Product Description

From China, where stones were called "the roots of heaven," to Japan and western Europe, Whitner covers the history and the basics of selecting and working with stones, and shows how to create beautiful and lasting effects through their use in pools, terraces, paths, and steps. Photographs in color and black-and-white.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #260765 in Books
• Published on: 1992-01-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 168 pages

Amazon.com Review
Because of the variety of colors, shapes, forms, and textures, there is hardly a more versatile material to combine with living plants in your garden than natural stone, either local or exotic. By way of introduction Jan Kowalczewski Whitner, author of Stonescaping, gives a historical perspective on Asian and Western traditions in the use of stone and its countless potential applications. She then launches into garden plans, techniques, and advice on taking advantage of many kinds of stone--even some now-available artificial stone materials--for paths and steps, walls and terraces, stone-water features, and rock gardens. For example, Whitner diagrams and explains how to make a proper foundation for stone walls, build a stone pergola, lay gravel and stone paths, cut natural stone, and create stone fountains and water features. Readers can duplicate these projects or can use them as a starting place for personalized, customized sites or designs.

Review
Excellent...lots of black and white drawings and plans with a full-color section; includes a chapter on backyard ponds. -- The Indianapolis News, September 19, 1992

Stones are funally given their full treatment in Stonescaping, which gives us the knowledge and taste required to introduce stones to our gardens. Look for a new awareness for stones in our landscape in response to this book. -- Dr. H. Marc Cathey, Director Emeritus, The National Arboretum

Stonescaping is an enticing new how-to-book with a fascinating discussion of the traditional uses of stone in Western and Asian gardens...with specific design ideas, clear technical details, useful sketches, and fine photographs. -- Christian Science Monitor, March 9, 1992

Whitner shows clearly how to construct drystone walls, flagstone paths, and formal ponds....The final chapter-Handmade Stone: Using Hypertufa in the Garden - is most intriguing. Whitner provides full instructions and makes it seem like fun. -- The Toronto Globe and Mail, May 3, 1992

From the Back Cover
Whether used as a natural ornamental feature, or cut and dressed to make walls, paving, and terraces, stone acts as the "bones" of a garden, giving it an atmosphere of permanence and time-worn distinction.

Stonescaping shows readers how to apply Asian, European, and contemporary design approaches at home, using stone features to solve common site problems and beautify their gardens. Chapters on building walls, paths, terraces, stone-rimmed ponds, rockeries, and troughs provide step-by-step instructions for creating these and other design features using basic hand tools.

In addition to its practical and detailed directions for selecting, finding, and working with stone, Stonescaping explains how to incorporate the beauty and strength of stone into a number of traditional and modern garden styles, including:

* An Herb Garden

* A Cottage Garden

* A Large Formal Garden

* A Romantic Garden

* A Wildlife-Attracting Garden

* Low-Maintenance Gardens

* Xeriscape Gardens

* Small Urban Spaces

* A Garden Renovation

Many of these plans also feature "pocket garden" variations, designed especially for the home gardener who wants to make a big impact in a limited amount of space.

Customer Reviews

Fantastic!!! Even encludes lite-weight Trough/Rock making!
We've been looking for the 'recipe' on how to make light weight Rocks and Trough's, This is the only book we've found to do more then mention that it can be done. One of the best all around books for folk who don't have a Daddy Warbucks bank account.

high-quality, inspiring book
I didn't read every word on every page. I have used it more as a reference. Captivating set of color illustrations, well written, obviously edited thoroughly to give a more professional read. If you're drawn towards the rewarding art and science of working with stone, this book is a must.

Probably the best, most systematic explanation of stonescaping.
Excellent review, with do's and dont's, explains the process and history of stonescaping.
Minor suggestion would be the use of more photos to illustrate examples.