Greenhouse dreams There's nothing like swirling snow to jump-start the dream of having your own greenhouse -- a refuge that's warm, bright and green.
In "How to Build Your Own Greenhouse" (Storey Publishing, $24.95), author Roger Marshall takes dreamers and doers through the process of deciding what kind of greenhouse you want, need and can afford. Even if no greenhouse is likely in your future, his book is still great fuel for the fires of the imagination.
Should you buy a kit or build from scratch? What kind of roof pitch do you need to repel snow? How should you handle ventilation? Marshall helps make sure you ask the right questions, then answers them in clear and accessible text and drawings.
From big-picture explanations of the types of greenhouses, to nitty-gritty planning worksheets, to basic building concepts, "How to Build Your Own Greenhouse" is a useful way to dream yourself warm.
ROBYN DOCHTERMAN
Learning Japanese What is it about Japanese gardens that makes them so tranquil and relaxing? Students of Asian landscaping know the "why." For the rest of us, there's "Serene Gardens: Creating Japanese Design and Detail in the Western Garden" (New Holland, $17.95), an overview of Japanese garden styles and the design principles behind them.
The book, like its subject, is characterized by carefully constructed simplicity, packing a lot of information into three mere chapters. After a brief introduction on the allure of Japanese gardens, author Yoko Kawaguchi delves into their history, traditions and types.
Chapter Two breaks down the basic elements, such as plants, rocks, water, sand, paths, etc. And there are ample diagrams showing patterns for steppingstones or sand patterns for dry Zen gardens, as well as practical tips on choosing rocks, creating a topiary or constructing a bamboo fence. One helpful addition is "Plants for different situations," such as near a bridge or to prevent erosion around water features. Photos of the plants being suggested would be even more helpful, but it's hard to feel shortchanged on visuals, since the book is filled with gorgeous, evocative photography of Japanese gardens in Europe and the United States.
