The Naturescaping Workbook

December 15, 2011
Call it sustainable landscaping, ecological gardening, or the loftier-sounding gardening for the new century. Whatever label is affixed to it, naturescaping is really just a matter of good old common sense. When viewed in terms of an ecosystem with its own natural ebbs and flows, residents, and resources, backyard gardens thrive when they are designed, maintained, and enjoyed with a natural approach that eschews the overly managed, sterile, and environmentally harmful manicured landscapes so often found in suburban neighborhoods. A dedicated landscape designer, author, lecturer, and instructor, Young breaks down the often daunting process of analyzing and evaluating sites and conditions through an extensive series of thought-provoking questionnaires and step-by-step worksheets that will help novice gardeners, professionals, or anyone in between who wishes to swap their existing gardening regimen for a more environmentally friendly form of landscaping. Practical advice about materials, soil, and plant selection is augmented by inspiring photographs by Karen Bussolini and instructive illustrations to seamlessly guide gardeners through the rewarding process of working with nature's bounty and beauty.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)