A Garden Miscellany: An Illustrated Guide to the Elements of the Garden

by Suzanne Staubach

See the garden in a whole new way!

Gardens across the globe come in many sizes and styles, but they share a remarkable number of similar components. Suzanne Staubach revels in this connection in A Garden Miscellany. In short essays meant to be dipped in and out of, Staubach shares the history, evolution, and contemporary use of all the parts and pieces that make up a home garden—from borders, compost bins, and decks to pergolas, roof gardens, statues, and troughs. You’ll learn that fairy gardens have their roots in the Tang dynasty, the difference between an arbor and a pergola, how geometry plays a role in garden design, what a ha-ha is, and much more. Featuring bold and whimsical illustrations by Julia Yellow and filled with interesting facts and anecdotes, A Garden Miscellany is a must-have for gardeners, plant lovers, and the naturally curious everywhere.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Art, Nature, Plants

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2019

About the author

Suzanne Staubach writes, pots, and gardens in northeast Connecticut. After a long career in independent bookselling, she now writes and speaks about garden and ceramic history, and sells her handmade pottery nationwide. She is the author of three previous books.

(source: Amazon)

Reviews

[Scottsdale Public Library]

For the serious gardener or garden aficionado, this book may contain everything you ever wanted to know about gardens all around the world and throughout history in snippets.
There are beautiful illustrations throughout but could use more. I reviewed the book in electronic form so the physical book could be more impressive. What is impressive is the large content of garden elements discussed.
From arboretum to bog garden to bee skep to stumpery; close to 100 terms are presented in a very interesting fashion. -Anna Q. L.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Garden Miscellany is a gorgeous book filled with watercolor eye candy. These lovely illustrations are so plentiful that some will truly enjoy just looking at them. They are also so beautiful that I would love to frame the cover as well as many other illustrations inside the book. But above and beyond the artwork, there is a wealth of information in A Garden Miscellany — it is a very comprehensive review of all things garden.

The subtitle of A Garden Miscellany says exactly what it is - An Illustrated Guide to the Elements of the Garden. There are a total of 85 topics, each with its own section consisting of a few pages. Each section covers the definition, history, components, purpose, usage, famous examples, today’s versions, how it differs from similar terms (such as arbor versus pergola), how-to, and much more.

Some of the subjects are ones you would expect, such as greenhouse, statue, trellis, focal point, gate, lawn, fence, meadow, hedge, and shrubbery.

There are also some you wouldn’t expect to find in such a book, including labyrinth, sun dial, geometry/mathematics, scarecrow, grotto, beehive, cloche, and compost bin.

There are several topics were completely new to me, such as pleach, stumpers, parterre, folly, ha-ha, allee, cold frame, and espalier.

Not surprisingly, one of the most common subjects is Gardens, which includes 17 variations — Japanese, herb, Italian, kitchen, memorial, rock, roof, community, sunken, knot, railroad, bog/rain, fairy, landscape, walled, botanical, and woodland.

Thank you to Timber Press and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Garden Miscellany delivers on its promise of explaining the elements of gardening. More like an encyclopedia than a how-to book, its entries help me understand botanic and estate gardens I've visited. The first entry, allée, describes a long path (for walking or driving) lined by tall trees, designed to give dramatic effect. I have walked down allées many a time without knowing the name! "Gardening is dreaming," Staubach writes in the introduction, and for those of us with plots too humble for follies and ha-has, A Garden Miscellany gives us ideas for dreaming if not for implementing.

Julia Yellow's illustrations make the whole experience of reading A Garden Miscellany a delight. Her hand-lettering ensures each page is attractive, whether it includes an image of the entry or not (many do). The illustrations seem to have been made alongside the writing of the entries, because what's described does not always match the picture, but the message gets across all the same. I think I will pull this book out in winters when I get spring fever, because of its wonderful colors and detail.

The real value of A Garden Miscellany in my library is as a reference for visiting large-scale gardens and interpreting other reading about gardens. Staubach often includes the etymology of the entries, along with use throughout history. She traces the history of arbors back to ancient Egypt, and points out the special hieroglyph for them on the Rosetta Stone. Gardens in Central and South America, China, Japan, and Africa are discussed and pictured alongside gardens in Europe and North America, though the entries are designed around English names. Of course, not everything is here, but the amount of entries don't feel abbreviated. Some of the entries are fairly long, while others are shorter, but most are several paragraphs with a good amount of information. A brief list of works cited provides more resources.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a dictionary of types of gardens, design considerations, and features found in gardens. While it does not provide in-depth information on each, enough is present to satisfy most readers. A bibliography listing additional resources appears in the back, providing opportunities for those interest to gain further knowledge. The illustrations by Julia Yellow provide whimsy and delight for readers and perfectly accompany the book. I received an advance electronic copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review. (3.5 stars)

[Hannah Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

happy. beautiful and inspiring, lightly historical, educational, and fun to peruse.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this simply because it was beautiful, both the cover (which features gold lettering), as well as the number inside illustrations. This is the perfect time of year to gather some inspiration and knowledge pertaining to all things gardening, including materials, history and suggestions. A delightful and interesting resource to enjoy.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Suzanne Staubach, and Timber Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read A Garden Miscellany of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion on this work.

A Garden Miscellany is an excellent guide for setting up or improving your home garden, helpful for both beginning gardener and old pro. Suzanne Staubach brings to mind the simple things that make a garden special - things we often overlook in our frantic world today. This is a book I can heartily recommend for friends and family. It makes for a nice break into nostalgia for even the life-long gardener.

Pub date October 29, 2019
Protected PDF cell phone
Reviewed on Aug 29 on Goodreads and Netgalley. Reviewed October 30, 2019, at AmazonSmile, Barnes & Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.

[D.J. Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five stars for the charming illustrations in the book, A Garden Miscellany. It may be the prettiest book ever published. Four stars for the organization and content. A Garden Miscellany presents an encyclopedic wealth of information about the architecture of the garden. Three stars for the pedestrian and at times sophomoric writing. There were times the book felt intended to capture a juvenile audience. Overall though a privilege to read and relish. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an electronic copy of a Garden Miscellany in exchange for this honest review.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

A Garden Miscellany is a whimsically illustrated alphabetical glossary of gardening terms and features by Suzanne Staubach. Released 29th Oct by Workman on their Timber Press imprint, it's 220 pages and available in hardback and ebook formats.

Although it's a simple concept (a thematic alphabetic glossary), this charming book offers quite a bit more. There are definitions for 85 garden concepts from allée to yard. There is also a wealth of trivia and history interspersed with beautifully rendered garden scenes and action shots including double page spreads which include detailed artistic narratives. I really loved the community gardening scenes complete with friends and neighbors, herb beds, cat and dog, lush fruits, and a prosaic compost bin. Everything looks so energetic and harmonious.

This is a beautiful book. It would make a superlative gift (housewarming?) for a gardening friend. The entire 'vibe' is upbeat, positive, and friendly.

Four enthusiastic stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some of the most gorgeous illustrations of any garden book I’ve read. Huge props to Illustrator, Julia Yellow for her fine work.

However, I was craving a reference or footnote from the author somewhere...anywhere!

Where were the footnotes for the history lesson on “fern mania,” and why have I never heard of this before? Could she mention what website, periodical, or Octogenarian she heard it from? Not to mention a ‘ha-ha’ or ‘stumpery.’ I was so distracted asking myself if these were even real terms I missed out enjoying the written words in the book. (That’s absolutely my own problem, I take credit for that.)

I understand the author has held respectable positions in the educational and gardening world. However this critical gardener wants some noted references! Please!

Thanks to #NetGalley, I had an advanced PDF to read and review.

*All opinions are my own and I was not required to post a positive review. *

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a lovely encyclopedia of garden terms, from aalee to yard. Each entry tells you the history of that garden feature in a one or two page essay. Color drawings accompany some but not all of the entries. I would have loved even more illustrations. Many of the entries don't really need to be explained (yard, shrub, etc.) but there are neat little trivia tidbits and history for them, and helpful advice. Others were new to me, such as "pleach" (to intertwine one or two rows of shrubs so they grow into each other and form a wall, or to braid tree trunks together). This is an interesting book and would make great winter reading for gardeners.

My rating system:
1 = hated it
2 = it was okay
3 = liked it
4 = really liked it
5 = love it, plan to purchase, and/or would buy it again if it was lost

I read a temporary digital ARC of the book for the purpose of review.

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very informative collection of short essays on the elements of the garden, written in a similar style to magazine articles and organised alphabetically. It touches upon their history, use, evolution, and it also includes some tips/guides taken from gardening experts. The illustrations are gorgeous, and I really wish that there are more of them.

A hardcover version of this book would definitely be a great coffee table book, but I don't think that it does very well in the ebook format. Moreover, the tone of the essays can get a bit bland sometimes and the writing feels a bit choppy at some parts.

It's very enjoyable and informative, but the writing is not particularly my favourite, and it doesn't do very well in the ebook format. The illustration is stellar, and my only complaint about it is that there are not enough of them. Nonetheless, I would definitely recommend this for anyone who wants to know more about the components that form and adorn the garden! This definitely would compel you to start your own garden.

I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book needs 5 stars for each of the elements included and explained. Suzanne Staubach has taken the "art" of gardening and broken into steps that are simple to follow and easy to replicate. She does not try to dictate a certain style or method as gardens should be as diverse as gardeners. The most lovely gardens look as if they were just thrown down and grown instead of the hard labor of love that a garden really is. The beautiful photos and illustrations are enough to recommend this book to any gardener. This book is a well thought out example of someone who loves gardening sharing their love with others.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this book from NetGalley in return for a honest review*

When I first saw this book based on the title and that it was illustrated I thought that it was meant for children, but I was pleasantly surprised that it is more for adults. I think adults need to read more books with pictures and the illustrations in this book are certainly beautiful. I love this look through different areas of gardens and learning about their history and how they are used throughout the world. There were some items that I had heard of before, but others that I learned about for the first times in this book. This will be a great book for garden and nature lovers alike.

[Sondra Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my gosh! I would love this book for the art alone. I hope it will be a large, coffee-table-type book when it goes to print, one to be thumbed through slowly over time. Very informative and thought-provoking. There are many how-to gardening books on the market, but "A Garden Miscellany" takes the reader back in time to the history and habits of formal and informal gardening, while presenting timeless suggestions for modern-day garden creativity.

This book will be even more beautiful when in print. (I read it on the computer.)

I thank NetGalley for allowing me to download this work in exchange for an honest review.

[Ligaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming is the best descriptor for this book —the illustrations, certainly, and also some of the endearing terms that A Garden Miscellany defines. I increased my gardening vocabulary (stumpery, parterre, potager), not to mention my knowledge, but also had to look up several words (putti!) that the author just tosses into her writing. I wished there were fuller references to people and places but perhaps that was a function editing for length. It could also do with more illustrations! But, all-in-all, a fun and interesting read.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the serious gardener or garden aficionado, this book may contain everything you ever wanted to know about gardens all around the world and throughout history in snippets. There are beautiful illustrations throughout but could use more. I reviewed the book in electronic form so the physical book could be more impressive. What is impressive is the large content of garden elements discussed. From arboretum to bog garden to bee skep to stumpery; close to 100 terms are presented in a very interesting fashion.

[Daisy Lenelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. As someone fairly new to gardening with hopes of eventually having a bit of Earth of my own, this book was satisfying. The watercolor added a beautiful touch to the different elements found in greater gardens. It does provide a person with gardening ambition to imagine that which they love. A Girl in a big city and few potted plants can see a small arbor on edge of the porch with bougainvillea trailing the edges. Love it.

[April Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would be a welcome addition to any gardener's library. It's a sort of glossary of gardening terms, more about aspects of gardens, types of gardens, decorative elements, etc, than plants, making it a less-than-usual reference. Arranged alphabetically, each entry includes a range of information, including historical details, advice, and more. The accompanying illustrations are charming, and suit the text well. Quite a treat!

#AgardenMiscellany #NetGalley

[Gladimore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a wonderland of garden vocabulary with small illustrations spread throughout. I have always loved gardens and its great to read a book describing all the elements that are in those massive gardens you see around the world. This is a book you can teach vocabulary words from as well for my son when we start to garden together.
#agardenmiscellany #Netgalley

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect present for a friend of mine who's a garden architect and I want one for myself because I loved it and fond the illustrations amazing.
I learned a lot about the different elements in a garden and I liked how it was organised and the the style of writing.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Timber Press and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Five stars for the illustrations. 2 stars for the writing.

I could not get into this book. I found the writing difficult. It didn’t flow. I felt like I was reading someone’s notes from a lecture as they were choppy and not easily read as a book. I didn’t finish this book and really couldn’t even get far into it before putting it down and picking up a different one.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are so lucky here in the UK with so many beautiful gardens to visit but sometimes it is difficult to know exactly what it is you are looking at. So many garden features that add to the overall look but what are they?

This book takes away the mystery and explains all those quirky things that make gardens individual and add to the overall beauty.

[Randal White · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lavishly illustrated book. Short essays on lots of garden subjects. Pretty to look at, not a lot of information for anyone who is even a moderately experienced gardener.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming light read with nice drawings and quotes.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the pictures . Learned some new elements.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very pretty. Lovely to dream about.

[Diane Baima]

DNF. The kindle version doesn’t have any illustrations so I’ll wait to find the hardcover.

[Barrita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es muy bonito, aunque algunos de los términos me parecieron más bien de relleno. Aún así, me gusta que se exploran variedades de jardines en diversos estilos y las ilustraciones son muy bellas.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charmingly illustrated gardening dictionary.