Rock Gardening

November 15, 2016

Horticulturist and plant breeder Tychonievich (Plant Breeding for the Home Gardener) offers a fresh perspective on traditional rock gardening. He examines a broad range of rock gardens located in several different U.S. and UK climates. These ten gardens, established on a small scale, aimed at home gardeners and hobbyists, offer suggestions and ideas for use in home designs and very limited urban spaces. Recent years of drought conditions and shrinking acreage make rock gardens a practical option that is gaining popularity. The text is written in a low-key style, accompanied by color photos of gardens and close-up plantings. Styles of construction, soil and climate requirements, containers, and methods of acquiring plant material are covered in the "Techniques" section. An overview of 20 types of basic "starter plants" comprises the third section. VERDICT This useful work targets a wide range of garden enthusiasts and/or horticulturalists. While comparable to the North American Rock Garden Society's Rock Garden Design and Construction, this stands on its own merits.--Deborah A. Broocker, Georgia Perimeter Coll. Lib., Dunwoody

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