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| Miniature hostas are perfect plants for miniature gardens. |
For more than ten years, in another life, I was a school librarian which explains my obsession with books. As you know, my main obsession is gardening, consequently my personal library of garden books 'grows like Topsy.' My latest three acquisitions have taken me on a journey into the fascinating world of miniature gardening which, as I discussed in my last posting, interests me enormously. Here are brief reviews of my three new books:
Gardening in Miniature: Create Your Own Tiny Living World by Janet Calvo is a complete guide to creating perfect small-scale gardens. Calvo clearly explains the various scales that can be used -- and for a math-challenged person (me) this is valuable information. She reveals the secrets of designing in miniature. Calvo suggests suitable plants and miniature garden accessories. She discusses maintenance of your mini garden. The book is illustrated with a profusion of beautiful photographs.
Fairy Gardening: Creating Your Own Magical Miniature Garden by Julie Bawden-Davis and Beverly Turner is similarly informative and also has gorgeous photographs. The authors discuss the importance of developing a theme and telling a story with your creation. They stress the importance of focal points. They give suggestions for containers as well as for miniature plants. At the end of the book they provide a useful list of accessory and plant resources.
Fairy Gardens: A Guide to Growing an Enchanted Miniature World by Betty Earl relates fairy lore and folklore and introduces plants associated with fairies. Earl discusses fairy houses and fairy doors (I would like a door at the foot of my old pear tree.) She begins each chapter with a quotation, my favorite, by Neil Gaiman, says -- "This is a work of fiction. All the characters in it, human and otherwise, are imaginary, excepting only certain of the fairy fok, whom it might be unwise to offend by casting doubts on their existence. Or lack thereof."
I learned so much from each of the three books and I am enjoying planning my new creations! Look for 'Part 3' in the springtime.
I am linking my book reviews to Holley at Roses and Other Gardening Joys. Thank you, Holley, for hosting this meme.
Thank you to all my friends in the world of garden blogging for your prayers and kind wishes during my recent illness. I am happy to tell you that your healing thoughts are doing the trick and I am well on the road to recovery.
Thanks again,
Pamela x
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| The corn was harvested Oct. 25. The end of the gardening season means time to plan the next. |
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I look forward to visiting your blog in return.
I really enjoyed the book reviews. Fairy and miniature gardening will be something I may look into as I grow older. I love the tiny hostas and have seen many small troughs with them cleverly arranged. And I'm glad the corn was harvested, we've had a lot of rain making harvest difficult.
ReplyDeleteI love those miniature hostas, I saw a great collection at one of the gardening shows I visited and would love a small collection of my own but they're so expensive. I've seen places selling fairy doors, they're so whimsical, I'd really like one but I think it would look a bit out of place in my garden. I look forward to seeing your miniature garden once it's up and running.
ReplyDeleteMy foray into fairy gardening and miniatures has always been creating for others (built the small houses). The one book discussing maintenance is really important because they do seem to require fastidious upkeep. A friend of mine has a miniature train garden and it is quite a lot of work for them. Hope you are well soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear that you are recovering! I have enjoyed your book reviews. I had not seen any books on miniature gardens or fairy gardens so it's good to know that they exist...just like the fairies! My garden fairies like this time of year best when the moss grows on the hypertufa stones and toadstools start popping up.
ReplyDeleteAs I am a gardening book lover, it was interesting to read your book reviews about the miniature plants. I can imagine you could not resist to buy some fairies I should do the same that is the child in us.
ReplyDeleteI have been considering starting a fairy garden for my grandchildren. Thanks so much for letting me know about these books! I imagine a miniature garden is so much fun - for the the young and the young at heart! OH, and of course, for the fairies, too! :) Thanks for joining in the meme this month.
ReplyDeleteI have your third book and have really enjoyed it. I'm going to be on the lookout for Christmas ornaments that can double as mini-garden accouterments. It's a fun hobby and kind of addictive too.
ReplyDeletePam I love your new obsession...what fun and fairies too!
ReplyDeleteWe saw a bird today on our seed feeder that we don't remember seeing in the past. I found you blog while looking for PA bird species and was happy to see our little bird listed-the Carolina wren. I have seen all the other birds you listed, but this is the first time I saw this one.
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