Natural Gardening in Small Spaces

by Noel Kingsbury, Noe Kingsbury

With the growing recognition that a wisely and sensitively planted garden has a lot to offer to wildlife and the food web, more and more people are looking for ways to make their gardens environmentally friendly. However, gardeners have tended to assume that they need a lot of space to create habitats for wildlife and to evoke wild and natural places. In Natural Gardening in Small Spaces , renowned plantsman Noël Kingsbury refutes that presumption, showing how even in a small garden you can create a sustainable ecosystem that looks great — and, once established, largely looks after itself. More than 150 glorious photographs of small natural gardens provide visual confirmation of Noël Kingsbury's contention that even the smallest garden can provide a natural haven.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2003

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with how-to information and generously accompanied with color photographs. More pertaining to gardening in general that specifically "small spaces" but much to gleam from. Plant directory, and plenty of information on soil, planting, weeds, etc. A good garden book as a whole, with small added in.

[Sarah Guldenbrein · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit generic for my needs. I guess it did help me figure out that I'm not necessarily into a natural *style* garden, but a naturally *managed* garden with a more uh, horticultural style. This book is about creating the *look* of nature, where I want ecological impact with many native plants but also a showy look. So for me, not enough emphasis on place and ecology and too much on getting the natural "look."

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was amazed at the variety of gardens and styles for small spaces. He covers roof gardens, wall gardens, patio gardens, and regular suburban lots. Styles, plants for colors and shapes, for what soil, everything!

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hated to return this one to the library!

[Pam Penick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Noel Kingsbury wants us to plant gardens like Mother Nature, using naturalistic plant combinations and creating wildlife-friendly habitats. He argues that this can be accomplished on a small scale on urban lots, or even in rooftop and container gardens. Naturalistic does not mean sloppy, however, and he insists on the firm hand of the gardener in maintaining naturalistic gardens. He discusses how to combine plants from different regions of the world, so long as the regions have similar climates. A native-plant fascist he is not. Wonderful photos of small gardens will inspire you. If you want to get away from the obligatory row of boxwoods along the front of the house, this book is for you.

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was given this book as a gift by a well-meaning person who figured I would enjoy it based on its title. Instead, I found it to be incredibly pretentious. From all I have ever read, Kingsbury is a gifted landscape designer, but in this book, he writes in such a dispassionate, overly ornate style that just reading a few pages makes me want to NOT garden.

Apparently I'm not alone, as I've tried to give this book away repeatedly and no one has ever wanted it.