BOOK REVIEWS

Garden Projects
in a Weekend

Ali Ward
Hamlyn, distributed by Bookwise International
$NZ44.95

Is your garden in dire need of a new look, but you just don't have the time to launch into a major garden project? Look no further than Garden Projects in a Weekend, a beautiful new book that aims to show you how to go about achieving real landscaping results in 48 hour-blocks.

The first half of this book covers design essentials, from planning to planting, with hard landscaping tips.

The second half is devoted to 24 original projects that anyone can try.

Ten of the projects are designed to be completed in a single weekend. Among the ideas are a chamomile seat, a wildflower border, an oak bench, decorative screens, children's wigwams and lighting ideas.

Find the time to set aside two weekends and you too could have a children's play fort, turf sculpture, herb steps, oriental screen or sun canopy to smarten up your plot.

Finally, there are three weekend projects, including a pebble stream, paving maze, potager and pergola.

Garden Projects in a Weekend is a practical and inspiring book. The only downside is that while the first few chapters are illustrated with fabulous photographs of stunning gardens, the second half relies on drawings to accompany the instructions for each project. I'd prefer to have seen step-by-step photographs as proof that these clever ideas can be finished in the times suggested.

Weekend Gardener, Issue 105, September 5-18, 2002, Page 30

Reproduced with permission from the former Weekend Gardener magazine. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the RNZIH