Many readers will recognise Graham Clarke's name from various mainstream gardening magazines and it is with this experience of public needs that he has written this guide to water gardening. With clear, concise, easy-to-understand language, it is an ideal starting point for both the novice gardener and the more experienced for whom a water feature is a new project for an existing garden. Water has been important in gardens since ancient times, not just for irrigation but for decorative and relaxation purposes. The sound of running water, be it a waterfall, a stream, a fountain or even a trickle from an old water pump, induces a calming effect into our busy lives and gives a feeling of tranquility to even the most urban of gardens. Planning, siting, construction, planting and the introduction of fish or wildlife are all covered in detail and accompanied by attractive photographs and diagrams. Many ideas are suggested from a wildlife pond, formal pond, streams, bubble fountains and waterfalls, offering something for everyone's taste. The plant directory is full of information on different varieties and their individual requirements and a year-round maintenance diary is a useful reference. For fish lovers the section on Koi should prove indispensable and the book ends on a number of the most frequently asked questions concerning ponds, fish and their upkeep. Written in a chatty but well-informed way, the text is interspersed with 'facts and figures' providing both useful information such as how to calculate the amount of liner required to the interesting - the background of a plant's name for example. Graham Clarke's knowledge shines through and even someone with no gardening knowledge at all will not get lost in this book. Everyone owns something that can be displayed but how to do it to the object's best advantage is often elusive. How many times has a gift been simply placed on a shelf, only to cause mild irritation instead of pleasure every time it is viewed due to its wrong placement. Lesley Dilcock, accompanied by photographer Catherine Gratwicke, gives a stylistic tour of how to display items as diverse as old tools, keys and fossils to the more collectible such as china, glass and textiles. Both contemporary and old-fashioned items are discussed and often placed together to give an eclectic display that the same time is 'right'. Lesley highlights the transcience of these arrangements, emphasising the enjoyment that can be gained from regular rearrangement. Some items, especially textiles, need to be protected and cannot be on show permanently. Redesign of a particular display on the other hand gives the items a chance to recover whilst at the same time refreshing a room with a new look. Grouping by colour, shape, use and type is explained but it is also pointed out that this does not need to be adhered to. What is important is that the display appeals to you, who has to live with it, giving you a surge of pleasure every time it is looked at. From floors, walls, ceilings, windows, doors and pipes, all manner of displays can be created from hitherto unnoticed architectural nooks and crannies. The sumptuous, colourful photographs of Catherine Gratwicke add to the book's appeal. You will find yourself flipping through it time and again, noticing little details missed previously, to enlighten and excite, and to inspire new arrangements of your most treasured possessions.
