Book Description
This book introduces a revolutionary new concept to gardeners. Planting on roofs and walls began in Europe, but it is now becoming popular all over the world. Green roofs and walls reduce pollution and run-off, and also help insulate and reduce the maintenance needs of buildings. Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls discusses the practical techniques required to make planting on roofs and walls a reality. It describes how roofs may be modified to bear the weight of vegetation, considers the different options for drainage layers and growing media, and lists the plants suitable for different climates and environments. This informative book will encourage gardeners everywhere to consider the enormous benefits to be gained from planting on their roofs and walls.
Customer Reviews:
A serious attempt on a difficult subject.......2007-06-06
I am a big advocate on using plants to create green walls and roofs. They can reduce the urban "heat island" effect and create usable green open spaces. I found this book's discussions on Intensive Green Roof, Extensive Green Roof, , Ecoroof, Brown Roof, etc interesting. This book is a serious attempt on a difficult subject. The color photos inside the book are helpful also.
There are still technical difficulties in using green walls and roofs: water proofing, how to handle the structural weight of large trees, how to integrate large plants with building structure, etc. All these technical discussions are needed, and they could be the subject of another book.
Gang Chen, author of Planting Design Illustrated
Good for Beginners, but..........2007-01-11
Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls is an excellent book for any landscape architect who has not yet designed and detailed either. For myself, the most helpful bit of information was the data collected and presented from various green roofs.
The living wall section on the other hand was thin. There was no mention of the living wall system Patrick Blanc developed which is much more interesting than putting up a wire trellis and planting vines next to it. The other comment i would have is that almost all of the examples are from Europe. We have fabulous examples in the US with more relevant plant materials and weather conditions.
Finally I would say that the authors didn't seem interested in exploring native plant materials and instead focused on a few cookie cutter plants commonly planted all over the northern hemisphere. Not unlike McDonalds.
Nice examples of successful Green Roofs.......2006-11-10
This book is great for those who may have trouble visualizing the possibilities of what you can do with a green roof. There are many examples of what you can grow, and what types of vegetation are suitable. The book is however not very technical about the architectural detailing considerations involved. Some sections and detail drawings would make this book much more valuable as a design resource.
Organic Architecture with Plants .......2004-09-28
Greenroof professionals and enthusiasts alike will be delighted with the easy reading and scope of content offered in "Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls" by Nigel Dunnett and Noël Kingsbury. Very well organized, the book's forte and major value is as an essential resource - especially in terms of plant description, characteristics and specification. It's also a great bargain in that the book is filled with color photos, drawings, charts and reference material. This indispensable hard cover reference guide contains a truly massive collection of appropriate plant information, and perhaps most importantly, extensive plant directories are provided for both greenroofs and façade greening.
Organic Architecture with Plants
Greenroofs, living walls, and various other bio-engineering techniques are introduced and the authors cite the associated benefits and reasons why we should be integrating these measures of organic architecture into our built environments. The authors refer to current international research and technology; background and history are touched on; and benefits and applications of these "ecotechnologies" are discussed at length. Yet, a "How-To Build" book this is not; basic principles are set out and tools for further research are provided.
Benefits at a Range of Scales
The section "Why Build Green Roofs?" explores hard evidence and the various benefits operating at a range of scales from amenity and aesthetic values to economic and environmental aspects. Increased roof life, insulation and energy efficiency, green building assessment and public relations, biodiversity and wildlife value, water management, air pollution, and fire prevention and risks are discussed with supporting evidence.
Although previously well known, the biodiversity and wildlife value of greenroofs is expanded upon here, including the new British models of "brown" or "rubble" greenroofs - those which recreate the thin, infertile landscapes of disturbed brownfield sites. Spontaneous colonization is presented as an important natural occurrence.
A Vast Array of Planting Opportunities
The authors rightly note that "The majority of guides to green roofs and roof greening concentrate on the technical and construction aspects but have relatively little to say about planting opportunities - mainly because most authors are not plant specialists." Well, Noël - a well known writer of plants and gardens, and Nigel - a senior lecturer in the Department of Landscape at the University of Sheffield, most certainly are plant experts, and an entire 47-page chapter is devoted to the wide range of planting opportunities for extensive greenroofs, beyond the ubiquitous albeit hugely successful use of Sedum species.
Prevailing site conditions will always dictate the plant selection, so designers need to know what plant species will not only survive but thrive in extreme local conditions. Desirable physical attributes of plants and how they may be established and managed are presented. Considerations of monocultures, single plant combinations and mixtures, and plant communities are useful as planting design tools. The form and physiology of suitable greenroof plants are nicely covered from a botanical as well as functional and aesthetic perspective. Issues of viewing considerations are pondered and design solutions are offered relating to the roof function and visual criteria. "Methods of vegetation establishment" is particularly detailed and thus extremely valuable. The authors point out, however, that current research is insufficient to show how long each species will live and how each species will interact over the years atop roofs.
The very important aspect of different growing medium properties and functions is addressed in-depth, and comments are provided about particular types of materials, substrate depths, and accompanying vegetative possibilities. Maintenance issues and requirements are briefly noted, touching on feeding, plant protection, drainage, and weeding.
Considerations of Natives and Introduced Species
The unexploited opportunities of testing and using native vegetation are explored, in terms of increasing biodiversity and aesthetic benefits. Regionally native plants should be tested for many reasons, including ecological restoration. Non-native plant species with invasive tendencies can be a problem, therefore careful selection is critical to maintain healthy ecosystems. Yet many introduced species are appropriate, and there are many circumstances where non-natives offer considerable local wildlife value.
Certain natural plant communities and their soil types are explained and presented as an argument for further study as suitable models for successful roof plantings. Trialing of appropriate local plant communities is therefore recommended and encouraged so as ultimately to be able to introduce more natives into the greenroof matrix of plant species.
"The natural habitats of potential roof-greening plants" explores the potential to discover and trial the world's flora found in similar harsh habitats. Mountain, high latitude, coastal, limestone, sclerophyllous woody vegetation, semi-desert environments, and species whose plants are exposed to climatic extremes are regions with potential for testing of new roof greening plants.
The Task Has Just Begun
Philosophy and advice to greenroof plant enthusiasts can be summed up with these reflections by the authors: "With roof greening becoming an important part of the new built environment, it is increasingly important that more attention is paid to sourcing new plant material from habitats in the wild where conditions approximate those on rooftops and other problem urban situations...The task of selecting suitable plant species for roof greening has arguably just begun, and it offers potentially enormous rewards."
They are quick to point out that the globalization of our knowledge base and the ready availability of certain aggressive species can threaten entire ecosystems, and care must be provided to the selection of greenroof environments (just as at ground level) so as to avoid invasive and potentially destructive non-natives or introduced species.
Façade Greening and Living Wall Structures and Surfaces are the final two chapters of the book, offering both visual and ecological climbers, clingers, ramblers and scramblers. New support structures, materials, technologies and details provide practical and interesting information for this older yet equally fascinating design element of green architecture. The authors examine how the design of façade greening can equally disguise unattractive features while at the same time enhance existing surfaces. In either case, education and care are necessary to promote vigorous growth that is supported by a variety of vertical and/or horizontal structures.
At the end of the book, 49 pages are devoted to the Roof-Greening and Façade-Greening Plant Directories, listed by botanical names, common names, cultivars and related species. The horticultural and cultural aspects are presented with definitions and listings of many specific plant characteristics.
A minor grumbling on my part about the book is the absence of identifying greenroof project photo captions for the geographic locations and the building application types. It would be beneficial to know not only where each is located, but also whether the project is commercial, industrial, residential, etc.
A Dovetailing of Living Plants, the Building, and Its Human Users
Whereas Ted Osmundson's excellent 1999 "Roof Gardens: History, Design, and Construction" is considered the bible for the intensive greenroof crowd, Nigel Dunnett and Noel Kingsbury's "Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls" is simply a must have for extensive and intensive greenroofers worldwide.
"Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls" is a comprehensive argument for integrating nature and architecture, and I highly recommend it. It's obvious that Kingsbury and Dunnett are first and foremost dedicated, ecologically minded plantspeople; here, then, is a very important work for those of us in the greenroof industry. ~ Linda S. Velazquez, Publisher Greenroofs.com
Customer Reviews:
Put Back this Front Yard Book.......2004-02-26
I love elaborate front yard plantings, but this book just isn't the inspirational guide that Liz Primeau's similar "Front Yard Gardens: Growing More Than Grass" is.
It's a fairly pedestrian, utilitarian book, nothing special. The Primeau alternative actually conveys a sense of the excitement and adventure inherent in de-lawning your front, and the examples shown are more interesting than the bland gardens depicted here in Taunton's offering.
I've read through this once, then returned it to the library. "Front Yard Gardens" I bought, and I've read through it three times. Buy it instead. Do redo your garden, but don't expect Taunton's Front Yard Idea Book to inspire you.
Note: a 3 star ranking from me is actually pretty good; I reserve 4 stars for tremendously good works, and 5 only for the rare few that are or ought to be classic; unfortunately most books published are 2 or less.
Ohhhhh! Excellent!!.......2003-12-13
I can't begin to say how much I adore this book!! I'm telling you now, if you read this book from cover to cover & allow yourself to digest each & every picture, you'll never look at a front yard the same again. Literally, American is stuck in a rut. I look up & down my street, & all I see are blank, bland, boring lawns!! Wretch! This book has made me realize something that took me directly out of that silly, traditional mindset: I PAY AS MUCH FOR MY FRONT YARD AS I DO MY BACKYARD! This book has motivated me to "reclaim" my front yard for my own use, & I can't wait to have it all in & done! It won't be my neighbor's front yard anymore! It won't look like public domain anymore!!!
Practical ideas for real houses not magazine covers.......2003-11-12
A good-looking front yard isn't just a wise investment in your home, it's a gift to your neighborhood. Webber's book is packed with ideas for real families and real houses. For example, the book's chapter "Driveways and Parking" offers ideas on expanding a narrow driveway or parking spot, even parking bays and pull-offs!
Webber uses a logical, easy to follow pattern. First she gets us thinking about our goals for an area, then she provides reliable information, combined with Taunton's characteristically good photography.
All in all, the book's a good investment for any homeowner with a front yard.
Great ideas.......2003-06-17
My book is so filled with post-its marking which ideas I'll be emulating. It may take awhile, but it'll be worth it if my front yard ends up anywhere near as beautiful as some of these pictures. I'm looking forward to enjoying my front yard in a private garden setting, just like I enjoy my back yard. It's mine to enjoy, not to work like a dog on just for the neighbors benefit!
Editing to add - it is now three years after I originally posted this review. I used many of the ideas learned from this book, and it sparked many of my own! My front yard looks like a park, I love to look out my windows and enjoy. Even a walk to the mailbox has become a serene experience because of the lush gardens and plantings.
People drive through our neighborhood, stop in front of our house and I see them looking and pointing at different gardens, etc. We'll be selling our house to retire in a couple of years, and I feel confident that our place has tremendous "curb appeal" because of what I learned and implemented from this book.
Great primer, great pictures!.......2003-05-03
This is a really good first book on front yard gardens and has some excellent pictures. If you're thinking of adding a little life and color to your front yard, striving for some curb appeal or just plain tired of mowing the lawn, pick this up. Easy to read and written in a nice relaxed style, it's a good starter.
Book Description
The team behind the best-selling Mexicolor and Mexicasa has unlocked the gates to Mexico's patios, courtyards, and walled gardens. From private homes to luxurious resorts, In A Mexican Garden celebrates Mexico's hidden oases where lovers meet for margaritas at sunset and families gather for spirited fiestas. The dazzling array of featured properties includes rustic coastal hideaways, elegant Spanish Colonial mansions, rural haciendas, and Modernist architectural masterpieces. Melba Levick's stunning photographs capture page after vibrant page of bold Mexican design elements: swirling mosaic floors, elaborate frescoes, hand-carved stone fountains, and lush native plants. Gina Hyams' informative text explains the historic roots of these uniquely Mexican outdoor spaces. Garden design enthusiasts, fans of Mexico, and anyone who appreciates a siesta in the sun need only open this book to hear the quiet babble of fountains and glasses clinking to toast another beautiful sunset.
Customer Reviews:
Mexican Garden.......2007-09-27
I was very surprise whith the quality of the presentation and the beautiful pictures. Excellent!!
Beautiful Photo's.......2007-09-03
I love this book! The beautiful photographs give the reader great ideas on how to design and decorate.
great book, terrible binding!!.......2007-07-19
I love the pictures and ideas presented, but after 2 days, the binding had pulled away from the pages!! I think that is flaw that needs fixing.
Mexican Garden.......2007-07-06
I chose this book to help give me some ideas as to how to " Mexicanise " my garden.
So what with the yuccas, agaves & cacti i'm well on the way, just need to add more colour & fragrance to it.
I also bought Mexicasa and Mexicolor.
It's a nice book..........2007-06-13
Your basic coffee table book, nice photos of exactly what the book claims to be: Courtyards, Pools, and Open-Air Rooms. A lot of the subject matter is authentic, old and sometimes dilapidated. Don't expect to see many pictures of new or well kept patios, pools or gardens. This is the real McCoy, just like you'll see when visitng Old Mexico...not that there'e anything wrong with that.
Book Description
Outdoor living can no longer be defined as a simple patio with a few tables and chairs-today, homeowners across the country are creating remarkable spaces in which to eat, relax, meditate, swim, and even sleep! Author Michelle Kodis reveals how to create a customized oasis in nearly any type of setting. Whether building new or redesigning an existing yard, Ultimate Backyards offers inspiration for outdoor spaces no matter the climate or budget-imagination is the key to creating a unique and personalized space.
Book Description
Illustrations galore, plans, plants, and expert advice for creating dream gardens.
There’s no garden more evocative than a cottage garden, and no experts more knowledgeable about how to devise the perfect design than leading horticulture authority Toby Musgrave and the editors at Country Living. Musgrave reveals, with the help of outstanding images by award-winning photographer Jerry Harpur, that cottage gardening actually encompasses a wide range of approaches. Almost any gardener will find the answer to his or her dreams, whether it’s a sweetly scented romantic garden, complete with a gentle fountain and secluded bower, or one that’s formal with tightly clipped yews and precise plantings. Eight designs focus on particular themes and climates, and all include a detailed plan and plant list, making it easy to re-create or adapt Toby Musgrave’s beautiful arrangements.
A Main Selection of the Homestyle Book Club.
• Advertising in Country Living magazine
Customer Reviews:
Cottage Gardens Review.......2005-01-22
When Country Living puts its name on a book, it is usually chock full of pretty pictures. The new book Cottage Gardens by Toby Musgrave is no exception. Anyone who isn't sure exactly what they want in a garden, but leans toward an informal style, will enjoy flipping through the book for ideas. Also, the garden plans are nicely done. The book is well written, but it is hard to write yet another book on cottage style gardens and come up with much new and exciting information.
One of the things I liked most about Cottage Gardens is the way it is laid out. The first section discusses "designing by theme." It goes into a bit of history for each type of garden and talks about how to achieve each look. In this section, you will find traditional, tapestry, potager, romantic, rural, formal, painterly and modern garden pictures and plans. The "designing by use" section covers aromatic, wildlife, herbal, harvest, cut flower, all year round, easy care, and dry gardens. Again, there are many photos and there is a design for each type of garden. Finally, there is a "plants for cottage gardens" section. Frankly, I was not impressed with this section, as it is quite small and has few photos.
If you are a new gardener who enjoys the cottage garden style, the book is definitely worth a look, but advanced gardeners will probably be a bit disappointed.
Book Description
Lots of people want gardens but find the prospect of getting started a bit daunting.
P. Allen Smith's Garden Home is P. Allen Smith's inviting solution.
Smith begins with his own story: his family's love of gardens and experience in the nursery business, his own education at the great gardens of England, and his discovery that we all have, as he says, "a longing for our agrarian past." After walking us through his own "garden home" and explaining why he made the choices he did, Allen introduces his 12 principles of garden design, discussing such topics as a sense of enclosure, framing the view, texture, pattern, rhythm, and, of course, color. Then, with step-by-step projects, he shows readers how to apply the principles in their own garden homes.
For the millions of people who know Smith through his syndicated television show, Weather Channel segments, and appearances on The Early Show, this book is the irresistible invitation to follow him into the garden.
Customer Reviews:
Aspirational but Accesible.......2007-08-04
This well-designed, well-written book is an excellent book on garden design principles. I thoroughly enjoyed the first section, in which P. Allen gives us an intimate tour of his own beautiful garden home. This is not only inspiring but also an excellent teaching tool, as "a photo is worth a thousand words" and serves to underscore the design principles set forth in the remainder of the book. His garden is so gorgeous, but I wondered how out-of-reach it is for us 'normal folks'- - until I noticed that he mentions that he repeatedly uses "workhorse" plants that are relatively problem-free/easy-to-care for. He loves his roses, for example, but seems to have chosen many heirloom varieties known for their resistance to blackspot and diseases (ie the venerable 'New Dawn'). And his lush garden home didn't spring up overnight, of course- - it was over 10 years in the making, and he shares some of its growing pains. Before reading this book, my image of P. Allen was that he was too finicky/persnickity/too "too" for my tastes, but in exploring this delightful book I have revised my opinion of him completely. The guy likes what he likes and knows his stuff, but I no longer find that off-putting. Finally, others have referenced his recollections of the Ashbrookes as being hoity-toity; might we cut him some slack and instead interpret his recollections as his OWN deeply inspirational/aspirational experiences and these aristocrats as fond friends/gardening soulmates. We all have places and people who are dear to us, and perhaps in the telling our enthusiasm is misinterpreted. I truly enjoyed this book and recommend it highly; it is written in pleasant prose and is not a 1-2-3 do this, do this, do this instructional manual but rather an aspirational guide that sets forth solid design principles beautifully illustrated largely through the author's own property.
Excellent in every way!.......2007-07-09
As an artistic person of a different sort from Mr. Smith (I am a musician), I appreciated his highly artistic approach to garden design. I am not new to garden design, but I have had little training. Still, as a musician, I have an appreciation for things such as balance, composition, and color. Mr. Smith's approach, in my opinion, is quite ingenious for those of us who have a fine appreciation for the artisitic achievements of the great gardens (I have been to some), and would like to apply the same principles used by the masters on a smaller (much smaller) scale. I must wholeheartedly disagree with those who saw no purpose in Mr. Smith's discussion of his relationship with Lady Ashbrook and the garden at Arley. Allen used the greatness and principles applied by one of his mentors (Lady Ashbrook) to his own home garden (he also discusses the influence of his own family's more humble circumstances on his gardening preferences throughout the book) and then showed us how we could apply the same principles to our own. If you will look closely at both the text and the pictures, it is obvious that Mr. Smith is using Arley to help us to see the wisdom and (above all) the beauty of this type of design and that by applying the same principles, we can acheive similar effects in our own gardens (although for most of us, on a much smaller scale!). Further, the non-glossy end section is more of an epilogue to what has been said in the text and pictures previously; the inclusion of more pictures here would be redundant to the many gorgeous examples given to illustrate specific examples of each principle elaborated. What Mr. Smith does include in the ending section are very helpful specifics of how to begin your own garden design, complete with lists of possible plants.
Beautiful book.......2007-07-03
Even if you are too lazy to create a garden, this book is a beauty to look at. You can use his ideas in a little garden, as well as the White House Rose Garden. The photography is great, and the colors are inspiring. It is, however, a little expensive.
Great - how to make your yard function - book........2007-01-10
If you're wondering how to make your yard really work for you, and do everything you want it to do - entertainment, beauty, functionality, and making the most of your yard, this is a great book.
P. Allen doesn't seem to be in touch with people who have children's yard space issues, but he knows gardens!
BEAUTIFUL!.......2006-03-22
P. Allen Smith has a wonderful, warm and colorful way of expressing his love of gardening. The book has beautiful photos of various types of garden settings and wonderful ideas for you do follow. Since I am a first time gardener, I am looking forward to Spring so I can try some of his ideas and suggestions. He gives some great gardening tips for those of us who are just getting started. It also makes a great coffee table book!
Book Description
Unique and comprehensive, Healing Gardens provides up-to-date coverage of research findings, relevant design principles and approaches, and best practice examples of or more and more people, the shortest road to recovery is the one that leads through a healing garden. Combining up-to-date information on the therapeutic benefits of healing gardens with practical design guidance from leading experts in the field, Healing Gardens is an invaluable guide for landscape architects and others involved in creating and maintaining medical facilities as well as an extremely useful reference for those responsible for patient care. With the help of site plans, photographs, and more, the editors present design guidelines and case studies for outdoor spaces in a range of medical settings, including:
- Acute care general hospitals.
- Psychiatric hospitals.
- Children's hospitals.
- Nursing homes.
- Alzheimer's facilities.
- Hospices.
Order your copy of this practical guide to the therapeutic effects and design of healing gardens today.
Customer Reviews:
Essential Resource for the Healing Garden Designer.......2000-12-27
Beautiful organization, research examples to support common-sense recommendations, case studies with pictures, this superb book is the first stop for the healing garden designer. The case studies and design recommendations are grouped by health care setting, which makes the reading more focused. By far the best professional text on the topic.
Aplicaciones para la salud.......2000-06-18
Creo que es un buen punto de partida para comenzar a incluir en el diseño del entorno y el paisaje pautas que incluyan un beneficio directo en la salud de quienes lo contemplan.
Average customer rating:
- The Living Landscape
- A Unique and Useful Contribution
- From a landscape for living to a living landscape
- Ecological plannnig has a future with this effort .
- Book fails to make the connection
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The Living Landscape: An Ecological Approach to Landscape Planning
Frederick Steiner
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Professional
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Black & Decker Edge Hog 2-1/4 HP Electric Landscape Edger #LE750
ASIN: 0070793980 |
Book Description
Award-winning guide to ecologically-sound landscapes!
The first edition of Frederick Steiner's The Living Landscape: An Ecological Approach to Landscape Planning, won a coveted ASLA merit award. This revised Second Edition's strong design-oriented approach meets the needs of today's professionals, focusing on how to create a plan and explains each major step with examples from various localities. The new edition links each step to current planning practice and to new theory in landscape ecology and sustainable development.You'll find:
- More than 20 case studies covering urban, suburban, rural, domestic and international environments
- Scores of checklists and step-by-step procedures
- Details for conducting environmental impact assessments
- Full coverage of zoning, land use, and other regulatory issues
- Much more
Customer Reviews:
The Living Landscape.......2002-10-14
The Living Landscape has made a lasting contribution to ecological planning through its detailed documentation of this planning process and thoughtful comparison of the process's application in case studies. Dr. Steiner demonstrates in his book that ecological planning is just not a static plan-making process, but rather a dynamic process that requires consistent and meaningful input from stakeholders. In addition, he sees plan-making as a process that has implications for different scales of the environment, from the nation to the neighborhood. He stresses that the ecological planning process does not end when the plan is finished, but rather the process continues through the linkage of planning concepts to physical design. Given the strengths of this book, it is an essential volume for the library of any professional or student in the disciplines of the built environment and environmental management.
A Unique and Useful Contribution.......2002-05-06
It is a rare planning book that outlines a detailed process for guiding landscape change in a deliberate and ecologically sound manner. The Living Landscape accomplishes this in a robust, clear and convincing way. The second edition improves on the first by including more landscape design information, updating case studies, and deepening the planning method (for instance, by including more on the use of Geographic Information Systems). The liberal use of cases is a strong asset of the book; each step in the ecological planning process is illustrated and explained by way of 'stories' from real places around North America. The Living Landscape is useful reading for students and practitioners in landscape architecture, architecture, environmental planning and natural resource management.
From a landscape for living to a living landscape.......2002-05-05
The second edition of The Living Landscape has came out nine years after the first. The first, in fact, was published in 1991, it received an ASLA Merit Award for Communications in 1993, and then it was translated into Italian in 1994, where it was very well received among scholars and students of planning as well as in the schools of architecture throughout the country.
The very first difference between the two editions is the publishing series. The first did not form part of a series while the second is now in the McGraw-Hill "Professional Architecture" series. The Professional Architecture series is devoted to giving helpful tools to practitioners who are on the field and The Living Landscape provides a very wide set of how-to and why-to-do-it instructions, where-to-keep information, and best practices examples to learn from, organized around an eleven-step Ecological Planning Model. I consider The Living Landscape a refined, high-level professional handbook devoted to enhance the toolbox of any present or future planning practitioners.
The Living Landscape II edition, as was the first, is built around a scheme of eleven steps called "Ecological Planning Method" briefly presented in the first chapter and used as a step-by-step pattern to guide readers into the organization of a planning process. The "Ecological Planning Method" is a framework for presenting information to decision-makers, and to display "a common language, a common method among all those concerned about social equity and ecological parity" (p. 9). The approach to planning presented by Steiner is innovative for two reasons. The first is the incorporation of ecology in planning - briefly "the use of biophysical and sociocultural information to suggest opportunities and constraints for decision making about the use of the landscape" (pp. 9-10). The second reason is the author's stress on the citizen's involvement in almost every step of his method. These two issues, even if they are the prime themes of the book, are prudently embedded into the body of the full text. Ecology and citizen involvement are the leitmotif of the entire book which is composed of a precise combination of techniques and tools presentation, useful references to literature, light - but effective - revocations of the theoretical frameworks on the issues, and application examples deriving from real plans or projects.
The eleven-step Ecological Planning Model goes from the identification of problems and opportunities (step 1) and the establishment of goals (2) to inventories and analysis at regional (3) and local level (4). It proceeds with the realization of detailed studies (5) and the definition of planning concepts (6). The landscape plan (7) follows and it is directly assessed and criticized by citizens (8), who are involved and educated along the whole process-phasing. Design exploration (9) comes next and the study of the implementation of the plan and projects (10) precedes the administration (11) that is the last step of the model. The Ecological Planning Model is linear in its descriptions (the book chapters - excluding the introduction and the conclusion - are devoted to deepen every single step, with some minor exceptions), but the steps are strongly interactive. In the graphic scheme of the model (p. 11), solid and dashed arrows between the steps emphasize the necessity and the opportunity of feedback and retroactions in order to monitor the previous results.
Citizen involvement is the center of the model. Almost every step is addressed to inhabitants and a systematic educational and citizen involvement effort occurs throughout the process. The model, between the last step - administration - and the first - problem and/or opportunity identification -, presents a dashed arrow in order to accent that problems and opportunities facing the region and the goals addressed that may be altered by time, occurrences and circumstances.
Compared to the first edition, the structure of the Ecological Planning Model and of the book contents remains unchanged in the second, but the book has some 120 more pages. Graphic design of tables and figures has been enhanced - a four-color page section was added to present the GIS maps of the Desert View Tri-Villages Area (Arizona) and of the Camp Pendleton study area (California), two of the many new examples used along the entire book. New photographs, mostly authored by Steiner, follow the entire text. Sources and references have been updated including recent books and articles on the matters. New examples, as said before, have been included in this edition to present more recent application of techniques and tools explained and illustrated along the text. The final glossary, one of the many useful tools of the book, has been enlarged with 46 new entries bringing the total to 350.
Ecological plannnig has a future with this effort ........2002-04-14
I am a graduate student in landscape ecological planning. I would recommend Dr. Steiner's book for students, professionals and the lay leaders interested in making a difference in their community. The idea of planning is sometimes hard to grasp by communities that are ruled by economics and development,not ecology. Dr. Steiner shows us step by step how to include ecology into communities and how that may give us other alternatives that we may not have considered.
The use of case studies in this book enhances the practical application of ecological planning in real world situations.
I would recommend this book for anyone interested in ecology, planning or being part of your community's future.
Book fails to make the connection.......2002-01-23
I picked up a copy of "the living landscape" at the local library thinking I was on to something interesting. Instead, I found the book to be a rehash of old, simple ideas under the cloak of a "sexy", progressive title. I am a practicing environmental planner and must admit that I was even fooled by the picture on the cover--How in the world is a linear mono-cultural hedgerow of trees that line an walkway even remotely a just symbol of "ecological planning"? The picture seems to satisfy the landscape architect's need to have order-- Ecology is anything but linear or orderly.
I must be fair. The book is well writen and offers students in environmental planning a good introduction to landscape planning with some environmenatl emphasis. However, in my opinion, I don't believe that the book does justice or furthers the progressive concept of "ecological" planning, as defined by the likes of the late Ian McHarg.
Book Description
Tired of being a slave to that green carpet in your yard? Enjoy gardening but don't have much space to work with? Love the idea of a water-saving, pesticide-free, natural-looking yard that also happens to look great?
This refreshing book offers a wealth of ideas for nontraditional outdoor spaces that are as beautiful as they are low-maintenance. Written by veteran landscape designer Keith Davitt, this guide shows how to banish cutting, watering, and weed worries forever by creating lovely outdoor spaces that replace the traditional grass lawn with rock walls, sculptures, native grasses, mosses, wildflowers, and more.
Davitt guides readers through making design choices that suit their unique needs, such as determining which plants will thrive in particular climates and soil conditions. Filled with easy-to-follow tips and techniques, illustrative photos, and color renderings of design plans for outdoor spaces, this is a comprehensive guide to simply beautiful alternative gardens
Keith Davitt has been designing, building, photographing, and writing about gardens around the globe for 20 years. He recently won the Herald Award for Excellence in Garden Communication, and his gardens and articles have appeared in numerous gardening magazines. He is also the author of Small Spaces, Beautiful Gardens (Rockport, 2001). He lives in New York City.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book!.......2004-11-25
This is a great book for the gardener with little space. All of the gardens featured are pretty small by suburban standards. But none the less, the gardens and designs Keith Davitt covers are spectacular.
You will discover how to get rid of that same old boring lawn that everyone else has on the block. Davitt takes you through creating your very own unique garden with stone, brick, gravel, water and lots more. He covers why it works for the owner and the space given. It gives valuable insights for the gardener planning a new space.
Crafting a unique, personal, and relaxing atmosphere.......2003-10-10
Written by gardening expert Keith Davitt (winner of the Herald Award for Excellence in Garden Communication), Beyond The Lawn: Unique Outdoor Spaces For Modern Living is a simply beautiful and exceptionally "user friendly" sourcebook of ideas for creating harmony with stone, brick gravel, rock, water, herbs, conifers, planted pots, native and wild plants. Lavishly illustrated with full-color photography, Beyond The Lawn is a treat to page through and recommended for gardeners everywhere looking to add a bit of originality to the grounds outside their home. Offering a vast panoply of materials for crafting a unique, personal, and relaxing atmosphere, Beyond The Lawn is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to professional and personal gardening reference collections.
Many unusual beautiful gardens & good design analysis.......2003-08-08
This book is full of pictures of unusual and beautiful gardens all very different from one another. I especially enjoyed seeing the variety of what is possible. The text focuses mainly on design with discussion on style and analysis of what works and why. Although I think Keith Davitt's first book "Small Spaces Beautiful Gardens" was a superior book with more information on how each garden was created and before & after pictures, I still highly recommend this book for its many examples and design tips.
Amazon.com
According to editor Steve Bender, southern gardeners are conservative, traditional but a bit eccentric in their plant choices (meaning they'll grow whatever Daddy grew, even if it's spotted or carnivorous), and dedicated (as they have to be to continue to weed and mow through the summer). This book celebrates the uniqueness of the southern garden. It's remarkably well organized, with colored page edges demarcating the different sections, the largest of which is the alphabetized plant encyclopedia in the middle. The best part of the book, however, may be the substantial section titled "Plant Selection Guide," which consists of a series of illustrated lists: "Fragrant Plants," "Plants that Attract Butterflies," "Plants Easy to Propagate," "Plants That Tolerate Drought," etc. With its lay-flat binding and excellent index, it's sure to be a favorite garden reference for quite a few gardeners, southern or otherwise.
Customer Reviews:
Must-have for Landscape Architects (especially students).......2002-04-18
This is the most complete resource I have found, covering annuals and perennials, trees and shrubs, grasses and ferns, all in one easy-to-handle volume. Most plant books are huge, heavy hardbacks difficult to carry in a backpack and only address one subject. This is my bible for planting design, as the sections in the front of the book on "Plants for Shade", "Drought-Tolerant Plants", etc. are very helpful in reminding me what plants to use where. However, this book might not be very helpful to amateur gardeners whose knowledge of plants may be limited, as it does not offer suggestions of attractive and successful plant combinations. Also, I wish that Southern Living would publish an updated addition with more recent varieties of plants.
Landscape Architect loves it.......1999-12-15
I have many garden books, but none is as complete for southern gardeners. This book is more than just an overview. It does a great job of giving the different characteristics of the many varieties of each plant listing. Very up to date. Useful for professionals and weekend gardeners.
Too Educational.......1998-12-29
I agree with the other reviews, that the author is very competent in his knowledge of plants. I found the format somewhat like a textbook, with the pictures separate from the plant descriptions a somewhat displeasing feature. Statements are too brief and too technical to be really beneficial to a new gardner. Also use of zones was infrequent and almost nonexistent. I find that a must in choosing plant material.
Plants for Southern Gardeners I've seen nowhere else!.......1998-11-19
This is a very useful book for finding information on plants available to Southern gardeners that I can't find in any of my other gardening resources.
It's a Winner!!.......1998-08-24
First of all, anything by Steve Bender has got to be good. This man knows the art of southern gardening like the back of his hand and is my favorite writer along with Felding. As a long time southern gardener I can tell all new comers to the south to get this book and bypass all the mistakes usually made down here. You won't be sorry and it will become a bible of gardening for you...Deb
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