Chill Out
Conservatory Style: Garden Rooms, Glasshouses, and Sunrooms by Jackum Brown (Universe Publishing, rizzoliusa.com). Enjoying the outdoors doesn’t have to literally mean being outdoors. Sunrooms and greenhouses offer homeowners the opportunity to connect the garden to the home.
Conservatory Style: Garden Rooms, Glasshouses, and Sunrooms by Jackum Brown (Universe Publishing, rizzoliusa.com). Enjoying the outdoors doesn’t have to literally mean being outdoors. Sunrooms and greenhouses offer homeowners the opportunity to connect the garden to the home. This book introduces different styles of conservatories, and provides a history of these structures along with advice on how to choose the right plants and accents to complete an indoor oasis. ($39.95)
The New Outdoor Kitchen: Cooking Up a Kitchen for the Way You Live and Play by Deborah Krasner (The Taunton Press, taunton.com). The kitchen is a traditional gathering place, and outdoor kitchens are an increasingly popular alternative during warm weather months. However, designing an outdoor kitchen is much more than choosing a grill or stove and a table. From lighting and sound systems to fireplaces and water features, Krasner includes graceful elements that will transform a patio or deck into an outdoor haven. ($30)
Small Buildings Small Gardens: Creating Gardens Around Structures by Gordon Hayward (Gibbs Smith, gibbs-smith.com). Structures can take the enjoyment of a garden from visual to physical. Pathways, arbors and gazebos invite people to participate in the beauty around them but can also offer interesting design challenges. Whether you are working with an existing element or new addition, Hayward provides creative insight to help inspire harmony between structure and garden. ($29.95)
Timeless Landscape Design: The Four-Part Master Plan by Mary Palmer Dargan and Hugh Graham Dargan (Wyrick & Company, gibbs-smith.com). The authors, professional landscape designers, have developed a systematic approach to design that divides the process into four parts. The Dargans also provide sources for their own inspiration, as well as technical advice to help homeowners create their own landscape masterpieces. ($29.95)
Designing with Succulents by Debra Lee Baldwin (Timber Press, timberpress.com). Succulents, with their various colors and textures, provide an elegant solution to the challenges of gardening in Colorado’s dry climate. Baldwin offers landscaping ideas using these water-retaining plants, as well as tips on growing succulents in colder climates. With useful resources, such as the “plant palette” and a chapter on companion plants, this book helps the succulent gardener create a work of art. ($29.95)
The Way We Garden Now: 41 Pick-and-Choose Projects for Planting Your Paradise Large or Small by Katherine Whiteside (Clarkson Potter, clarksonpotter.com). From beginning gardeners to experienced green thumbs, the author offers practical advice for planning and planting projects according to different variables such as skill level and climate. Chapters on adding edibles and seasonal growing ensure new and exciting challenges throughout the year. ($29.95)
Pots in the Garden: Expert Design and Planting Techniques by Ray Rogers (Timber Press, timberpress.com) Container gardening can provide easy solutions for difficult sites or limited space. Ray Rogers gives would-be gardeners not only the knowledge to plan their own container gardens, but the principles to creatively reflect their personal style. ($29.95)
On the Porch: Creating Your Place to Watch the World Go By by James M. Crisp and Sandra L. Mahoney (The Taunton Press, taunton.com). For many, the porch immediately conjures images of easy summer days spent in rocking chairs, but these outdoor spaces can also be an ideal area for entertaining or personal retreat. Stunning photography of porches and in-depth guidance for adding a porch or revamping an existing one, reveal how any home can benefit from this quintessential gathering place. ($30.00)
The Essential Garden Maintenance Workbook by Rosemary Alexander (Timber Press, timberpress.com). Every garden can benefit from maintenance and care, though some require more than others. From refreshing existing plants to a complete garden overhaul, Alexander's approach and detailed drawings provide insight for every gardener. ($34.95)
The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes by Rick Darke (Timber Press, timberpress.com). Although grasses in landscaping are often overlooked as lawn cover, they can also be interesting and organic components of the total design. Drake discusses types of grasses, how and where to incorporate them and how to maintain them. Complete with an encyclopedia and source information, this read is a wonderful guide to the beauty and functionality of grasses in a home's surroundings. ($59.95)
