Review by Booklist Review
In life, getting caught between a rock and a hard place is not an enviable position. In a garden, especially Hayward's, it's the best place to be. Hayward's enthusiasm for using stone in the garden is infectious, and he speaks of its merits and values in terms that are at once poetic and refreshingly forthright. Presenting more than 200 color photographs and detailed illustrations to entertain and educate, Hayward urges readers to consider stone for both its decorative and practical applications. Beginning chapters discuss the various ways stone enhances garden design; later ones give precise instructions for the do-it-yourself crowd, and Hayward even shares his sources for the best stone suppliers. A nationally acclaimed lecturer and garden designer, Hayward gives honest opinions on such critical matters as the proper way to install stone walls, or how to tell a good wall from a bad one. Whether it's benches or boulders, walls or walkways, stone is hard, but Hayward makes it look easy. --Carol Haggas
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Horticulture magazine contributor and author of several landscaping books (e.g., Garden Paths: Inspiring Designs and Practical Projects), Hayward offers a detailed look at the many ways stone can be used in a garden. The book's first half focuses on the philosophical and design considerations of stone forms as varied as walls, paths, terraces, and even benches. The second half is more practical, covering topics such as estimating the amount of stone needed for a wall, the methods of cutting and laying stone, and building pools and fountains. Novice gardeners will appreciate the many color photographs, the helpful sidebars (such as how to tell a good wall from a bad wall), and the appendix of supply sources. When the topic is walls, Hayward demonstrates a preference for the dry-laid technique, so gardeners who want to tackle working with concrete will need to turn to Mike Lawrence's Step-by-Step Outdoor Stonework: Over Twenty Easy-To-Build Projects for Your Patio and Garden (Storey, 1995) instead. Recommended for public libraries. John Charles, Scottsdale P.L., AZ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
