[.ca] Smith and Hawken: Garden Structures (ISBN 0761114068)

Full of ideas!:
This is a gorgeously illustrated book with hundreds of ideas to inspire the gardener who wants to add architectural elements to their garden. Be aware, however, that this is mainly a collection of photographs and does not provide much in the way of how to actually go about constructing these projects yourself. The book is divided into sections covering fences, walks, hedges, structures, etc. Each section features an array of photographs which illustrate every conceivable aspect of the topic. The photos are beautiful and are the definate selling point of this book.

Annotated inventory....not recommended for beginners...:
GARDEN STRUCTURES by Linda Smith is marginally useful for the experienced upscale or midscale gardener (many of these projects are costly) or the reader who enjoys pretty pictures. If you are building a theme garden (i.e. Formal Italian, Dutch Colonial, Japanese Zen, Medieval Cloister) this book can prove disconcerting. If you can tell the difference between a Victorian gazebo and an Italian bench you may not find the display offputting. Smith's book appears to be a photo collection of garden elements from all over the country and the result is a hotch-potch of structures reflecting a wide array of styles, periods, and eras. She has mixed Adams, Hepplewhite, Dutch colonial, Zen, 50's Moderne, and Art Deco, Italian, and plantation-style in categories by type of structure. GARDEN STRUCTURES contains categories covering fences, gates, trellises, arbors, edgings and other "bones" of the garden. The section on gates shows a wide assortment of every kind of gate--wrought iron, post, picket, etc. The section on fences shows stockades, picket, wattle, split rail, etc. The section on paths shows pebbles, stones, bricks, bricks and cement, terracotta, grass, etc. (Paths probably are the least problematic, but one wonders how well colonial-style Italian stringcourse would look on a Zen garden path.) If you're building a REALLY eclectic garden this detailed inventory might prove useful. Or, if you know how to integrate the various items from the various sections because you recognize their age/period/style it will work. You may want to find another book that shows entact gardens--plants, fences, gates, trellises, arbors, and other elements together. From the 'whole-some' examples you can derive a notion of what constitutes an integrated picture. GARDEN STRUCTURES provides the reader with hundreds of piece-parts but does not shed much light on how to put it them together. Still, the experienced gardener may find some provocative ideas here.

Precious Garden:
A wonderfully photographed and neatly catalogued array of garden elements. Playful and diverse in the selection of mostly vernacular landscaping with some classically formed elements. The content consistently maintains a personal level of garden landscaping, and does not deal with urban landscape elements. Though, inspiration can be easily derived.

Encyclopaedic, but not necessarily instructive:
This is a lovely book, one to enjoy on a coffee table, especially during an infinite winter. Nearly every page has color photos; even small photos in this book are large because the format is so big. And what variety: gates; fences; walls; edgings; trellises; arbors, pergolas, and arches; paths; hedges and espalier; potting sheds and greenhouses. Within each section, many examples are given along with (very) occasional drawings of a project. Some unfootnoted history and observations are included, as well. So the book offers extremely broad scope -- one might even call it "encyclopaedic". But be warned that you may not, for the most part, be able to divine (based on content) whether a structure will work for your garden. The book catalogs topics pretty well; the photos assure this. But to be truly encyclopaedic, the book needs a much more comprehensive table of contents, especially because there is no index. And I would like to have seen footnoting (or at least a list of sources) for the bits of historical information included. Ultimately, though, the reason the book drives me nuts is that it is very hard to find my way back to ideas or photos that interest me. That said, you will almost certainly see something new to you. And once you see something of interest, you'd better mark it well because the book will give you absolutely no help in finding it again.

A Delightful Journey:
A beautifully presented book which is a joy to leaf through. Many good ideas for your own garden and peace of mind.