From Publishers Weekly
Primeau, founding editor of Canadian Gardening magazine, posits that a perfect lawn may not always be a good thing, arguing that well-manicured lawns are high-maintenance, chemical-dependent water guzzlers; she would be happy to see them all replaced by the flower gardens so often relegated to the back yards of urban and suburban houses. Starting with the luxuriant display of flowers, foliage plants, and shrubs in her own front yard in Toronto, she discusses more than 70 front yard gardens, most of them in Canada but some in Texas, Arizona, California and Wisconsin. She divides these front yard gardens into eight types-cottage, small city, opulent, minimalist, fusion (some grass allowed), natural, neighborhood and secret-and shows in text and photographs how they were designed, how they reflect the personalities of their owners, and what plants were used. There can be obstacles to such gardens in cities and suburbs-neighbors' objections, local regulations, overhead and underground wires, bad drainage, and hard surfaces-and she describes how many people have overcome these problems. Unfortunately, Primeau doesn't include among the many splendid photographs in the book any that show how one of these colorful gardens would stand out in the context of a block where all the other houses are fronted with carpets of grass. But this is a small matter. The book is handsome, informative and amusingly written, and it should serve as an inspiration to those who are tired of old-fashioned lawns. 240 color photographs. Garden Book Club and Country Home & Garden Book Club selection. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Alternatives to the traditional lawn effectively cut down on water usage and may also play host to beneficial insects and birds. Once the desire to do away with grass takes root, readers can turn to Primeau for help in rejuvenating a front yard so that flowers, foliage textures, and hardscaping come together in inviting swaths to both beautify and benefit the environment. Options presented range from cottage style to a minimalist approach stressing restrained designs. Even fusion plans are included, showing landscapes where small areas of grass combine with beds, borders, or expansive plantings. Primeau's Canadian point of view proposes plant lists spanning the mild realm of Vancouver, cold-winter regions of Winnipeg and Toronto, along with a smattering of gardens from Texas, Arizona, and Wisconsin. Useful as a source book, this volume presents photographs and text that suggest potential ideas to increase curb appeal through the transformation of front yards and parkways. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Stuart Robertson, Montreal Gazette 12/13/2003
Very well written and illustrated book... thousands of ideas.
Patty Jessome, The Edmonton Sun 03/29/2003
Will inspire homeowners.
James Grainger, Quill and Quire 05/2003
Excellent primer on the rewards and challenges of starting a yard garden.
People 05/12/2003
Gorgeous photography showcase real front lawns that have been turned into colorful havens.
Sherry A. Firing, Globe and Mail 04/26/2003
Inspirational ... great tips on how to plant so your garden doesn't clash with the neighborhood.
Rob Howard, The Hamilton Specator 04/24/2003
This is a great book ... fabulous reading and utterly inspiring.
Michael Lassell, Metropolitan Home 07/2003
Alternatives to lawns ... from cactus austerity to full-blooming exuberance.
Phoenix Home and Garden 09/2003
Conversational text and lovely photography by Andrew Leyerle make this edition an interesting choice for home gardeners.
Susan Mulvihill, Spokane Spokesman 06/27/2003
I've just finished reading [this book], and I've got to say I'm feeling excited and inspired.
Jo Calvert, Canadian Living 07/01/2003
All the tips and photographs prove that you can keep off the grass -- step by step -- with style.
Book Description
Although upkeep is labor intensive and often requires an arsenal of dangerous chemicals to keep it free of weeds and pests, the appeal of a manicured lawn is almost irresistible. But more people are discovering a very attractive alternative. Packed with practical tips and beautiful photographs, Front Yard Gardens: - Explores the history of the lawn and our attachment to it - Contains examples of front yard gardens from more than seventy gardens across North America - Provides step-by-step instructions to start and grow your own front yard garden Liz Primeau transformed her lawn in a quiet suburb to a mixed garden with a profusion of flowering plants, shrubs, and cacti. She now enjoys an eye-catching front garden that requires no chemicals and less watering than her lawn. This book includes overall planning and design, and outlines the steps for removing the grass, enriching the soil, and planting. The book is divided into several types of front yard gardens, including cottage, minimalist, secret, neighborhood, downtown, and natural. She discusses the key elements of each style, gives tips on how to create and maintain the garden, and provides a list of complementary plants. With more than two hundred beautiful photographs taken expressly for this book by Andrew Leyerle, Front Yard Gardens is a sensual treasure-trove of ideas.
About the Author
Liz Primeau was a gardening magazine journalist for 30 years and now gives regular lectures on gardens and garden design, including a special presentation on front yard gardens. She has led many gardening seminars and is a featured speaker at gardening events. Liz Primeau is the founding editor of Canadian Gardening magazine and host of her own television program.
Front Yard Gardens: Growing More Than Grass FROM THE PUBLISHER
Although upkeep is labor intensive and often requires an arsenal of dangerous chemicals to keep it free of weeds and pests, the appeal of a manicured lawn is almost irresistible. But more people are discovering a very attractive alternative.
Packed with practical tips and beautiful photographs, Front Yard Gardens: Explores the history of the lawn and our attachment to it Contains examples of front yard gardens from more than seventy gardens across North America Provides step-by-step instructions to start and grow your own front yard garden
Liz Primeau transformed her lawn in a quiet suburb to a mixed garden with a profusion of flowering plants, shrubs, and cacti. She now enjoys an eye-catching front garden that requires no chemicals and less watering than her lawn.
This book includes overall planning and design, and outlines the steps for removing the grass, enriching the soil, and planting. The book is divided into several types of front yard gardens, including cottage, minimalist, secret, neighborhood, downtown, and natural. She discusses the key elements of each style, gives tips on how to create and maintain the garden, and provides a list of complementary plants.
With more than two hundred beautiful photographs taken expressly for this book by Andrew Leyerle, Front Yard Gardens is a sensual treasure-trove of ideas.
SYNOPSIS
Primeau, in a handsome volume illustrated with photographs by Andrew Leyerle, offers front yard design solutions that use plants and flowers instead of grass. Following a chapter that argues for the environmental benefit of such a yard, guidance is offered on how to plan and implement removing one's lawn and select an attractive array of plants to replace it. The remaining text offers various designs, with photos of successful yards, many of them in Ontario, Canada. Primeau is founding editor of Canadian Gardening. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Primeau, founding editor of Canadian Gardening magazine, posits that a perfect lawn may not always be a good thing, arguing that well-manicured lawns are high-maintenance, chemical-dependent water guzzlers; she would be happy to see them all replaced by the flower gardens so often relegated to the back yards of urban and suburban houses. Starting with the luxuriant display of flowers, foliage plants, and shrubs in her own front yard in Toronto, she discusses more than 70 front yard gardens, most of them in Canada but some in Texas, Arizona, California and Wisconsin. She divides these front yard gardens into eight types-cottage, small city, opulent, minimalist, fusion (some grass allowed), natural, neighborhood and secret-and shows in text and photographs how they were designed, how they reflect the personalities of their owners, and what plants were used. There can be obstacles to such gardens in cities and suburbs-neighbors' objections, local regulations, overhead and underground wires, bad drainage, and hard surfaces-and she describes how many people have overcome these problems. Unfortunately, Primeau doesn't include among the many splendid photographs in the book any that show how one of these colorful gardens would stand out in the context of a block where all the other houses are fronted with carpets of grass. But this is a small matter. The book is handsome, informative and amusingly written, and it should serve as an inspiration to those who are tired of old-fashioned lawns. 240 color photographs. Garden Book Club and Country Home & Garden Book Club selection. (Mar.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
This substantial book takes a refreshing look at front gardens, an aspect of gardening that hasn't been covered well enough in recent years. Primeau, a well-known Canadian garden writer and television host, tells how she began her own front garden and then introduces us to over 70 other gardens in a variety of styles and settings. She conveys perfectly the spirit of each gardener as she describes his or her yard, challenges, successes, and neighborhood relations. Filled with practical ideas, Primeau's encouraging text is liberally supplemented by lush photos from veteran photographer Leyerle, who has his own front garden. Brief introductory chapters discuss the history and environmental costs of traditional lawns. Though most of the gardens featured are in the northern zones, this book will be valuable for all gardeners for its unique focus, innovative ideas, and design tips. It nicely complements Jeni Webber's Taunton's Front Yard Idea Book, which is organized by specific design challenges and tasks rather than by garden styles. Highly recommended for all public libraries. [Garden Book Club main selection.]-Bonnie Poquette, Shorewood P.L., WI Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Art & Photography
Book Info
