Product Description

Rebecca Cole--once an actress/activist and now the owner of the trend-setting Greenwich Village store Potted Gardens--introduces a whole new way to garden. Using any container--from the bed of a toy truck to a bedpan--and any kind of plant--from rose to weed--would-be gardeners can follow Rebecca's guidance and plant a bit of beauty in a corner of their homes or gardens.

Starting at the beginning--what a garden means to urban dwellers and their country cousins and how to stimulate your own imagination--she then helps us hunt for plants at neighborhood nurseries and markets (which she advocates over catalogue shopping); gather containers from dumps, attics, flea markets, and antiques stores; and put it all together in potted gardens for windowsill, desk, and patio. In a chapter on terraces, she turns to the great outdoors, explaining the design and creation of complete gardens made up of  containers, artfully arranged to make the most of small spaces. And all along the way she shares her own experiences with breaking all the rules to achieve ebullient flowering displays.

With nearly 200 spectacular photographs, illustrated step-by-step instructions on how to plant in wooden boxes, metal containers, and how to plant bulbs; tips on maintaining a finished potted garden; suggestions on further reading; and a glossary--Potted Gardens is the everyday companion for the new and experienced container gardener alike.

Rebecca Cole is the proprietor of one of New York City's most talked-about shops, Potted Gardens, where she mixes well-loved antiques (and old sinks and watering cans) with flowers and plants. She has made appearances on "Our Home" and "Home Matters" and is a regular guest on "Fox After Breakfast." Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Travel and Leisure, House Beautiful, the New York Times, and Victoria, among others. She lives in New York City.

Richard Felber has been photographing America's gardens for two decades. Among the many magazines that have published his work are House Beautiful, Garden Design, and New York magazine. This is his first book. He lives in Connecticut.

Grab a pot, a wooden box, or a tin can; gather your bulbs and flowers; and read Rebecca Cole's Potted Gardens for a whole new way to look at gardening.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #548855 in Books
• Published on: 1997-07-01
• Released on: 1997-07-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

Ingram
Shows how to create indoor and outdoor gardens that adapt to both city and country surroundings, using unconventional planters--such as oil tins and used furniture--and the hardiest plants to create a unique garden environment. 25,000 first printing. Tour.

About the Author
Rebecca Cole is the proprietor of one of New York City's most talked-about shops, Potted Gardens, where she mixes well-loved antiques (and old sinks and watering cans) with flowers and plants. She has made appearances on "Our Home  and "Home Matters  and is a regular guest on "Fox After Breakfast.  Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Travel and Leisure, House Beautiful, the New York Times, and Victoria, among others. She lives in New York City.

Customer Reviews

Not what I was looking for
I bought this book when I decided to start a container garden on my deck. I returned it the moment I got it. It just didn't have what I was looking for. Although it has some stuff that is pretty to look at it didn't provide the instruction that I wanted and needed. I wasn't impressed in the least. I found a book that outshines this one in every way. It's David Joyce's Complete Container Garden. A huge book with wonderful ideas and photographs. The best part is that it gives step by step instructions on how to duplicate A LOT of the arrangements. I am very proud of my new deck and it is because of that book. I learned a lot. It has all of the info a beginner would need yet it is interesting enough for someone who has gardened forever. Potted Gardens, by Rebecca Cole can't compare.

I love this book!
Rebecca Cole's imagination soars when it comes to potted gardens! I love the way she sees containers in everyday items--including items headed for the trash! Hurray for Rebecca and giving me new vision for my garden.

Too much Rebecca Cole, not enough plants!
Lots of little anecdotes about Rebecca Cole, but as an inspiration for container gardening, this book is a bomb. If you like cute, this might be your cup of tea, but if you want to create a garden that's something special, this book won't help. Lots of marigolds and petunias in cast-off containers, but nothing new or noteworthy in the plant department. Try Gardening without a Garden by Gay Search or 50 Recipes for Container Gardens by Richard Bird.