| Landscape Design Answer Book |

Jane Bath, Author

This book was built on the concept that each landscape can be considered part of a giant puzzle with each piece a design element.  Understanding the fundamental elements of design begins the process of putting the puzzle together for a pleasing, functional whole.  Unlike other art forms, landscapes are a dynamic three dimensional whole.  They change throughout the day, the week, and even each month and every year.  Handling the complexity of these features is a challenge to everyone. 

The book breaks down the problems into individual elements fo design.  It has over 300 design elements simply written and once understood, can be easily applied to a problem at hand.  Nine chapters tackle problems covering all aspects of a landscape, both with plant material and with the hardscape such as  walks, patios, decks, fences, and so forth.

Reviews from all over the US - check Google for more:

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: “This innovative book on design takes a refreshingly practical look at 300 landscaping problems and breaks them down into solutions that even beginning gardeners can understand and implement.

Don’t expect plant lists or even plant names in all the photographs.  The author is a designer out of Atlanta and in writing fro a national audience has wisely avaided recommending specific plants.

Instead, you’ll learn 300 bit-sized lessons on design that not only solve common landscaping problems but also add drama, teach placement of garden rooms and concentrates on creating great entries and developing indoo, outdoor transitions with wide steps, broad proches and sizeable decks.

Instead of glossy photos fo dreamscapes, this book shows more down-to-earth residential and commercial design to illustrate the width of beds around a  house or the preferred shape of a pathway. ...this is a book for homeowners who happen to have a yard, not gardeners who want to spend all fo their free time growing flowers.”

Chicago Tribune:  “READ IT:  If you have a single-family home, but this book before you spend another dime on your outdoors.  It contains a wealth of smart, crisp advice on how to use the space around you.”

The Patriot-New [Penn]  “Best book of the year.  I liked it because the author has such a tremendous handle on what’s important to the average homeowner.  ...She addresses each - topic by topic - in practical, to the point fashion.  Most helpful are the photos with numerous lines and notes drawn over them to illustrate exactly what she means.”

Lexington Herald-Leader:  “You don’t have to dig; the answers are right here.  ...her elements are typically short, practical and heavenly illustrated.  Even better, she cross-references each element with related concerns.