Meadows by Design by John Greenlee| Book Review

By Land8: Landscape Architects Network on February 4, 2014 No Comments / 5478 views

In today’s world, a luscious, smooth, green carpet of a lawn in every garden is a given. No one seems to think or care about the strain that such high-maintenance greenery puts on the environment. The necessary water, herbicides and pesticides, the exhaust fumes of the machinery used to cut it — it is all an enormous burden we put on the surrounding natural environment. Fortunately, we have a choice — and John Greenlee proposes an excellent solution in his book “Meadows by Design”. Overview

The American Meadow Garden: Creating a Natural Alternative to the Traditional Lawn

Front cover; credit: Marta Ratajszczak

The author of “Meadows by Design” is so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the subject that it makes the reader want to go out and tear down their lawn right away. Greenlee’s passion for meadows shines through every page of the book. He answers all the main questions you might ask. Why is a meadow a great alternative to a lawn? How to do you establish a sustainable meadow? Which plants to should you choose? How to do you maintain it successfully? The author starts by explaining the meadow’s advantages, writes about the rules of design, and proceeds to include an extensive list of the best meadow plants. The reader is led skilfully through the incredible world of grasses and introduced to the best garden meadows around. All this is beautifully illustrated by the acclaimed garden photographer Saxon Holt. The meadows in the book are shown as incredibly rich ecosystems, safe and friendly spaces for pets and children, and a desirable part of every garden. Get it here! Why should you buy this book? This book will teach you all you need to know to start seriously thinking about establishing your own meadow. It is a wonderful resource for amateur gardeners and landscape architects alike. The author’s knowledge and passion is simply priceless. The book, despite being literally a meadow encyclopedia, is a pleasure to read. Greenlee’s pen is incredibly light; the narrative flows easily, keeping the reader engrossed in the book from beginning to end. The rich illustrations make it a veritable jewel.

Inside the book; credit: Marta Ratajszczak

The book is truly inspirational and a must have for anyone who is interested in modern design, ecology, and sustainability. Keep it in your library to show to any customer you might want to persuade into letting you design a meadow, and make sure you get to know the content thoroughly before you sit down to design your first meadow. Get it here! About the authors: John Greenlee Ornamental grass expert, nurseryman, and experienced designer, John Greenlee has created numerous meadows since 1984. He is a TV personality, a nursery owner, and is also the author of “The Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses.” Saxon Holt A lifelong gardener, book author, and an acclaimed garden photographer. Holt owns a library of more than 200,000 images — PhotoBotanic.com. Publisher: Timber Press, Inc. Type: Hardcover Page length: 278 pages Book review by Marta Ratajszczak Featured imge: Mayovskyy Andrew / shutterstock.com