Win a copy of Designer Plant Combinations!

Whether you are Modern to gardening or a seasoned professional , Scott Calhoun’sDesigner Plant Combinationswill provide the inhalation to start your originative juices flux .

This theme - pack book is base on the melodic theme that when it comes to plants , less is more . As the masking State Department , “ 105 Stunning Gardens using Six plant life or Fewer . ”Six or feweris the key . If you tend to get carried away with your flora selection , this Word of God offers the antidote to the dreaded malady , “ one - of - each - itis . ”

“ It interrupt me that plants were make in as an second thought , just something to take the air by on the means to the front room access , ” Scott explained . “ This book raises the bar . I palpate it was my job to show that well - conceived plant combinations can bring instinctive mantrap to the garden . The plants do n’t have to be rare or unusual — what is important is that they are combined artistically , to add a architect ’s mite . ”

Love At First Sight

This script resonates with me on many grade — visually elegant , clearly and chirpily written , and chock full of down - to - earth flora selective information . We ’ll start out with the eye candy .

have the book fall open to any page and savor the deed of conveyance of each mini - treatise . The example titledGrinding Out a Coffee - Colored Combohit my head-on lobe like a triple espresso . It have an adventurous monochromic mash - up of fashion designer Inta Krombolz ’s copper , wine-colored and browned foliage plants plash with a outburst of bright pea green ( pg 94 ) .

There ’s something here for all preference — indulgent , elegant studies in grey , white and blue ( pg 66 ) , spiky fireworks achieved by couple on agave and yucca ( pg 138 ) and the smoldering sensualness of “ Bonfire ” , a burgundy - leaf dwarf peach bid against the tropical heat of Salvia ‘ Louie ’s Orange Delight ( pg 206 ) .

A Way With Words

The pictures alone are enough to make any self - respecting nurseryman run to the nursery , credit lineup in hand . But it is Scott ’s handpicked , meticulously matched words that make this al-Qur’an such an pleasurable read . It might sound rum but this is the first garden intention Holy Scripture I ’ve take that could make in a Holy Scripture - on - tape format , sans photographs — the writing is that descriptive .

The illustration titledInspired chirography , Duncan Brine ’s garden ( pg 202 ) features ‘ Nana ’ dwarf purple willow , ‘ Autumn Spire ’ maple and “ Tardiva ’ hydrangea . Scott poetically draw the effect of the maple ’s foliage : “ Creeping into the vignette , the ‘ Autumn Spire ’ supply a dah of red , like a sure-footed brushstroke in black and red Nipponese penmanship . ”

Practical pointer

Each planting combination includes a concise description of each plant ’s growing preference , mature size of it , hardiness zone and other useful fact . A good starting time , to be sure , but readers would be wise to expand their inquiry before making their final plant pick .

Another unexpected treat is theDesigner Tipson many pages , offer snipping of advice about such esoterica as how to remove spines from barbed pear cactus and how to design your garden for moonlight .

It ’s Okay to Plagiarize

The examples in this book of account come from some of the finest individual and public gardens in the commonwealth . That ’s dandy , but what if you accrue in honey with one of the combos that grows like gang - baby buster in one climate but has no chance in your area ?

For me , the solution is simple . utilise the original design as a jump - off full point , take out the essence of the piece — impregnate purple flowers paired with soft , fuzzy gray foliation , for representative — and substitute flora that will thrive in your garden . I would have a tough time justifying a batch of foxglove in my client ’s dry southerly California garden , but there are aboriginal penstemon species that allow the same rich spicy flower and upright architecture .

Since caricature is the highest form of flattery , do n’t feel guilty about borrowing estimation from great fashion designer , then adapting and individualize them for your own garden . For me , that ’s the genuine value of this inspiring , beautifully produce book from Scott Calhoun and Storey Publishing .

Can you say “ Freebie ” ?

Note : To move into this drawing , you must CHANGE YOUR PROFILE IMAGE from one of the stock gardening images to an simulacrum of your own . For example , it could be a picture of you or something in your garden . If you already have an original profile image ( also hollo an AVATAR ) , you may enter the drawing now by leaving a comment on this mail .

Click hereto go to the pageboy where you’re able to manage your profile . Use the “ Browse ” button on the right side of the CRT screen to opt an persona from your computer . Then click “ Upload image . ” The image can be up to 4 MB or 1,200 px .

All photograph in this clause by Scott Calhoun .

Visit Scott Calhoun’swebsite .

For more on “ One - of - each - it is ” read my earlierblog post .

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A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

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