Book review - Succulent Container Gardens by Debra L. Baldwin

I've just received a copy of Debra Lee Baldwin's Succulent Container Gardens and have not been able to put it down until I read it from cover to cover. It provides a wonderful variety of creative ideas to put together these beautiful and hardy plants in attractive arrangements that become eye-catching miniature works of art. From basic principles about matching and complementing different types and species of succulents based on their habit, shape, color, and size, to making stylistic decisions about decorative container pots and accessories, Baldwin's practical and aesthetic suggestions offer something all gardeners can implement on their own. Some of her advice were pretty obvious such as using pots that highlight or contrast with the color or the shape of the succulents. Others were more subtle and require more delicate artistry, especially in the section featuring arrangements in the form of bonsai. In any case, whether you consider yourself a beginner or an advanced gardener, this attractive and instructive book will provide much inspiration for your next container gardening project. 

Book Review - Chanticleer: A Pleasure Garden

Adrian Higgins and Rob Cardillo has put together a colorful volume to try to encapsulate all of the beauty of Chanticleer Garden in 176 pages. What a valiant effort in futility! I say this not because Chanticleer - A Pleasure Garden was not an enjoyable book in and of itself that depicted snapshots of the garden in all its glory through the spring, summer, and fall seasons with words and pictures. On the contrary, the book was in more ways than one, a window into the minds, hearts, and souls that went into creating, maintaining, and reinventing the pleasure garden that Chanticleer truly is today. I learnt about the deep affection of the Rosengarten family in cultivating Chanticleer and the decades of tender care from a cadre of talented horticulturists, gardeners, and landscape designers who have helped to shape and nurture this prized jewel in the Philadelphia suburbs into its present state.

Within the ten slim chapters, Higgins and Cardillo bring us on a virtual guided tour, starting from the Teacup and Entry Gardens, winding through the Tennis Court and Chanticleer House, and onto the Asian Woods and other parts of this pleasure garden. Stunning pictures of the garden accompany the rich if, at times, overly scientific descriptions of the multitude of unusual plant species hosted within the moderately sized 35-acres of the garden grounds. Included too are the thoughtful design elements that define each space within the grounds uniquely and yet manage to fuse all the individual parts into a cohesive experiential whole at the same time.

Although I have visited Chanticleer on many occasions in the past two years, I have yet to encounter the history of how this charming and verdant estate came to be. This book has definitely enriched how I see and relate to Chanticleer when I visit now. Which brings me back to my earlier remark about Higgins and Cardillo's labor in futility. I stand by this comment because it is my strong belief - as it would undoubtedly be for many who have visited including the authors themselves - that the only way to truly experience the magic and beauty of Chanticleer is to take a leisurely stroll through this pleasure garden in person. And what a pleasure it is!