Review: "Garden Up," a Book by Susan Morrison and Rebecca Sweet

I love words, but more than words I love images and drawings that give life to those words. In 'Garden Up' you'll find it all. You'd think it would be about gardening in small spaces if you rely on the title alone; not true. It's all about gardening in spaces where vertical could be better for us and for the plants. And it fits every type of gardener; if you like traditional, trendy, modern or whimsical, you'll find everything you need in this book.

It's easy to read, easy to use and trust me, you'll use it a lot. It's the layout that draws you in and holds you there until you've read every word. You know how some garden books jump from one topic to another and you can't find your way around?  This one is so uncomplicated, yet very sophisticated in its text as well as its directions and layout.

Here's the lineup of chapters with my own examples of snippets from each:

Arbors and Trellises: typical topic, you'd expect it in vertical gardening
Skinny Spaces:  think side yards, narrow walkways
Garden Secrets:  covering air conditioning units, chicken coops, ugly chimneys
Urban Gardens:  balconies, apartments, think small areas
Edibles:  food, of course, ornamental plants with a purpose
Living Walls:  we might know about that, but do you know about irrigation for it?
Plant Picks:  specific plants for specific purposes and areas
Design Spotlights:  this is a little section at the end of each chapter that shows a photograph illustrating a technique outlined within the chapter, complete with explanations.

With the "Do it Yourself" project outline, you will find photographs of different steps, techniques and tips as well as a materials list. 

And how unique! I found in one of the photos a semp garden forming the roof of a chicken coop. Simply put, it's written with all gardeners in mind.  It's a problem solving book; it could easily inspire a non-gardener, one who might scoff until seeing the photos and reading a word or two.

See the little portholes in the violet wall above?  Well, they aren't, they are little mirrors, adding depth to the background wall. And the flower growing around and over the entrance, I can do that with my old Dorothy Perkins rose that already crawls along my roofline.   

You will read it from cover to cover, you won't be able to put it down. And when you are finished you'll take a little bit from here and a little bit from there and you'll begin to implement much of what you just saw in the book. It's practical, down to earth, easy to do, and I'll bet you already have many of the materials that are listed.

What a great book; thank you Susan Morrison and Rebecca Sweet! Your collaborative efforts have created something useful and beautiful for all of us.

Go here to see the website; you'll also find there a clickable link to Amazon if you'd like to purchase the book. You can even take a quick peek at 'Garden Up' on YouTube.

Garden Up: Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Spaces is a book you'll read from the beginning to the end and one that will remain with you as you walk the paths of your own garden.  When Susan and Rebecca combined their efforts within the covers of this book, they shared their knowledge and experience with us. We are very lucky recipients. It is an excellent book.

The book that I reviewed was the electronic copy.

(Published by Cool Springs Press, Brentwood, Tennessee)