I love gardening and I love books so my "horticultural library" is growing apace. Mostly I buy on impulse. Or rather, I spend ages flicking through in the bookshop and then I buy a fortnight later.
The books are initially chosen on impulse and, of course, it's usually the pictures that do it. I totally judge a book by it's cover (and what's inside). I have, however, haunted the gardening shelves in my local Waterstones and am now totally bored by their selection. There are loads of books they could stock but don't.
So on a recent visit to RHS Wisley I was overjoyed to find their shop, heaving with books (naturally) and people (unfortunately). It was there I picked up RHS Family Garden.
Oh dear. I think I am quite unfussy, with low expectations about almost everything. So, I guess, it must be bad if I don't rate it.
A lot of the pictures I'd seen elsewhere and most were not aimed at the majority of people who do not have half an acre for a daffodil spiral (if I see that one more time I shall scream).
One picture that did grab me was the one above, full of great ideas. The accompanying caption told you nothing about it though, no details just a general "use bedding plants to etch out nursery-scale numbers" type of text.
Of course you could probably come up with how to do it yourself but then, what's the point of buying the book? I wanted to know about the wicker snake with succulents growing along it's back; where did it come from, would it rot in the rain, price?
I'm not sure who this book is aimed at; if you're an experienced gardener the information is too basic and if you're a beginner it's not detailed enough.
I will not be deterred, I still have a (long-ish) list of books I would like to own. I think this one might be just the ticket. I realise it's in Japanese but look! Real people in their real gardens! I'm hoping it will be inspirational. Have you got it and do you rate it?
:: Goldfinch Watch Update (read more about my challenge here): Sightings = nil (although I think I did see one sitting in a neighbour's garden the other day. Teasing me). Hope = virtually non-existent. I have no idea what I am doing wrong and rather think if goldfinches are going to be this fussy perhaps I don't want them in my garden anyway (she says huffily, with her fingers crossed behind her back). ::
