Elements of Garden Design

This is a book done by one of the top professionals in the industry. It gives you a good background on the principles involved in designing a garden/landscape. I highly recommend getting it. There are no color photos here, but thats not what this book is about and for what I am seeing you can get it for on Amazon (9 cents!!) I suggest you grab it. I wouldnt particularly recommend this for just the homeowner interested in "doing her yard", however, this is a starting point for those who really want to utilize the principles involved in creating a great garden space, it is a "reading" gardening book, not an "inspirational" gardening book, more "educational".

I am a hobbyist gardener and a fan of Joe Eck’s books. This one does not disappoint. The book is divided into two parts: Party One is about Theory and Part Two is about Practice. Each part consists of short essays discussing a particular topic on garden design. For instance, scale, frame, and harmony for part one; foundation plantings, lawns and ground covers for part two. I am learning a lot of things while not being overwhelmed. In addition, the superb writing makes it a pleasure to read. Highly recommend it to anyone interested in gardening, garden design and gardens.

I'm a direct, bottom-line kind of person with little patience for abstract theories. This book discusses the theoretical underpinnings of gardening, but I found it very useful. My husband and I just built a house and our yard is a blank slate. I had no idea where to start. After reading this book, however, I have a better understanding of what kind of garden should be planted in my yard. This book would be helpful to anyone who loves plants but doesn't' t understand which plants to get or where to put them.

Of the hundred garden and gardening books I own, I always go back to this one (I have the 1995 ed.). It is fundamental and funny, a refreshing breath of (un)common sense when designing a garden, or trying to figure out what's lacking in your own garden, or understanding what it is that gives such satisfaction in other people's gardens. The few drawings convey exactly what the author is trying to say.

Very simple stuff not good enough to keep reading

Unlike other garden teaching texts, I looked forward to reading this one as one might a good novel. Joe Eck's writing style is elegant and conveys information most enjoyably. I feel I learned a great deal more from this single book than I have from whole stacks of texts on the same subject.

the book is a nice mix of general ideas and practical tips, full of common sense attitude.(I would have finished my comment there, but amazon had required three more words.)

Eck was assigned reading for landscape design class, but such a great read I finished before semester began. Very funny and insightful, for anyone who loves their outdoor space.

Very worthwhile to read this book about gardens from a primarily aesthetic perspective. It is hard to find these basic design concepts presented as well as they are presented here. Enjoyable read and concise but covers a lot of ground.Not sure if it's just the book I got or the edition, but the printing quality was poor. It was like the font was slightly pixellated.

I'm a fairly new gardener with backgrounds in different kinds of design, but no experience or insight around designing some simple gardens around my home. The language is so beautiful and easy to read, the structure has the simplicity and beauty of great design, and the book is rich in both insights to contemplate and practical advice to apply. What a pleasure to have stumbled across this treasure!

Great book.