Chicago Botanic Garden

Education — Lenhardt Library

Current Books & Book Reviews

PHOTO: bookcover

Alan Titschmarsh.
Ground Force Weekend Workbook.
London: BBC (distributed by Trafalgar Square Publishing, North Pomfret, Vt.), 2003, c. 1999.
paper, 128 p., ISBN 0-563-38452-2, $16.95.
PHOTO: bookcover

Tommy Walsh.
Ground Force Practical Garden Projects.
London: BBC (distributed by Trafalgar Square Publishing, North Pomfret, Vt.), 2002, c. 2000.
paper, 128 p., ISBN 0-563-55147-x, $16.95.

The arm-chair gardener will find a plethora of ideas in these books to enhance an established garden or create a new one. Based on the popular BBC program Ground Force (now available in the U.S. on BBC America), the team — Alan Titchmarsh, Tommy Walsh, and Charlie Dimmock — explain the basics from planning a garden to touching up finished projects. There are plenty of designs and color photographs to explain everything from water gardens to containers to walls.

Walsh’s book focuses on borders, steps and patios, decks and furniture (his specialities in the show). Bradley’s book takes in everything from initial design and layout to lawns to plant selection, with contributions from each member of the team. These books are aimed at gardeners ready to tackle a new project in their garden on the Ground Force time scale of 48 hours. However, remember that some of the plants recommended do better in the United Kingdom than in some locations on this side of the Atlantic. Suppliers listed in both books will require a long trip (as in transatlantic), so keep in mind you will have to do a little work to follow up on some of Ground Force’s recommendations.

— Phyllis Mohler, volunteer, Chicago Botanic Garden.