Designing and Creating Japanese Gardens

A lavishly illustrated introduction to the unique qualities of Japanese gardens and what they express, as well as a practical guide to their design, creation, and care.

For the Japanese, the garden is a microcosm of the world, rich in symbols; it is also the perfect expression of their affinity with nature. Designing and Creating Japanese Gardens explains the spiritual and philosophical symbolism of the Japanese garden and how the Western gardener can recreate its beauty and serenity. Among the topics are: history, philosophy, and spirituality; changing styles, designs, and fusui—from pavements and stepping stones to gateways and lanterns; plants, and planting—the importance of the cultivation, choice, positioning, and care of plants; water and structural features; and the gardens of Japan, with advice on gardening in the West. Inspiring as well as practical, Designing and Creating Japanese Gardens features more than 300 color photos and drawings.


Designing and Creating Japanese Gardens

Home Outside: Creating the Landscape You Love

An Outside-the-Box Guide to Outdoor Living. Let’s face it: most of us have the confidence to improve the inside of our homes with a fresh coat of paint, new rugs, furniture, and fixtures. But when it comes to the outside of our most prized possession, we don’t know where to start. That’s where Julie Moir Messervy’s Home Outside comes in. The acclaimed landscape designer walks the reader through the process of turning any property into the home outside you’ve always dreamed of. Focusing on key concepts like Finding Your Comfort Zone and Placing the Pieces, Messervy presents breathtaking plans for remarkable front and back lawns, entertainment areas, and contemplative retreats, as well as innovative ways to create a better flow between the inside and outside of a house.


Home Outside: Creating the Landscape You Love

Sustainable Landscape Management: Design, Construction, and Maintenance

The complete guide to the sustainable management of landscapes

A must-have guide for anyone working with landscapes, Sustainable Landscape Management eases the transition of the landscape industry into a new era of green consciousness. Filled with examples that illustrate best practices, the book provides a practical framework for the development of sustainable management strategies from design to execution and, eventually, to maintenance in an effort to construct landscapes that function more efficiently and minimize the impact on the environment. Sustainable Landscape Management includes:

  • An overview of sustainable design and construction techniques as the basis for the maintenance and management of constructed landscapes

  • Coverage of ecosystem development, managing landscape beds, managing trees and shrubs, and lawn care

  • An entire chapter devoted to issues associated with the use of chemicals in landscape management

  • Guidance on retrofitting existing landscapes for sustainability

Reshaping the landscape takes on more significance as society embraces a new value system for advancing environmentally friendly ideals. By following the management principles laid out in this book, readers will learn the key elements for building landscapes that integrate beauty and function to create a sustainable presence that extends well into the future.


Sustainable Landscape Management: Design, Construction, and Maintenance