Filbert Press Naturalistic Planting Design: The Essential Guide

Really enjoyed this lovely book. I am extremely happy to read how Nigel Dunnett views nature, composition, urban planting, and relieved that he does not sacrifice color to form as often seems to happen in contemporary natural gardens. This is a beautifully written book, walking a line of prose so nicely spoken that in places it feels like poetry. But it is quite practical and not afraid to get down into details with boots on the ground examples. The stages of nature nature system that borrows Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and modifies it to suggest a model for planting design is so naturally sensible. Dunnett offers a venn diagram for contemporary naturalism: impressionistic, technocratic, and modernistic with a center sweet spot, this begins a solid essay on the directions of recent garden design growing out of several contemporary directions, and concludes with "The Way Forward" which pivots into an important, sometimes missing component in naturalistic planting "Reading Nature." Lots to see and learn here, even more to think on.

An exceptional book that I have read cover to cover; Superb photos that beautifully expand the ideas in the text - the clearest explanation that I have read of the subject (as you'd expect!) and I now feel equipped to 'have a go' with confidence in my garden - previously I knew that I loved naturalistic planting but was overwhelmed by the 'what to do first.' I was galvanised and ordered Pictorial Meadow seed after the first couple of chapters.

As a landscape designer with a strong interest in creating ecological sound landscapes, this book was the best I have read in a long time. There is enough detail in theory as well as practices that I am in the process of rereading it (1st time was this Summer). Great ideas thoroughly explained, plus lavish photos and illustrations. I only wish the ending sections were a little longer and more detail. Still, this is the best gardening book I have read this year. I liked this better than his colleague's Sowing Beauty (which is good in its own right though). Note this is a deep book that is definitely for professionals or obsessive gardeners with a natural or native plant bent. Not for casual gardeners or native plant purists.

Loved this book! It was just what I was looking for. I read it cover to cover in a day (which I wasn't intending to!); useful tips and planning guides for naturalistic planting. Beautifully illustrated with pictures that capture the practical application of the design principles.

This is a beautifully written piece of lifestyle visionary.