Okay, I'll bite, but since Patti has the "How To" thread going, I'll stay (mostly) away from those. Here's a sort of gardener's vacation: In New York, Diane Ackerman talks about gardening/life in Cultivating Delight. (I loved A Natural History of the Senses also, which has some mentions of her passions, like rose gardening.) I can't remember there being any how-to's, but the imagery is wonderful. I remember her mentioning her sassafras trees, which I still can't get established here...grr... Also from New York was Sara Stein, author of Noah's Garden (and Planting Noah's Garden, My Weeds, etc). She is pro-natives and will be happy to tell you why. I can't say that I agree with all of her writing, but her books have been a big influence on me. And yet again in New York, Lee Reich grows Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden. My copy is very well-thumbed. If only I had room for a few more fruit trees.. Then, in Vermont, Dorothy Sucher buys a blue farmhouse in The Invisible Garden. The characters she meets are entertaining. While in Vermont, you might visit Jamaica Kincaid, who wrote My Garden (Book). She talks about her hatred of winter, trips she has taken and her life in general and, of course, gardening. In Missouri (or Maine, depending), you can find Sue Hubbell discussing bees, various other invertebrates, plants, and living in the country. Not exactly a gardening book, but I've enjoyed all of her books. Try A Country Year: Living the Questions. In California, Amy Stewart moves to a sea-side cottage in From the Ground Up. She offers up advice, laughs, and many qoutes from other authors that are great leads to other works. I also enjoyed her book on worms, called The Earth Moved. Also in California, Peter D'Amato will tell you how you too can cultivate The Savage Garden. Okay, so this is pretty much a How-To, but if you've ever felt jealous that my bog is prettier than yours, this will be a good read for you. Actually, he makes raising carnivorous plants sound very easy (it is) and walks you through all the steps. What I liked most is his "you can do it!" way of writing. Then, in England, Beverly Nichols has written many hilarious books about his gardening. Good campy fun. Down the Garden Path begins with him buying a new place after reading an obituary while at sea. Stop by the Chiltern Hills where Claire Leighton writes about her garden in Four Hedges. You've probably seen her engravings used in other books. She'll tell you about her chalky soil among other things. In Europe, Daniel Blajan writes about Foxgloves and Hedgehog Days: Secrets in a Country garden. I want hedgehogs!! He wants you to see the magic inherent in gardens. Great light reading. And my copy of Jurgen Dahl's The Curious Gardener is still extensively bookmarked. Read about odd food-stuffs (odd to me), stinky plants, frost flowers, etc. Wonderful essays. One of my favorite "classics" is The Gardener's Year by Karel Capek, I laugh every time I read it. Whenever I'm planting "sticks", fighting a hose, or balancing on an elbow and toe to reach a weed, I think of his book. And last, how about some Chickens in Your Backyard? Rick and Gail Luttmann will tell you how in this very basic and low-scare how-to book. It was one of the 1st chicken books I read and it lead me on to others. I still dream of having chickens... I suppose that's sort of a para-gardening book. Okay, can you tell it's too hot to garden today? Kent (glad the blanket flower seeds did well Georgeanne!)

Below is a list of some of the books members of this forum have recommended. While this list certainly does not represent the complete list of books on this subject it is a good place to start. Some books were recommended without the member adding commentary. If you have read any of these books and would like to add to the books comments, please let me know (see link at bottom of page). Corrections and additions will be made expeditiously as they are requested. A Japanese Garden Journey: Through Ancient Stones and Dragon Bones Author(s): Judith Klingsick Comments: I know it is a small hardcover book: 44 pages. A Japanese Touch For Your Garden Author(s): Kiyoshi Seike Masanobu Kudo and David H. Engel Comments: Has a wealth of practical information Art of Japanese Gardens: Designing & Making Your own Peaceful Space Author(s): Herb Gufstafson Comments: It is a wonderful book Colors in Kyoto Author(s): Kenji Hashimoto and Michiko Takagi Comments: It has wonderful photos of the details that make Japanese style Japanese. Creating Japanese Gardens Author(s): Philip Cave Comments: I almost didn't get Cave's book but it is truly beautiful. Enhance Your Garden with Japanese Plants - a practical sourcebook Author(s): Judy Glattstein Comments: An introduction to and history of Japanese plants in America is followed by sections describing and providing cultivation information Garden Art Of Japan, The Author(s): Masao Hayakawa Comments: It has some striking pictures. There are a few colour plates, but the rest of the pictures are in black and white. To me, one of the most powerful pictures is one of the stone arrangement in the upper garden, Saiho-ji, Kyoto. The author writes of it as '...a crystallization of the spirit of the great priest Muso Soseki - a spirit that truly revolutionized Japanese garden design in the medieval age.' A little further on, he refers to the upper garden as representing 'the deeply ascetic outlook of Zen.....' Chapter 4 is entitled 'The World Of The Dry-Landscape Garden and the sub-heading 'Gardens for Zen Discipline'. It begins - 'Muso Soseki attempted to give physical form to his Zen Philosophy in the dry-landscape garden of Saiho-ji and the dry waterfall stone group in the garden of Tenryu-ji. Such gardens are in themselves a means towards Zen self-examination, spiritual refinement and ultimate enlightenment. They therefore belong to a dimension of creativity entirely different (my underlining) from that of gardens designed for pleasure or for the gratification of aesthetic tastes......' I found it difficult to put the book down. Garden Views I - Modern Japanese Gardens Author(s): Tatsui Teien Kenkyujo Garden Views II - Stone & Sand Gardens Author(s): Tatsui Teien Kenkyujo Garden Views III - Water & Stream Gardens Author(s): Tatsui Teien Kenkyujo Garden Views IV - Tree & Moss Gardens Author(s): Tatsui Teien Kenkyujo Gardening The Japanese Way Author(s): Sima Eliovson Comments: A big book with lots of color pictures and lots of advice on all aspects of Japanese style gardening. Infinite Spaces: The Art and Wisdom of the Japanese Garden Author(s): Joe Earle Comments: Pairs quotations from an ancient writing the Sakuteiki on garden design with exquisite photos that illuminate the words. Japanese Courtyard Gardens Author(s): Haruzo Ohashi Comments: A beautiful picture book that gives a nice sampling of small gardens -- including those in private residences hotels and inns and temples/shrines. Japanese Detail: Architecture Author(s): Sadao Hibi Comments: Some excellent pictures of fences paths basins and lanterns. Japanese Garden Construction Author(s): Samuel Newscom Japanese Garden Design Author(s): Marc P. Keane Comments: Reading such a smooth introduction to Japanese gardens was a pleasurable experience. Japanese Gardening in Small Spaces Author(s): Isao Yoshikawa Comments: It has very specific instructions for stone placement construction of gates and fences with bamboo tying knots. Japanese Gardens Author(s): Gunter Nitschke Taschen Comments: Has wonderful photos of classic garden concepts Japanese Gardens Revisited Author(s): Gisei Takakuwa Comments: Is largely of photographs by Kiichi Asana with commentary by Gisei Takakuwa. The photographs are in colour and I can spend a lot of time admiring them, but most of them are on a grander scale than most back yards, so, (for me) it's of limited use. Japanese Gardens Today how the Japanese use rocks water plants Author(s): Tatsuo Ishimoto Comments: Japanese Stone Gardens: how to make and enjoy them Author(s): Kazuhiko Fukuda Comments: I think it's very good. Japanese Style Author(s): SlesinCliff and Rozensztroch Comments: The highlight of the book is the wonderful photos by Chabaneix. It's full of the details of Japanese life that are so distinctive: the patterns of shoji bamboo fences and roof beams; the way vegetables and tea sweets are arranged; the crowded simplicity of shop interiors; the blue white and wood of home interiors. Journal of Japanese Gardening Author(s): bi-monthly magazine Comments: Excellent 'how to' guides, articles and comentary Landscape as Spirit Author(s): Mosko and Noden Comments: Beautiful book! May help out those of you working on rock setting projects. Landscape Gardening in Japan Author(s): Josiah Conder Comments: has numerous reproductions of the black-and-white woodblock prints from these Edo period gardening manuals, as well as fascinating photos of famous (plus some just plain weird) gardens taken during the Meiji era. (For instance, see Kinkakuji with the pond choked with aquatic weeds on page 171). A really fun book for reference (would not recommend using it to design a garden.....) Looking for the Lost: Journeys Through a Vanishing Japan Author(s): Alan Booth Comments: Booth was a particularly insightful traveler who knew the Japanese culture well. His memoir/travel accounts are full of details about people and their lives in the out-of-the-way places few travelers see. Magic Of Trees And Stones: Secrets of Japanese Gardening Author(s): SAITO, K. et al. Comments: just quite simply the best book(english language) on the subject. Masterpieces of Japanese Garden Art: Central Kyoto Author(s): Mizuno Katsuhiko Comments: All large photo format published by Books Nippan. Masterpieces of Japanese Garden Art: Eastern and Northern Kyoto Author(s): Mizuno Katsuhiko Comments: All large photo format published by Books Nippan. Masterpieces of Japanese Garden Art: Nunnerys Author(s): Mizuno Katsuhiko Comments: All large photo format published by Books Nippan. Masterpieces of Japanese Garden Art: Western Kyoto Author(s): Mizuno Katsuhiko Comments: All large photo format published by Books Nippan. Natural Stonescapes The Art and Craft of Stone Placement Author(s): Richard Dube and Frederick C. Campbell Comments: It is a good book has detailed instruction on stone placement good info on where to get stones how to handle them and so on. Lots of drawings and photos. Nature on View: Homes and Gardens Inspired by Japan Author(s): Peggy Landers Rao & Jean Mahoney Comments: It has wonderful ideas for merging the indoors with the garden. Plus it features Japanese-influenced homes in the US. It has been a real source of inspiration for me. Gardener. Oriental Gardening Author(s): Japanese Garden Society of Oregon Comments: It is a very good intro for general Oriental garden style planning and had some good basic horticultural instructions too. The photos are quite inspiring. Reflections of the Spirit: Japanese Gardens in America Author(s): Maggie Oster Comments: One more book with wonderful photos. Secret Teachings in the Art of Japanese Gardens Author(s): David Slawson Comments: What sets this work apart is its depth and focus on unraveling the underlying design principles and its intent on providing a deeper understanding into the art of Japanese gardening. Serene Gardens Author(s): Yoko Kawaguchi Comments: Serene Gardens is illustrated with a wide variety of photos and comprehensively covers Japanese gardening. It has an exhaustive plant list and plenty of practival advice. Space & Illusion In The Japanese Garden Author(s): Teiji Itoh Comments: A passage in it that got my attention reads - '....Zen priests advocated the use of materials near at hand rather than the expenditure of large sums of money to procure and transport fantastically shaped rocks and rare trees. Indeed Buddhism itself is symbolized in this frugal advice, and it was of such a philosophy that the rock garden and the dry-landscape (kare sansui) garden were born.' (my italics). 'Frugal' certainly appeals to me. Spirit of Kyoto Author(s): Mizuno Katsuhiko Comments: Gorgeous photography on every page of gardens landscapesplants and flowers. Extraordinary. Stonescaping: A Guide to using Stone in your Garden Author(s): J. Kowalscewski Whitner Comments: If you're drawn towards the rewarding art and science of working with stone this book is a must The Art of Bonsai Author(s): Peter D. Adams Comments: Heavily illustrated with color and b&w photos and drawings The Art of the Japanese Garden Author(s): David en Michiko Young Comments: 2005, ISBN 0804835985, Turtle Pusblishing. A very good book with excellent photography and drawings. A kind that we can recommend if one looks for one book on Japanese gardens. The Art of the Japanese Garden Author(s): Tatsuo Ishimoto Comments: Scaled drawings of the Gardens are included with arrows indicating the orientation and direction that the pictures were taken. It goes a long way toward helping the concepts leap off the page. The Art of Zen Gardens Author(s): A.K.Davidson Comments: An excellent garden designer and builder's companion The Imperial Gardens of Japan Author(s): Takeji Iwamiya and Teiji Itoh Comments: An exquisite book The Modern Japanese Garden Author(s): Michiko Rico Nose et al Comments: Great photography intriguing ideas for incorporating Japanese-inspired design elements in homes and gardens. The Ocean in the Sand: Japan From Landscape to Garden Author(s): Mark Holborn Comments: I thought it was dry at first but after about 20 pages I was taking copious notes! Fascinating if you're trying to understand the 'why'. The World of the Japanese Garden Author(s): Loraine Kuck Comments: A cornerstone to my collection. Themes in the History of Japanese Garden Art Author(s): Wybe Kuitert Comments: (ISBN 0-8248-2312-5) The best English-language treatment of Japanese garden history available. It's a bit hard to work through, but that's partly due to the meatiness of the material. I found it worked perfectly well to read its chapters out of order, following any thread I was particularly interested in. The index and bibliography (both J & E) are excellent and Wybe gives a very extensive glossary including kanji/kana. Today's Japanese garden Author(s): Daivid Ingel Comments: Mr Ingel asociated top Japanese schoolar in 50's. Book is kind old, but book has very accurate articles and good photos. Tsuboniwa - The Japanese Courtyard Garden Author(s): Mizuno Katsuhiko Comments: Nice photo book lots of nice intimate gardens great for ideas.

Just today, with the rain coming down in buckets, the kids in school, and me with the day off, I sat down and watched 84 Charing Cross Road. I've read it many a time but never knew it was made into a movie. It was quite old for a movie, and starred Anthony Hopkins, Dame Judi Dench and Anne Bankcroft as Helene Hanff. I thought it was very well done. And a perfect movie for the weather and my mood. I confess, however, that after watching the movie, I am very much annoyed at my computer. Yes, the internet allows me to sit in my living room and make friends, through RP, with all of you all around the globe. But the magic of a letter! The warmth of the words, the bits of smeared ink, seeing my name on an envelope written by the hand of a friend... what computer can compare with that? Sorry... went completely off topic. But I was excited to share this movie with all of you. PAM

I, too, loved Shadow Divers. As far as non-fiction that can rival a novel, a few come to mind. I loved Devil In The White City, the story of the Chicago World's Fair and a serial killer who operated in Chicago at the same time. Born To Run was simply wonderful. A book about long distance running, but really much, much more. It told the story about the author's search for a timid Mexican tribe of Indians who are know to be the world's fastest runners. I dare you not to get a pair of Five Fingers after reading this. (I am not a runner, never will be!) And another top favorite is Into The Wild by John Krakauer, described by Publishers Weekly, "After graduating from Emory University in Atlanta in 1992, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandoned his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska, where he went to live in the wilderness." I thought about this true story long after I read the book. Lastly, a non-fiction book I could not put down was The Sociopath Next Door. Everyone I described it to had to get their own copy. Have fun and thanks for starting this thread. I also hope to get some good recommendations.