Moss Gardening: Including Lichens, Liverworts and Other Miniatures

I read this book at the same time as Martin's "The Magical World of Moss Gardening". They are both remarkably similar, as if there were some requirement that moss books first spend a lot of pages talking about existing moss gardens and at some point discuss individual species or genera (Schenk discusses about 50 mosses & lichens, plus liverworts and club mosses while Martin highlights 25 with the liverworts, club mosses and other similar sized plants in an earlier chapter). Schenk is a cosmopolitan gardener, with work in Canada, Manilla, and Auckland, while Martin is well-grounded in North American gardening. I think a reader's final selection will depend on which style of writing you prefer. Schenk's writing is certainly creative, but show more sometimes his flights of fancy get to be a bit much for me. His chapter on actual gardening is more of a narrative style while Martin is more organized and prescriptive. Schenk has chapters on bonsai, other container moss gardens, and suggestions for developing a business as a moss nursery. He ends with an annotated list of books for further reading, but neglects Glimme and Kimmerer (neither one gardeners, but neither are most of his list). The book is well indexed. show less

Surprisingly lyrical writing. This was enjoyable. The Portraits chapter covers species, with a color photo each. I wish there was more anatomy and close-up. Ties in to bonsai arts.