Naturalistic Gardening: Reflecting the Planting Patterns of Nature

Lovejoy (Cascadia; The Garden in Bloom) differentiates the undeveloped style of natural, ecologically correct gardens (""more earnest than beautiful"") from the high art of naturalistic gardens (which combine ""habitat with artful, expressive gardens in an eco-sensitive manner""). While imitating nature's planting patterns, naturalistic gardeners appropriate a rich palette of shape, mass, textures and negative space to create soft-edged layers and ""tapestry hedges"" (mixed evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, for example). Theoretically, site-appropriate plant selection and placement cut down on garden maintenance and labor, but this is debatable even in Lovejoy's examples. Although this book focuses on the Pacific Northwest woodlands and only briefly illustrates the mixing of garden plants in other wild habitats, its concentration on design will benefit gardeners in diverse areas of the country. It should be noted that this book speaks best to experienced gardeners, for substantial horticultural knowledge is required, including a full grasp of each plant's character, culture, seasonal phases and mature mass. With considerable aid from Mandell's luminous photographs, Lovejoy's articulation heralds an important evolution in American garden design. (Nov.)