Natural Gardening in Small Spaces - Book Review

Science News, July 5, 2003

NOEL KINGSBURY

Kingsbury details scores of gardens that are friendly both to the environment and to wildlife and can be planted in rooftop containers, borders, or a small portion of a larger yard. The author imparts a working knowledge of how plants grow in nature and how a gardener employs that knowledge in creating spaces that invite wildlife and convey a natural and inspired look. Once these fundamentals are in place, Kingsbury details specific designs based on natural habitats including woodland, grassland, and wetland. He offers practical suggestions on the plants and soils to use in a natural garden, as well as cultivation tips. More than 100 photographs illustrate these examples. An extensive plant directory at the book's end lists varieties and includes pertinent details about height and spread, bloom, growing season, soil, and zone. Timber Pr, 2003, 176 p., color photos, hardcover, $29.95.