Lorraine Harrison

A charming little book, full of history, botany and interesting facts about the vegetables we grow and use. It also has beautiful illustrations, many reproduced from old books. I had it on my "Currently Reading" list for a long time because I was reading it in the bathroom, a page or two at a time. Recommended.

An easily understood primer on how to understand gardens. How they came to be, why they are designed the way they are, what they are supposed to represent. Now, when I visit famous gardens, I can have a deeper understanding of them.

How to Read Gardens: A Crash Course in Garden Appreciation by Lorraine Harrison

2010 original publication

I received this excerpt copy of this digital book which contained about 40 pages from NetGalley and Herbert Press/Ivy Press in exchange for an unbiased review.

No need to be concerned about spoilers as I only received 40 pages to review.

When most people stroll through a garden it’s doubtful that much thought is given to the magnificent view. Rather than provide a detailed explanation of show more the historical and influential effects of gardens through the years, this is a more user friendly guide.

The excerpt of the book I received started with an introduction to types and styles of gardens before skipping to the physical features and structures. The use of varied materials for walls, seating and decorative gates help to define the particular garden. It is difficult to review a book without the context of the complete book. The selection I received was interesting and made me want to put it in context with the beginning of the book.

Update: The publisher provided me with the completed version of this book. The book in its entirety is facinating and well illustrated. It is a must read for those who love garden structure and architecture involved in the magnificent displays we see. show less

An informative and entertaining look at over 3000 Latin names showing how botanical Latin can reveal a lot of information which acts as a prompt for how to remember the meaning behind an otherwise obscure Latin term. for instance - leucoxylon -- leuco being white and xylon being wood -- a species of eucalyptus; melanoxylon -- being black wood as in Acacia melanoxylon.