Customer Reviews

Perennial Combinations: Stunning Combinations That Make Your Garden Look Fantastic Right from the Start

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a treasure to me-I've had it out of the library countless times. So glad I could have my own in such good shape and cost effectively, too.

Book contains about 344 pages divided into three main sections. The sections are Basic Design (14 pages), Combinations (306 pages), and Mail Order Sources & Index (24 pages).

Each combination discussion (there are over 200) shows a garden photograph, a photo key, and several paragraphs of discussion. Each plant in the photograph is identified to species and variety. Great job!

The discussions reveal growing tricks and tips. The book is full of solid and easy to follow instructions.

This is an excellent book for generating garden design ideas for your own yard. Photographs are awesome (although some images appear to have the flower colors oversaturated - that's not the color they are in my yard :-)

It's my favorite garden design book so far. Very creative!

Excellent resource for ideas. In addition to photographs of various perennial combinations, the author provides information about the plants, such as how to grow and maintain them, and what conditions they prefer. It's more than just a picture idea book. There's a good overview of garden design too, with advice on colour use and combining foliage and flowers.

I usually am hesitant to buy these types of books - because I live in a colder climate (zone 3-4) there are usually not many combinations, styles, etc. to choose from out of an "all inclusive" book. Not the case here! There were plenty of plans and ideas for all zones and everything was very comprehensive in drawings and text. Just within the first few minutes of looking at it I had several ideas for my yard. What's also nice is that it covers everything from small spaces that need just a few plants to fill in to large areas that need coverage. I will definately be referring to this book AND sharing this book for a long time to come!

I bought this book after reading so many good reviews about it.
Unfortunately I don't agree with them simply because of the use of common names.
As I am not originally from North America I am not familiar with names like "Fire pink", "Monkey flower","Jupiter's beard","Cup plant" etc.
Thankfully botanical names are at the back of the book.
There are many inspiring photos with interesting combinations.

Combining perennials in a bed or border for a soothing or striking effect can be a tricky business even for experienced gardeners. Cole Burrell's thorough treatment of this subject in his book, "Perennials Combinations," comes to our rescue.
Through diagrams, photographs,and illustrations, he demonstrates what can be planted in a variety of situations. All this is accompanied by the author's perceptive comments concerning the cultural needs of each recommended plant. But this is not quite enough and Cole goes much further. Page after page of this marvelous book demonstrates a variety of combinations to appeal to a variety of tastes. Looking great is what it's all about and I, for one, as a landscape designer, will find many different combinations that truly appeal to not only what is possible in gardens of this area but what appeals to my artistic taste in renovating a country garden--my own.

Ruby Weinberg-Landscape Designer, Author

This book gives excellent visual plans for perennial combinations for the garden along with plantings for different soils and weather conditions. It will be very helpful for my garden planning. I just hope I can find the plants I want to buy in my local nurserys to recreate the ideas!

This book provided a lot of visual combinations - colour, texture and size were all represented with excellent clear pictures. I loved the layout and the commentary was not excessive. Thanks for a wonderful resource.

As a serious new garderner I have been buying tons of gardening books to help me get started and to educate myself. I had no idea, when I purchased this book, that it would become my favorite! I took it on vacation and read it cover to cover, twice. It provides expert information on perennials, and nudges individual creativity with its stunning photos and drawings of beautiful combinations. I have already put in three of Mr. Burrell's garden plans - with some adjustment for personal favorites and have been extremely pleased with the results! I am giving this book as a Christmas gift this year to several gardening friends and would highly recommend it for all gardeners, beginners to master!

I've purchased MANY books on gardening, but this is the book I continue to go back to! Inspiration, great ideas, and beautiful combinations abound. The pictures, charts, lists, ect. are beautiful and concise. A book I give to my gardening friends too!