Rick Darke

An inspiring appreciation of what is uniquely American: the woodland garden. Living in a suburbanized Hickory-Oak savanna, Darke's study of the forest aesthetic and presentation of common natives one might consider installing in one's own garden provided me considerable insight. Typical of Timber Press books, the volume is generous in its presentation. Photographs abound. The photographic sequence of Darke's recurrent visits over an extended period to a specific natural area truly makes one see more attentively. This book is a cornerstone of my gardening library. In the dead of a Midwest American Winter it always makes me dream.… (more)

Having read Tallamy's book Bringing Nature Home, about how native plant-life corresponds to a vigorous local animal life, I was glad to get this one. Though it seems at first glance to be a gardening/landscaping book, it's much more about the science of ecology, with plenty of illustrative photos. They have done the hard science and the observations, now it's time to present it to the landowners. Only one reference to poison ivy in the whole galdurn book, and not one value judgement. No pictures of it invading the land. Very little, in fact, on invasives. Several interesting plants I'd like to own.
It's really too big to absorb. It would have been better to break it up into smaller parts.… (more)