Rock Gardening: Reimagining a Classic Style

by Joseph Tychonievich

AHS Book Award winner
 
Rock gardening —the art of growing alpines and other miniature plants in the company of rocks in order to recreate the look of a rugged mountaintop—has been surging in popularity. Time and space constraints, chronic drought in the American West, and a trend toward architectural plants are just a few of the reasons for the increased interest. Rock Gardening brings this traditional style to a new generation of gardeners. It includes a survey of gorgeous rock gardens from around the world, the techniques and methods specific to creating and maintaining a rock garden, and profiles of the top 50 rock garden plants.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Plants

296 pages, Hardcover

Published November 16, 2016

About the author

Joseph Tychonievich gardens in his Williamsburg, Virginia yard. And in a friends yard. And with lights in his closet. He pretends that this is necessary research to write his books and magazine articles about gardening. Thankfully his husband accepts this, and the unpredictable deluges of vegetables he grows, with grace. Joseph is the author of several books including The Comic Book Guide to Growing Food: Step-by-Step Vegetable Gardening for Everyone and Rock Gardening: Reimagining a Classic Style. He is the editor of the North American Rock Garden Society quarterly journal.

Reviews

[Carla Bayha · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not always new information that you need in gardening, but just the right amount of information. The Internet has usurped the need for photos and lists of every plant cultivar you can collect and grow (or kill). What's great about this book is how engagingly written it is, and how succinct and clear his directions are for designing your garden and planting your alpines or seeds. There are even better and simpler instructions for hypertufa trough building than I have seen before. Rock Gardening has useful information for every perennial gardener--novice or expert--and not just those who have or are thinking about a rock garden. The book has well chosen photographs, is reasonably priced, and a perfect size for gift-giving. I'm adding it to the short list of gardening books that I will refer back to again. Waterwise and scalable (from fairy gardens and containers, to green roofs and traditional cottage gardens), interest in rock gardening itself is due for a resurgence. A gardening classic.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this tour of rock gardens and overview of the art of the rock garden. Tychonievich does not take himself too seriously, and I enjoyed his witty asides and wry sense of humor.

[Katie Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Joseph Tychonievich, uses his knowledge of rock gardening to give insight into some of his favorite rock gardens in the U.S.A., Scotland, and England. The book is basically broken into three parts: view of gardens, techniques, and plants. In the "View of Gardens" section, the author goes into detail about each garden profiled and has amazing pictures. The "Techniques" section talks about the styles of rock gardens and what types of rock and soil to use. The "Plants" section gives ideas on where to put each type of plant in a rock garden, as well as, what type of plant and whether it needs sun or shade.

My favorite part of this book are the boxes within each specific garden that gives more information about a style or technique use for that garden.

Thank you Timber Press and NetGalley for the ARC to give an honest opinion.

[Ryan Vasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Call No# 635.9672 TYC
Xeriscape and drought tolerant gardens and landscaping. Interesting information: Adding bogs: page 38, ground cover: pages 55, 68. Pathways pages 77-81. Overhead view of garden layout: page 92. Soil types: pages: 117-132. Containers: pages: 133-148. How to make a Hypertufa container page: 136. Growing climate pages: 149-161. Buying plants: pages: 163-171. How to start rock garden plants from seed. Pages 168 and 169. Plant types: Cacti pages: 177-181. Irises pages: 229-233. Saxifrages pages: 261-266. Sempervivums pages: 267-271. Metric conversions: inches, feet and temperatures. page 277. Alpine resources: page: 278. Book recommendation: page: 279. Index pages: 283-293. Author Biography: page: 295.

[Narariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

While a bit more specialized than the average gardening book, it was full of good information. It included a section on different rock gardens, with good photos, as well as ones on techniques and plants. The plant section in particular was interesting as it wasn't merely a list of plants and the information you would get on a seed packet; personal stories and tips were written out in paragraph format, just like the rest of the book. There was no section on "design" as many books do, but rather different methods for building rock gardens and how to create environments that will help the types of plants thrive.

[Claire Hardwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0- 4.5 Stars

Excellent resource for cultivating ideas on how to design a Xeriscape landscape and rock gardens. This book has a fresh look on old favorite alpine plants and some newer, easier to grow options and rock gardening techniques. Includes very sound and good practical advice about soils, drainage and the basics of rock gardens and how construct them. The Author's writing is very engaging and and a joy to read.

Loved the section of the book where the author explores various styles of Rock Gardens by visiting them in Scotland, England, and the Untied States and describing in detail his emotions and reactions to some of these special places.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything you need to know if you are contemplating a rock garden. Structure, design, weather, plants, soil preparation and containers are all discussed in this book. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just attempting landscaping for the first time, I think this book will be helpful. Will use this as a reference in the future.

[Ardis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great info

For my high altitude instant drainage garden!! I wish I had read about the daphnies years ago, although I found plantations by myself!

[Christine Sopko · Rating 3 out of 5]

His story visiting Denver hardy plants and New York sites were more interesting than the subject of rock gardening (to me.)

[Trish Remley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good practical information. Helping me learn more about rock gardens.

[Kami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. Had some good ideas but my favorite thing in it was how to make faux rock garden containers.

[Alison Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, quirky gardening book that gave me new appreciation for alpine plants and rock gardens.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a combination of photographs with in-depth information on how to create rock gardens using alpine plants. The first third of the book covers various rock gardens that the author visited in the US and beyond. The middle section covers practical advice like soil, propagating plants and the like. The last third, plants, covers some of the possibilities in very broad terms. I was generally disappointed with the book for many reasons. First, it is obvious that rock gardens with their tiny plants are extraordinarily hard to photograph. The close-ups, which allow you to see the plant selections, fail to put the garden in perspective related to the landscape. Many of the rock gardens featured were scree gardens which seemed artificially constructed and planted. Very little was shown of gardens that included collections of boulders nor was siting rocks really discussed. The plant section has a very limited grouping of the possible plants that could be used. I personally was challenged with including rocks in my garden design while blending their presence with the surrounding environment. Sadly this book would not have helped me at all.