Page Turner - The Tiny Garden
The Age
Wednesday May 10, 2006
BOOK REVIEW: The Tiny Garden, By Jane McMorland Hunter, Published by Frances Lincoln, Hardcover, $39.95
STRONG, structural support? Check. Space-saving, rectangular troughs? Check. Year-round greenery? Check. Taking facets of the interior design to the balcony outside? Check. Lovely furniture? Check. Atmospheric lighting? Check.Even the tiniest of garden spaces demands attention to a great many details. This little book is full of big ideas for the tiny garden, which is increasingly becoming a factor of urban life. Written for a British market, it nonetheless has much to offer us here - not least its ability to see potential for a "garden" in the most awkward of spaces, such as a flight of stairs or up walls. (For the former, grow plants on the steps themselves or train them over a wall; for the latter, it's important to consider which direction the wall is facing.)The entire basis of the book hinges on a simple concept: where there's sky, there's a garden.The author of several gardening books, Jane McMorland Hunter has herself developed a variety of gardens over the years. She covers all the ground of patios, rooftop gardens, passages, lightwells, balconies, exposed and shady areas. Each space starts with the premise of its function, moves onto its structure and boundaries, then explores design solutions and recommends suitable plants and regular maintenance. Lawns, ground cover, containers, fruit and herb gardens are all considered. There is also a section that deals with common problems.
© 2006 The Age