The Spirit of Stone: 37 Practical and Creative Uses for Natural Stone in Your Garden & Landscape

The element of stone in a garden has two important qualities: function and beauty. It also conveys a sense of permanence and place. Since ancient times, stone has been revered for bringing a special feel to a garden. In "The Spirit of Stone, " award-winning designer Jan Johnsen presents a richly photographed, authoritative guide to creative and practical uses for stone in the landscape: steps, paths, garden walls, dry streams, benches, rock gardens, driveways and more. Stone s practicality is especially appreciated by homeowners concerned with low maintenance, sustainability and water conservation with the side benefit of enhancing property value. "The Spirit of Stone" is an essential idea book and how-to for designers, stonemasons, builders, homeowners and DIYers." Natural stone,that most ancient of materials, adds an authentic touch to an outdoor space that nothing else can match. While plants may temporarily steal the show, a low stonewall, solitary standing stone or dry stream remains unwavering through the years. Isamu Noguchi, the designer and artist, summed it up best, "Any gardener will tell you that it is the rocks that make a garden. They call them the'bones' of the garden." In The Spirit of Stone, award-winning landscape designer Jan Johnsen presents a richly photographed guide to the many creative ways that durable stone and gravel can be used in a garden. The chapters address rock gardens, walls, stone accents,walks and more. There is a chapter on sustainable stone that shows how to capitalize on stone's functional qualities in a beautiful way. And a last chapter highlights plants and stones together, natural companions in a garden. The Spirit of Stone is an essential idea book for anyone looking to add dimension and resilience to their landscape - the tips and photos will inspire designers, homeowners, gardeners,and stonemasons alike. "... guide to creative and practical uses for stone and gravel in the landscape: rock gardens, steps, paths, benches, and more. Stone's durability, coupled with its sustainable uses, make it especially appealing to homeowners looking for innovative ideas for conserving water. A special chapter is devoted to plants and stones to showcase how these two complement each other in a garden."--Amazon.com.