Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #66194 in Books
• Published on: 2010-03-11
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .3 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Primeau, founding editor of Canadian Gardening magazine, posits that a perfect lawn may not always be a good thing, arguing that well-manicured lawns are high-maintenance, chemical-dependent water guzzlers; she would be happy to see them all replaced by the flower gardens so often relegated to the back yards of urban and suburban houses. Starting with the luxuriant display of flowers, foliage plants, and shrubs in her own front yard in Toronto, she discusses more than 70 front yard gardens, most of them in Canada but some in Texas, Arizona, California and Wisconsin. She divides these front yard gardens into eight types-cottage, small city, opulent, minimalist, fusion (some grass allowed), natural, neighborhood and secret-and shows in text and photographs how they were designed, how they reflect the personalities of their owners, and what plants were used. There can be obstacles to such gardens in cities and suburbs-neighbors' objections, local regulations, overhead and underground wires, bad drainage, and hard surfaces-and she describes how many people have overcome these problems. Unfortunately, Primeau doesn't include among the many splendid photographs in the book any that show how one of these colorful gardens would stand out in the context of a block where all the other houses are fronted with carpets of grass. But this is a small matter. The book is handsome, informative and amusingly written, and it should serve as an inspiration to those who are tired of old-fashioned lawns. 240 color photographs. Garden Book Club and Country Home & Garden Book Club selection.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Alternatives to the traditional lawn effectively cut down on water usage and may also play host to beneficial insects and birds. Once the desire to do away with grass takes root, readers can turn to Primeau for help in rejuvenating a front yard so that flowers, foliage textures, and hardscaping come together in inviting swaths to both beautify and benefit the environment. Options presented range from cottage style to a minimalist approach stressing restrained designs. Even fusion plans are included, showing landscapes where small areas of grass combine with beds, borders, or expansive plantings. Primeau's Canadian point of view proposes plant lists spanning the mild realm of Vancouver, cold-winter regions of Winnipeg and Toronto, along with a smattering of gardens from Texas, Arizona, and Wisconsin. Useful as a source book, this volume presents photographs and text that suggest potential ideas to increase curb appeal through the transformation of front yards and parkways. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
Front Yard Gardens, Growing More Than Grass by Liz Primeau is a thorough guide to a splendid collection of gardens. (Grit Gazette 200902)

This book provides a great motivation to rip out grass in your front lawn. (Janice Kreider GrowingEdibles.com 20081125)

What sets this inspiring book apart from similar works is the author's practical, environmentally friendly advice and step-by-step instructions. (National Garden Clubs 20100601)

The green green grass of home doesn't interest Liz Primeau. She's a front yard rebel and proud of it. (Joanne Richard Wetaskiwin Times-Advertiser 20090502)

Practical tips and more than 250 beautiful photographs.... Provides step-by-step instructions to start and grow a fabulous front yard garden. (Rob Mooy Kingston This Week 20100822)

[This] is one for the reference shelves and should be well-thumbed by novice and expert gardeners alike. (Peggy Mackenzie Toronto Star 20100915)

You have a choice of cottage, minimalist, opulent, shady, natural or even secret gardens--and no more mowing. (Annie Boulanger Burnaby Now )

I love this book! ... If you like houses and gardens, get this book. (Escarpment Views )

Primeau provides a variety of approaches to the front yard garden. (Terry Peters North Shore News )