Kiss My Aster: A Graphic Guide to Creating a Fantastic Yard Totally Tailored to You

by Amanda Thomsen, Amanda Thomsen (Illustrations)

Who cares what the neighbors think? Kiss My Aster is a hilarious, irreverent, interactive guide to designing an outdoor space that captures your unique personality. Amanda Thomsen fills this quirky book with innovative ideas, encouraging you to forget the accepted “rules” and make your own landscaping choices. Whether you want privacy hedges, elegant flower beds, a patio for partying, a pond full of ducks, or all of the above, you’ll end up with a yard you’ll adore. 

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, Nature

160 pages, Paperback

First published December 18, 2012

Reviews

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This guide to basic gardening has two things that set it aside from most gardening books: it’s put together like a webpage, full of graphics and references to other pages, and it’s funny. Author Thomsen has a blog of the same name as the book on the Fine Gardening website, so I was happy to find she had a book out.

This is a book for the beginning gardener, especially for one with a new yard to deal with. Thomsen walks you through the process: the idea stage, mapping the existing space, deciding what you can realistically grow, hardscaping, planting. Every section points out that you don’t have to do it all alone; you can always ‘hire a guy’ for what you feel uncomfortable with, whether it’s design, digging, or maintenance. My favorite section is the planning one; the author encourages you to put down *everything* you’d like, no matter how wild and crazy. After all, if it turns out to be impossible, it’s only on paper, and who knows? You might be able to do it! And above all, make the garden for YOU, not for the garden magazines, the designers, or the neighbors. It’s your space, make it to give you pleasure and reflect your personality. This book won’t tell you how to prune roses or divide peonies, but it’s a good start.

[Booksingarden · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most inexpensive, clear, how-to advice for creating a fantastic yard. Amanda cover all types of people wanting a beautiful garden from those who want to do it all themselves to those who want to convey clearly to the people that they will hire (advice on that too) what they do and do not want. Highly recommended.

[Lisa Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Super busy layout. Fun to look at, but hard to read and get anything useful from.

[Cortney Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was cute, but it was a little busy, and the context of how the Author wrote was really busy. Overall I gave it only 2 stars because I appreciated the chuckles, and side bar commentary on plants, trees, shrubs....but all in the all it didn't really teach me anything in general that most wouldn't already be aware of.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do enjoy a garden book from a smartass perspective. Where else can I find such great information such as: how many gnomes is too many? what plants are soooo over done? and how to spot a phony garden planner (hint, the white pants). This did also have a great deal of very relevant tips and hints on how to plan, build, and enjoy your yard. It was all just wrapped up in a snarky, colorful package...which I loved.

[M Aghazarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most gardening books, this probably wasn't meant to be read front to back but I did it anyway. Probably more useful if I read it as a choose your own adventure, but oh well. Will definitely check out again when I get a house--got some good ideas...

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, super helpful, and WAY more fun that the zillions of very dry gardening books out there.

[Amanda Kruk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the experience of going through this book. I bought it because my daughter’s name is Aster and I do love gardening and have a LOT of work to do in our landscaping. Reminded me of the magazines & books I loved as a tween.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a beginning yard design book, this pretty much tops it. I quite enjoyed reading it even though there wasn't a lot of new information. Great color, funny writing... like a comic book was pollinated by a snarky garden-themed choose-your-own-adventure.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book may look cartoon-ish, it is definitely not for kids. With plenty of tongue in cheek humor, the author tries to de-formalize gardening and garden planning. If you are looking for reassurance, as a beginning (or returning) gardener, that you can do it, this book will boost your confidence. The author also let's you take the easy way out if you feel like you can't do it all by suggesting when you might want to seek professional help. I really enjoyed this as a short, informative, and funny read. Some of the gardening suggestions aren't suited to all areas of the US, or obviously, the world. But, as a Pacific Northwesterner, there was plenty to get me going.

[Maya]

A reread because I wanted to brush up on some landscaping concepts over the winter months. This book was first published in 2012 and I likely read it a few years later. Since then, I have collected a number of deep, years long learning experiences in permaculture, master gardening, and herbalism. So I read it with different eyes. At its root, it's a mainstream perspective in cooler clothing. I appreciate the fun attitude and desire to distill concepts into simpler bites.

In fairness, I think the fact that this read from a decade ago feels dated is less a reflection on the book's content than my learning in the meantime.

[Sara]

Somebody suggested this book to me eons ago and I put it in my Amazon cart and forgot about it. Then I was wandering the stacks at Westhampton library and saw it. If you want a yard/landscaping book that's more fun that useful, you'll enjoy this one. There is actually a lot of info in there in very short bits, but it felt too simple for somebody who has a little garden know how and not quite enough for a novice.

Pros: You get fun illustrations, choose your own adventure, Madlibs, a fortune teller/cootie catcher, punny titles.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a hilarious and low pressure gardening book that reads like a choose your own adventure graphic novel. I busted out laughing when the author begged me not to use white lava rock as a landscaping statement unless used ironically.
I read the whole thing through in one sitting and was thoroughly entertained, informed, and kinda want a boxwood shaped like Mr. T now...

[Laurla2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

-3 stars. -meant for more of a beginner gardener i think.

-cute, silly, humorous.
-set up like a choose-your-own-adventure type book, but i just read it through cover to cover.
-the print was meant to look like handwriting and a couple times the smaller versions of that print were challenging to read.

[Christy Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I knew this book existed years ago! This book meets you where you are at and add fun and entertainment along the way! Expert advice. You can tell Amanda is mean to do this and her creativity is amazing! Will be a go to wedding gift - housewarming gift etc for years to come!

[False · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a horrible book. Cartoon drawings and flippant comments on how to construct a yard that are basically useless. Rain barrel? Mosquitoes. I can't even remember why I ordered this.

[Christina Gutke · Rating 4 out of 5]

The horticulture humor in this book is off the charts!!

[Nancy P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and informative at the same time - a fun, useful gardening manual

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like it! I’m a total newbie with a big yard. This was approachable and funny. Perfect and I’ll refer back to it frequently as we launch the journey of our property.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun to look at and informative! I love the format. I’ll be referring back to this as I learn and continue to improve my skills at gardening.

[Penney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hoot of a way to learn about growing things.

[Amy Poulter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun concept for a gardening book! And the art! Just clever and engaging. The only downside is that it’s over 10 years old so some of the info is outdated.

[Anastasia Artamonova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this gardening how to! Perfectly sassy

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute book with some sass and sparkle, Kiss My Aster would be perfect for a housewarming gift, paired with some gloves and a garden spade. It's fun to read, and practical on topics such as planting trees and figuring out how much work a project will likely take. Dedicated gardeners will find themselves wanting something more region-specific and more detailed on certain plants, but this is a nice start. After a while, the font started to make me a little nuts, but I read the book straight through, and it was meant more as a dip into book. Also, in the sections that talked about weeds and pests, actual photographs for identification, while less in keeping with the style of the book, would definitely have been handy.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting take on gardening books, which does not (thankfully) assume that there is a "right" or typical or best way you "must" do anything in your garden. The advice it gives is good and starts before many other garden books even begin... with actually how to think about your garden and what it means to plan for it. It also discusses how to understand and plan for what the consequences of your choices will be. This is something many books leave out. If you are a novice gardener or have just started in a new location or are completely redoing your space, this is a very helpful (and fun to read) book. I recommend it.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and informative book about taking care of your yard and gardening. Don't let the cutesy cover fool you, the author is a Master Garden and landscape designer. In other words, she knows what she is talking about. I disagree with her on a few things, like what to do with shade garden and her view about spirea bushes, but for the most part she and I are in totally agreement. I loved her format and sense of humor, although I didn't skip around like a true Choose-Your-Own Adventure book should be read. Great resource to read through once and then keep around to refer to later.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for the beginning gardener, or just someone looking to put a little landscaping around their house. As someone working in a retail garden center, I really appreciated the nods to the retail employees, and the little things that make our lives easier when we're helping people. I also really enjoyed the illustrations. Nice, humorous take on starting out gardening, and some places where hiring a professional is the right course of action.

[Carley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good absolute beginner book to considering lawn and landscape care. The illustrations though are kind of useless. This book is a good way to begin considering different questions with what to do with your lawn if you're new to lawn care. It will not give you a lot of info though. It's more suggestions and places to expand your knowledge. I got a lot out of this book and thought it was a good place to start. Check it out of the library, not one to own.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the choose-your-adventure style the author took with presenting information on gardening and landscaping. Depending on where you are in your design process, you can jump to a particular section to meet those needs and possibly take the recommendation of where to go next. It was a fun read and I enjoyed the author's illustrations.