Garden Stone

The Garden Writers Association of America awarded Garden Stone a 2003 Garden Globe Award of Achievement for Writing. The Washington Post wrote, "Garden Stone is one of the best idea books on using stones in the landscape that I have seen." And Country Living Gardener said, "While the book is visually stunning . . . diagrams and step-by-step instructions show how gardeners can make their dreams come true."

Garden Stone capitalizes on a hot trend in landscaping: adding stone to bring texture, color, serenity, and strength to the garden. Author Barbara Pleasant offers gardeners more than 40 enchanting designs--from something as simple as a flagstone path to an elaborate Zen-inspired meditation garden. But this is not just a picture book. Each project is packed with practical, down-to-earth installation advice, including clear line-drawings and instructional diagrams. Furthermore, an up-to-date resource list helps do-it-yourselfers find the tools and materials they need.

Pleasant helps gardeners decide which type of stone is best for which kind of design. Limestone, for example, is ideal for stacking to make rock walls. Sandstone is easy to cut for steps and adds warm shades of red, yellow, or chocolate brown to the landscape. Blocks of granite can be used as sturdy paving stones. And an upright piece of marble or basalt adds a decorative touch to any garden.

Pleasant also shows how to create stone water features, such as fountains and natural-looking ponds and streams. And, making this valuable as a gardening book as well as a stone projects book, she provides hundreds of detailed suggestions for plants whose color, texture, and shape will enhance the stone--whether growing in rock gardens, bordering paths and steps, or meandering along water elements. Both practical and inspirational, Garden Stone shows any gardener how stone can add enduring beauty to any landscape.