Reviews (3)

A practical yet beautiful guide. Indispensable.
Like many others I have long craved the simplistic beauty & calming ambience of japanese garden design thinking I could neither afford bringing in professionals nor summon the skill to execute one myself........then i bought this book. Using Mr Sawano's expert guidance & exquisite knowledge to easily lead me through my own design project i have created my very own dream garden. I have loved every minute of the process -so much so that I have even volunteered to make over my friends garden for him!! The books still sits proudly on my coffee table, but even better is that through my window I have the real thing to enjoy. I am so looking forward to my first summer with it.

Interesting, even for non-gardeners
I think of this book as Japanese Gardening for Dummies. I'm not a particularly experienced gardender however I was able to follow how and what I should do to create my Japanese garden and, just as importantly for me, why I should do this.
The easy way to have your own Japanese garden!
I've always wanted to have my own Japanese garden but whenever I bought a book on the subject it was just too complicated and complex to understand. Takashi Sawano has managed to write a book for those of us who aren't borngardeners!It's easy to understand and now I have a fabulous Japanesegarden that all my friends rave about. I really can't recommend this bookenough. If you want an authentic Japanese garden that looks like it'sstraight out of Japan then buy this book and you can do it all on your own! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Japanese Gardens - General    5. Garden design & planning    6. Japan   

Reviews (2)

I bought two.Can I give 6 stars?
I'm a garden designer and a big fan of exceptionally executed work.It is sometimes surprisingly hard to find good design work in design books, I often see one or two new ideas but almost never a whole book of inspiration like I found here.
It can change the way you see
IMHO, this is the best book on home or garden design I've ever seen.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Japanese Gardens - General   

Reviews (4)

Nice pictures
This book is not only a great picture book, but it also provides wonderful descriptions of the Japanese gardens featured - succinct and informative.If you like landscaping with the Japanese feel, you'll enjoy this book.

faulty product
The book is excellent but the dust cover was torn obviously before despatch as the packaging was good.
Beyond the basics, Japanese Garden Book
I've been through a lot of Japanese gardening books, and many of been a little repetitive, covering the basic design elements and what not. Mizuno has put together a great "Intermediate" read once you've had enough of the basics. The pictures are some of the best available of authentic Japanese gardens, and the captions are short and to the point but with just enough plant identifications to be useful to someone in their planning stage.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Japanese Gardens - General    5. Landscape    6. Japan    7. Photographs: collections    8. Specialized gardening methods   

Reviews (19)

Very good ready reference
Very good handy reference for someone more or less familiar with bomsai techniques. Highly recommended.

Bonsai cultivation how-to in a nutshell.
This very affordable, essential reference for beginners covers all the basics of bonsai cultivation in a broad range of topics, without ever turning too technical for the reader. The well-organized, thoroughly indexed and concise information is presented in handy tips, easy-to-remember answers to frequently asked questions, and step-by-step expert advice with detailed explanations that include topics like:
This book was BADsai!
Upon recieving this book as a gift from my late husband, I discovered that the information given in this book was quite unsatisfactory.As a seasoned Bonsai enthusiast, I found it degrading and demeening and an insult to my intelligence.Any serious Bonsai lover would know enough to realize the suggestions given in this manual are foolish and obscene.Read more

Subjects:  1. Bonsai    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Japanese Gardens - Bonsai    6. Japanese Gardens - General    7. Techniques    8. Gardening / Japanese Gardens   

Reviews (1)

Outstanding book on Japanese Gardens
I ordered this book somewhat "blind" without having seen it in a bookstore, etc. When it arrived, I must say that I was thrilled with the quality of the text, photos and other illustrations. The book thoroughly covers the basic history, principles and aesthetics of Japanese Gardens. Then it takes an in-depth look at some of the finest gardens of each type found in Japan. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Garden Design    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Japanese Garden Design And Planting    6. Japanese Gardens - General   

Reviews (16)

Japanese Maples Review
This is an excellent book. J.D. Vertrees did a wonderful job of classifying the various Japanese Maples. The revision and expansion done by Peter Gregory has added to J.D.'s original work.
Newer is Not Always Better
Before you consider purchasing this book, I strongly suggest you try to find the second edition, which, while less comprehensive, is better organized.In addition, a comparison of the two finds that some of the best images in the second edition were not carried over to the third.
Good overview book on maples
I am not sure what I was expecting when I ordered this book but I have mixed feelings about the book. For one, I think the book provides a good overview of Japanese maples.The book covers most of the major cultivars but only in small details.There are plenty of photographs; most show the leaves, which is good if you want to get an idea on what color the tree will have.There are some photographs of the whole trees, which you wish there were more because of just how beautiful they look.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Fullmoon maple    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Japan    6. Japanese Gardens - General    7. Japanese maple    8. Maple    9. Trees    10. Gardening / Trees    11. Shrubs & trees    12. Specialized gardening methods   

Reviews (4)

A good presentation of Kyoto Gardens
After visiting Kyoto , i think this book gives us many opportunities to appreciate so many details of the wonderful and chaming japanes gardens of the ancient Japan capital.
Great picture reference for Japanese gardens and courtyards
This a beautiful collection of large-sized well composed photographs of the different type of gardens found throughout Kyoto.They are accompanied with brief text on their design principles and historical background.Might proof useful as inspiration and reference for anyone writing and/or illustrating a story set in Feudal Japan like Samurai-Ninja stories.It might also be a nice surprise present to Anime/Manga fans by adding another dimension to their collections.

thoughtful and thorough
This book provides an excellent inside look at kyoto's historical gardens, though without much of the context in which they exist (e.g. surrounding city, houses). The photography is fantastic as it realistically shows the reader both the intricate details & broad strokes that make up these complex settings. Keep in mind, it is a serious piece of work and the descriptions are somewhat short and/or dry (but maybe that's the point). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Japanese Gardens - General    5. Subjects & Themes - Landscapes    6. Subjects & Themes - Travel - General    7. Subjects & Themes - Travel - World/Asia    8. Japan    9. Landscape art & architecture   

Reviews (4)

AUTHENTIC AND INSPIRATIONAL
I picked up about ten books on Japanese gardening at the library and this book was by far the most inspirational.The author gives definitions for technical terms and also shows step by step illustrations to recreate various photographs within the book.He also shows how to make a bamboo fence which I thought was really neat and I am actually going to give it a try.This is the only book I decided to purchase out of the lot from the library and I plan on giving a few copies as gifts.

Great Ideas... Too Complex
As much as I liked the pictures and the possibilities of the gardens, there's no chance that the average person could even attempt some of the Japanese style gardens.The designs are beautiful but you really do need a LOT of room to do any of these designs.The idea of a calming, tranquil space to sit would be wonderful but not on my budget.

An Excellent Manual
Sorry, my english is no good. I�m a chilean landscaper and I bought this book about 2 month ago and it can help me in many ways for my job. Have a lot of details of how to do fences and other triks with good photos. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Design and construction    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Gardens    6. Gardens, Japanese    7. Japan    8. Japanese Garden Design And Planting    9. Japanese Gardens - General    10. Landscape    11. Garden design & planning   

Reviews (2)

The only comprehensive guide to the gardens of Kyoto
This book is an indispensible aide to anyone planning a trip on his own. This book contains over 50 individual entries describing the gardens of Kyoto and environs, grouped by geographic location within the city. Overview maps for the different districts show the approximate location of the individual gardens, so that the traveller can put together itineraries for daytrips in the Kyoto area.
A Guide to The Gardens of Kyoto, Marc Treib and Ron Herman
Don't leave home without this book! Anyone who is planning a trip to Japan (resident foreigners included) and has even the slighest interest learning about the Gardens of Kyoto should buy a copy of this superb book, which is small enough to carry in your shoulder bag. The book contains gives the balance of detail,giving good a historical background and landscape points overview. This is a buy you will not regret. Well done to the authors. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. Gardening    3. Gardening/Plants    4. General    5. Japanese Gardens - General    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Gardens (descriptions, history etc)    8. Japan    9. Landscape art & architecture   

Subjects:  1. Bonsai    2. Container    3. Gardening    4. Gardening / Horticulture    5. Gardening/Plants    6. Japanese Gardens - Bonsai    7. Japanese Gardens - General    8. Techniques    9. Gardening / Japanese Gardens   

Reviews (3)

Excellent guide to creating your own Japanese garden
Inspired by Ryoanji and armed with this book (checked out from the library), I created a large Japanese raked garden (20' x 100') in my back yard. This was my first attempt at such a garden and the results were sublime. Of all the books I read on the subject, this one was the most practical in terms of explaining the history and principles behind such a garden as well as the techniques needed to build one. I referred often to the many illustrative photographs and schematic sketches as I executed my project. Unfortunately, I had to sell my home, but the garden did a lot to increase its marketability. Now that I've bought a new home, I'm adding this book to my permanent collection as reference for my next Zen garden project.

Great book
I was curious as to how to go about creating a Japanese garden, and this book not only answered my questions, it gave me inspiration with its pages of gorgeous photographs.A must have for any aspiring Japanese gardener,or just for anyone interested in Japan.

the book was enlightening and informative even for beginners
I always had an interest in Japanese gardens and always wantes to have one and if not experiance them.The book helped with both accounts. I am now seriously thinking of establishing a small garden and want to know more. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Gardens, Japanese    5. Japanese Gardens - General   

Reviews (7)

Great intro
I got this book from the library and was pleasantly surprised at the details and useful, practical advice on conceiving and executing a japanese garden. The book contains detailed instructions on how to lay out, build, select plans for, and maintain a Japanese-inspired garden. It talks about rocks, rock gardening, ponds, water plants and fish, paths, stepping stones, gates, and plants and plant selections.I found it really helpful in getting ideas to give to our landscape architect.I would recommend this book for anyone that is going to actually build (rather than just enjoy looking at pictures of) a japanese garden.

amazingly beautifuls pictures
This book is one of the best I ever buy about gardening and landscaping. The pictures alone worth the price. GOOD STARTER BOOK
This is a good "starter" bok. It has great pics some design principles and a small section about specimens to use. I read it thoroughly and took it for what it was worth. Honestly the 3 stars are for the great nursery directory that's up to date in tha back of the book ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Garden Design    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Japanese Gardens - General    6. Landscape    7. Garden design & planning    8. Gardening / Japanese Gardens    9. Japan    10. Japanese;landscaping;design   

Reviews (5)

definitely not the best book on ikebana
The problem with this book is that most of the shownarrangements are plainly not beautiful. They don't look balanced as real ikebana should look, containers don't seem suitable for flowers, color combinations are not always harmonious, and in many cases it is not clear why this is called ikebana at all. There are some pieces of useful information such as diagrams, tools, and tips, but I don't think it reasonable to buy the book for those 10 pages (like I did). Decent how to, but lacks explanation of why
I got this book to go with Origami Flowers by Hiromi Hayashi.Reiko Takenaka does a good job explaining how to make an arrangement that looks like the pictures, with step by step instructions and clear diagrams.Some of the containers seem to clash with the flowers, and some of the special occasions arrangements are lost in translation for someone not intimately familiar with Japanese culture like me.My only real criticism, however, is that the book does not really explain any principles about why and how and what looks good - it's more a menu to find an arrangement that looks nice in the picture and repeat it.

great book for those who need English explanation of basics
This is a clearly written, well thought out explanation of the basics of Ikebana. The photographs demonstrating the combinations of materials, and their height relative to each other, are great as examples for beginners. Many ikebana teachers don't speak English well, so this book is useful for a cross reference for something you were taught in class. One problem - there are many schools of ikebana so the book has to be quite generic in its explanations, which is not necessarily how your particular school may approach a certain principle. But again, as a study supplement to a class, it works well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Dried Flowers    3. Flower arrangement, Japanese    4. Gardening    5. Gardening/Plants    6. Japanese Gardens - General    7. Flower arranging    8. Japan   

Reviews (6)

A very good book
This book has many great pictures to give the beginners inspirations to pursue this great hobby.

THIS IS THE DEFINITIVE BOOK ON THE ART OF BONSAI
________________________________________________________________________________________________ Classic Bonsai of Japan
An Informative and visually stunning text.This is not just a pretty book.Much can be learned from the subtitles for the bonsai enthusiast and casual browser alike. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Japanese Gardens - General    5. Topiary    6. Bonsai    7. Japan   

Reviews (10)

Touch ?
I think people have "japanese" gardens or any other type of garden but they for example don't have like english garden with a japanese touch. I don't have this book and i will not buy it, because i want a JAPANESE garden nor mexican-japanese-english-french or anything else garden

Just what you need
The title of this book is a bit misleading, in that it does not offer tips on adding a "Japanese touch" to your existing garden, but rather goes about explaining how to create a Japanese-style garden in the space available to you.In this manner, it is an extremely capable guide and leaves you with the confidence that you can accomplish building your own Japanese-style garden.
Wonderful book
This book contains wonderful pictures and offers many ideas for a Japanese style garden or balcony. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening / Horticulture    2. Gardening/Plants    3. Gardens, Japanese    4. Japanese Gardens - General    5. Landscape gardening    6. Garden design & planning    7. Japan   

Reviews (7)

Dijon du Jour
With her usual wit and style, MFK Fisher brings the food and atmosphere of Dijon alive.It is a fun book, perfect as an introduction to a way of life that is both foreign and dated.The delights of the table set by an eccentric landlady and shared with a variety of characters from the building, are extravegant.Fisher also draws a picture of the town's restaurants, markets, and life.
Enjoyable, tantalizing
This is an enjoyable, tantalizing book, with some dull spots in the earlier chapters.It is an account of Fisher's 3 years in Dijon, where she movedin 1929 so that her new husband could pursue a doctorate.She was 20 years old, bright, pretty, charming, in love,and most of all, enthusiastic.The reader gets caught up in all this, so as to overlook the book's serious drawback.Fisher can write very nicely, but you learn much more about her landladies than her husband.Fisher says of her sister Norah, "she TOO speaks always with reserve" (caps mine).The book is written as if you are already acquainted with Fisher, as no doubt many readers are, but for the rest I would recommend, before starting the book, that they look up M.F.K. Fisher in Google and thereby get to the site about Fisher sponsored by Les Dames d'Escoffier International.

Excellent Memoir and Writing, but not her best
`Long Ago in France' by premier American food writer M.F.K. Fisher was one of her last autobiographical memoirs of life in France. She may not have invented the `American in Europe' memoir exemplified by Peter Mayle's `My Year in Provence' and Frances Mayes `Under the Tuscan Sun', but she certainly helped define the genre with this work as well as `Map of Another Town', `A Considerable Town', and parts of many of her other autobiographical works such as `The Gastronomical Me'.
Read more

Subjects:  1. (Mary Frances Kennedy),    2. 1908-    3. 1908-1992    4. Biography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Customs & Traditions    7. Dijon (France)    8. Fisher, M. F. K    9. Fisher, M. F. K.    10. Food writers    11. Literary    12. Social Science    13. Social life and customs    14. Sociology    15. Travelers    16. United States    17. Women    18. Gardening / Japanese Gardens    19. Modern fiction   

Reviews (2)

Much More Than a Picture Book.......
I wasn't expecting all the wonderful how-to directions so I can create my own Japanese Stone Garden plus all the great photographs.It's going to be a fun winter project and feel like I will succeed with the great tips in this book.

Rock Art
Benz does an incredible job of presenting suiseki in a lovely format with loads of pictures of beautiful suiseki. He also provides the aesthetic and practical levels of the ancient art; right down to the tools need and theframe of mind needed to explore this art. Whether you are a beginner orlong time collector, you will find this book a worthy addition to yourlibrary. I read the book today and I'm on my way out to the mountains tofind a new stone tomorrow. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Japanese Garden Design And Planting    5. Japanese Gardens - General    6. Stone in art    7. Suiseki    8. Gardening: plants    9. STUDY AIDS - Advanced Placement   

Reviews (1)

Essential for Japanese Garden beginners
A great run down on the essentials in a Japanese garden. From plants to design and bamboo. A great book for how-to water features and more. A great book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Japanese Garden Design And Planting    5. Japanese Gardens - General    6. Garden design & planning    7. Gardening / Japanese Gardens    8. JUVY-NON FICTION - JUVY-WKBKS NON FICT    9. Japan   

Reviews (7)

Best Monograph on the Japanese Garden in Print
Of all the monographs on Japanese garden design, this book provides the best overview of the underlying cultural context that has been the basis for its development.
Probably the best English language source available!
Marc Keane, the other author of this exellent book, is a professor at Kyoto University, and educates students in Japanese garden design.Other good background material on Japanese gardens includes:"Sakuteiki: Visions of the Japanese Garden" (a trans. of an 11th cent. Japanese scroll), also written by Marc Keane, with Jiro Takei; and"Secret Teachings in the Art of Japanese Gardening" ( another ancient scroll trans.), by David Slawson. Nice Pictures
There are many nice picutes in this book, however, there is not much instruction on the actual design of a Japanese garden.It talks about the history and philosophy, but does not mention much about the principles of design such as rock placement, plant species, structures, etc.It is enjoyable to browse through often, but is a better "coffee table" book than textbook. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Garden Design    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Japanese Gardens - General    6. Garden design & planning    7. Japan    8. Landscape art & architecture   

Reviews (2)

Serenity distilled
The original blueprint to create a Japanese garden filled with empty spaces, quiet, calm and tranquillity. I enjoy simply reading and rereading the detailed instructions which send my mind travelling along paths of gardens I've yet to see or create. Happy gardening.

Once in a millenium...
The editorial comments on this book can hardly do it justice.Read more

Subjects:  1. Garden Design    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Gardens, Japanese    6. Japan    7. Japanese Gardens - General    8. Landscape architecture    9. Sakuteiki    10. Garden design & planning    11. Landscape art & architecture    12. c 1000 CE to c 1500    13. c 500 CE to c 1000 CE