite cultivar – in this case ‘Zeolights’, because it starts out bronze-orange then fades to light pink.
• Designs! Several of the chapters feature layouts for small balconies or courtyards. Since this is my profession, I realize I"m a little biased, but I know I’m not the only one who finds it much easier to grasp the design intent when there is a picture to go along with the description.
• Situational plant recommendations that go beyond most publications. For example, instead of a general category of plants that attract wildlife, there are specific lists for birds, butterflies and bees.

 

Unusually for me, I don’t really have quibbles for this review, but I do have a few caveats.

This book focuses more on designing and gardening WITH containers, rather than IN containers. That’s one of the main reasons I like it, but if you are looking for an illustrated roadmap on specific plant combinations, a good companion to Small-Space Container Gardens is Container Gardening: 250 Design Ideas & Step-By-Step Techniques

Athough it includes plants for all USDA zones and addresses issues that gardeners in colder parts of the country face (such as dealing with freezing temperatures and mosquitos), with its emphasis on succulents, flowers and edibles, the book favors warm-weather gardeners and those with the ability to overwinter indoors or who don’t mind relying more on annuals.

Filled with practical advice, design ideas and DIY projects, Small-Space Container Gardens is a must-have resource for space-challenged gardeners.

Meet the Author: Northern California friends, if you'd like to learn more and meet the author in person, Fern will be speaking at the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show, Saturday, March 24th at 11 a.m.

Book Review: Beautiful No-Mow Yards

In 2007, I designed my first no-lawn back yard. I would have welcomed advice on design strategies or plant options, but at the time, a book like that wasn’t even a gleam in a publisher’s eye. So you can imagine how thrilled I am to have the opportunity to review Evelyn Hadden’s newest book,  Beautiful No-Mow Yards: 50 Amazing Lawn Alternatives (Timber Press 2012).

Following a wonderful forward by fellow Lawn Reform Coalition member Susan Harris and a terrific introduction where Evelyn eloquently describes how our changing definition of beauty doesn’t necessarily include a lawn and further encourages us to “return life to our landscapes,” the book is divided into three sections. The first section makes up more than 75% of the book and focuses on design inspiration. You won’t be surprised to hear that this was my favorite part. Set up mainly as case studies, Evelyn reviews in detail various strategies both homeowners and professional designers have used to replace lawn with garden.

There’s something for everyone here, as gardens from all over the United States that showcase a range of cultural and lifestyle situations are featured: woodland gardens, rain gardens and kids' play areas, just to name a few. This segment ends with a section called “smarter lawns,” perfect for the homeowner who is ready to eschew a chemically propped up, water-guzzling version of a lawn, but for esthetic or functional reasons, still wants their own little patch of green. (Or even blue!)

Prairie garden, photograph by Saxon Holt

Pond and patio instead of lawn, designed by fellow APLD member Kelly Marshall and photographed by Saxon Holt.

No-Mow Lawn

The second section is practical, with advice on removing existing sod, as well as planting, irrigating and maintaining a lawn-free garden. The final section is a comprehensive plant list, arranged by design intent. Categories such as ground-filling plants, mat-forming plants and minglers let you go right to the plant list that fits your garden’s particular needs.

Looks time consuming, but in fact there's very little effort in maintaining a lawn alternative like this one.

 

Stunning example of a tapestry of mat-forming plants

What I like

• Evelyn is hands down one of the best garden writers I’ve had the pleasure of reading. I have a large library of gardening books, most with excellent content, but few rival the elegant and graceful prose of Beautiful No-Mow Yards.
• I appreciate the level of detail provided about the gardens featured in the design section. Many of the descriptions go beyond the lawn alternatives used, and describe interesting details about the design as a whole. For example, I enjoyed learning that the designer of a woodland shade garden designed a stream with waterfalls facing different directions in order to maximize water’s effectiveness as a “light catcher” in a shady space. Brilliant!
• The book is very comprehensive, with a soup to nuts approach that covers design inspiration, practical advice on removing lawn and a list of plant options. If you’re thinking about removing all or part of your lawn, Beautiful No-Mow Yards serves as a convenient, one-stop shop.
• Evelyn doesn’t sugar coat her case studies, but shares stories of gardeners who have had failures as well as successes. I know from experience that no matter how much I educate myself in advance, remaking a garden is an imperfect process, and the smart gardener should expect to hit a few bumps in the road.

Quibbles

• While the book is filled with excellent photographs, the majority are close-ups that don’t easily convey the effect of a lawn alternative vs. traditional turf grass. Having struggled to find photos to explain some of the concepts in my own book, I can appreciate this can be difficult, but the detailed descriptions of several of the design strategies in the first portion of the book left me wanting more, and would have benefited from either additional photos, or ideally, a plan view of the overall design.
• Not so much a quibble as an observation: many of the same plants are referenced repeatedly, such as creeping thyme, sedum and dead nettle. This isn’t really a negative as it reinforces that certain plants are particularly tough and well-suited for no-lawn gardens, but if you already have an extensive plant palette, this book probably won’t introduce you to many plants you aren’t already familiar with.
• I wish it had been written five years ago.

Whether you are a designer, home gardener, wild-life enthusiast or an environmentalist, Beautiful No-Mow Yards is a must-have addition for your gardening library.

 Looking for more lawn reform inspiration? Evelyn's made it easy by gathering the links right here.

Unless otherwise indicated, all photos by Evelyn Hadden.