allanbecker-gardenguru

Here is the Easiest Way to Ensure Continuous Blooming Gardens, Feb 6 2012

The easiest way to ensure a continuously blooming perennial garden, from the earliest spring until fall, is to buy a copy of this book. Thank you, Lorraine Roberts, for making it so easy for new gardeners to create continuous-flowering gardens, in temperate and colder climates.
Before the publication of this manual, whenever neophyte gardeners wanted to create three-season flowerbeds, they were compelled to muddle through encyclopedic photo-lists of plants. The first step was to make a list of those flowers that were appealing. The second step was to edit the list to eliminate plants that were inappropriate for one's growing zone.
The tedious chore continued with a third step -… Read more

Garden Design May Be Inspired By Works of Art, May 4 2011

The theme of this beautifully written and breathtakingly illustrated book is that great garden design may be enriched when it references and embraces creative elements that are found in the plastic and performing arts.

Such a phenomenon is called synergy in industry and in horticulture it is metaphorically referred to as hybrid vigor. It represents a cumulative result that is superior to the sum of its parts and explains the cross fertilization that sometimes takes place between two artistic disciplines. As composers collaborate with choreographers and sculptors are inspired by painters, the resulting works are often richer and more powerful than what might have been created… Read more

Planting All Season Gardens in Pots, April 27 2011

Right from the first page, the authors declare that a container garden is better than a large flower bed because with containers, the gardener can focus on less and do more with it. For example, deadheading a container garden takes 30 seconds if done a few times a week. Furthermore, because pots are closer to eye level, they make it easier to appreciate individual plants. The restricted amount of gardening surface also teaches and inspires the gardener to become a better editor and a better designer.

Traditional gardeners better hold onto their hats because this book will provide a roller coaster of a ride as the authors present a new treatment for an established style of… Read more