book smarts

You can learn almost anything online, but there’s something comforting about leafing through a book. Especially when it’s packed with mid-century appropriate landscaping ideas, like this one –Better Homes & Gardens’ Landscape Planning (1963).

It only cost a few bucks, but it’s worth way more (to us). Funny thing is, despite its age, the homes and landscapes look so modern (love those butterfly chairs). Then you notice the people interacting, and remember what era this is.

It’s a very visual book. Copy is concise, illustrated with diagrams and floorplans…alongside black and white pics of kids on tricycles, naturally. Perfect to thumb through while sipping a beer in the yard –trust me, I’m speaking from experience.

I’m betting “Ron Mason” found the book equally enjoyable. I wonder what Ron’s house looks like? Pretty cool, I imagine. Come to think of it, I’m guessing this book has probably seen the inside of a few nice-looking homes.

And it’s not without humor…albeit unintentional. Not sure which I admire most, this guy’s tree-planting ability, his impeccable gardening attire, or the fact he manages to smoke a pipe throughout the process. Nice work.

But we bought this book for the ideas, primarily. And there are many. Like these redwood-framed aggregate pavers. Yum. Desperately trying to think how we can incorporate these into our scheme, to add some “interest underfoot”.

And we’re digging this yellow corrugated fiberglass screen…truthfully, I’m digging it more than Karen –trying to convince her we could use something like this in our back yard or side patio, in lime green perhaps? That might be a bit much.

Now, seating is in our thinking. Love the form of this Nelson-esque redwood slat bench. DIY is probably out of the question here, though a straight version might be do-able. I can think of at least a couple of places we could make this work.

Amid the visuals, some memorable nuggets –I love this “use then beauty” mantra. Common sense, really, but kinda reminds me of the much quoted “form follows function” principle. Also a prompt to consider more than just good looks.

Despite this sounding like a book review, it really isn’t –just an expression of how easily excited I am by this type of thing (sad as that sounds). That said, there’s another copy for sale here –a little more than we paid, but still a bargain.