Today I thought I would shake things up a bit and show some ideas for smaller gardens.
In this first garden, the backyard is so small, the lawn is no bigger than an 8'x 10' area rug.
Despite the limited space, these homeowners have managed to create the
prefect outdoor retreat in the heart of a busy downtown core.
Remember spider plants? Doesn't it look stunning in this rusted urn?
No space for one of the ponds that I showed in my last post? Hang a wall fountain instead.
Details count even more in small gardens. This is one of my all-time favourite hanging planters.
A classic.
This is a tiny courtyard garden with lots of charm.
There is just room enough for a storage shed on one side and a small garden on the other.
I love the way the homeowner has made use of all the space available to her.
Small-Space Container Gardens by Fern Richardson,
Timber Press, CAD $23.95, US $19.95, www.workman.com/timberpress
I also have two books on small space gardening to share with you today. The first is Small-Space Container Gardens.
Not everyone has a piece of land available to them for gardening. Author Fern Richardson gardens on a small apartment balcony, yet she manages to grow figs, nectarines, herbs and berries.
In her book, she offers anyone who wants to grow plants creative ways to make use of patios, porches, decks, rooftops and even windowsills. The book addresses the basics like plant and container selection, as well as many of the unique challenges presented by small space gardening like wind and weather extremes. There is even a helpful chapter on troubleshooting disease and pests.
The Balcony Gardener by Isabelle Palmer.
CICO Books, CAD $23.95 US $19.95 www.cicobooks.com
The second book is the Balcony Gardener by Isabelle Palmer. What do I like best about this book? It is filled with lots of great ideas.
Birdcage Image from The Balcony Gardener © CICO Books
Take this birdcage planter. Isn't it wonderful? I really want to make one of these!
Another thing I like about this book is the fact that you don't necessarily have to read it cover to cover just to find the information you need to get started. The book's wide range of topics are all clearly identified. There are also handy list of things you need and clear instructions for each of the projects.
Patio Image from The Balcony Gardener © CICO Books
Topics covered in the Balcony Gardener include: a basic primer on small space gardening, using plants to screen for privacy, small water gardens, getting creative with containers, growing herbs, tomatoes and strawberries as well as...
Garden Image from the Balcony Gardener © CICO Books
furnishings and lighting ideas. Many of the projects like the birdcage planter are fun whether you have a small garden or not.
I have a copy of each book to giveaway. If you would like to be included in the draw, please leave a comment below. I will draw one name for each of the two books with the help of some fabulous assistant.
I will leave the contest open for a full week (Closes next Wednesday at 12 pm) and will do a draw early the following week.
Many thanks to CICO Books and Timber Press for providing the books in this giveaway. Good luck everyone!
I am going to link this post to Holley's monthly book review party. To discover some other really great gardening themed books, be sure to click the link: Roses and Other Gardening Joys.
More Information and Links:
About the Author of Small-Space Container Gardens:
Fern Richardson is the creator of the popular blog Life on a Balcony. A master gardener, an amateur photographer and garden designer, she lives in Long Beach California.
Fern Richardson is the creator of the popular blog Life on a Balcony. A master gardener, an amateur photographer and garden designer, she lives in Long Beach California.
Isabelle Palmer is an author and the founder of an innovative online company: www.thebalconygardener.com. Her online shop specializes in product ranges for small urban outdoor spaces: balconies, patios, roof-top gardens and terraces.
Isabelle studied art at Chelsea College of Art and Design before getting a degree in economics. Always a keen gardener, she started of her own small space garden and that lead her to believe that others would want to do the same.
