I remember when I first learned about perennials and thought – what a great idea, I’ll never have to replant again. LOL. Even if pernnials didn’t have to be divided, or die, most of us still have to move plants, add plants or remove plants in our attempts to have a garden that pleases the eye and the heart. For my full review you can click here, but I can tell you briefly that The Perennial Gardener’s Design Primer: The Essential Guide to Creating Simply Sensational Gardens delivers design instruction and advice that will be useful to every gardener, novice or experienced. The authors, Stephanie Cohen and Nancy J. Ondra will be familiar to some of you, and will immediately indicate the value of this useful book.
I like Stephanie and Nan giving us a peek at their own garden designs.
Through Storey’s generosity I am Giving Away a copy of this book next Sunday, December 19. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post if you want to participate in the Giveaway. Maybe you can tell me about the thing you find most difficult about design, a success or a disaster.
Not directly related to “design”, but this past season we’ve had a Great Mole Disaster! I think we’ve tried EVERYTHING to rid our yard & perenniel gardens of these pests! Thanks for sponsoring this generous/helpful giveaway. I know I will profit from it should I win.
Count me in! Nancy Ondra is one of my favorite writers.
Rebecca – Moles ruin design! There is a relationship.
Philip – I love Nan’s blog too.
I bought my first house one year ago. I told myself I would do nothing with the yard for the first season, just to see what I have. This fall marked the beginning of my garden designing and I am finding it truly overwhelming. A book like this might really help me get started.
Sara – This book would give you two of the best teachers!
I think committing to a particular design is my biggest issue! I’d love to see what advice these two exceptional writers/gardeners have for me!
I could certainly use some help in garden design–transform from plant collections to gardens.
Cindy – I have trouble staying committed as well.
Myra – I think transforming plant collections into a garden is a common pastime for many of us.
Design is the element of gardening I really need help with! When we first moved to our present house, I planted a flowerbed next to the house and didn’t pay attention to the spacing on the plant tags–I wanted an instant garden:) The next spring I dug most of the same perennials up and moved them to give them more room. I’ve learned that lesson, but seeing the overall design of a garden is something I have trouble with. This sounds like a great book!
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My garden was quite pretty and productive until the Japanese Beetles came. I hate them! They are evil. 😉
Thank you!
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I find one of the most difficult things about design is whether or not it’s the look I’ll want in the future. Maybe I’ll want something different in the near future. Well, that’s one of the difficulties anyway. There’s also not knowing for sure if you’ve gauged the conditions right – sun, soil, etc. That’s why it pays to hang in a new landscape for a while before attempting a design.
I have a particular border that is the bane of my garden and has been for a few years. It has absolutely atrocious soil, is located on the north side of our yard and is very far from the hose so it’s difficult to water in dry conditions. I’ve been struggling to find a design that will survive!
Thank you Commonweeder and Storey Publishing for this giveaway! I’m so thrilled to have won the book and I know it will help me with my garden design!
Rose – Congratulations! The book will be in the mail tomorrow. You will have a wonderful time with it. And helpful too.