I'm sure I won't be the only parent to smile at the title of this book, Twilight Garden, which reminded me instantly of many a preschooler (including Pierre)'s favourite TV show In The Night Garden. Well, you might see some daisies but you won't find Upsy Daisie, let alone Iggle Piggle, Makka Pakka or the Tombliboos !
You will find lots of great advice on making the most of your garden in the early evening though, which - as the author says in the introduction - is a great idea because it's often the only time we get to spend in our gardens if we're out at work all day or running around after the kids. If you fill your borders with plants that come alive at dusk, you'll really make the most of their beauty and fragrance when you walk up the front path to your door after a long day at work. That sounds like pure genius to me !
Despite the word "garden" in the title, this book will give you hints and tips whether you have a huge plot of land, a small front garden or even just a city terrace. It's a book that would be ideal for a novice gardener, assuming absolutely no prior knowledge of all things involving green fingers, and I suspect it may not be complex enough for those who already have a reasonable knowledge of gardening.
As well as providing information on the plants best suited to a twilight garden (in particular, white flowers that will show up in the semi-dark and headily-fragranced plants), the author Lia Leendertz - who writes a weekly column for The Guardian, as well as being a freelance feature writer for a number of publications - also has sections on creating a fab party zone, an environment to encourage wildlife, mood lighting and water features, so even if you don't like getting your hands dirty, you'll still find loads of tips on how to get the most out of your outdoor area. I love the idea of putting tea light candles in baby food jars !
The stunning photography and high quality glossy paper of this hardback book also make it the perfect coffee table book, to flick through for ideas as you would a lifestyle magazine.
As a blogger, I also love the fact that Lia Leendertz has her own blog, which you can find at http://lialeendertz.wordpress.com/.
star rating : 4/5
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Anova Portico (17 Feb 2011)
Language English
ISBN-10: 186205911X
ISBN-13: 978-1862059115
Product Dimensions: 26.2 x 19.2 x 2.2 cm
RRP : £20 (but £17 at amazon)
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I thought this was something to do with the (detestable) Twilight saga when I clicked on it... lol
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