Creating Terrariums – Book Review
As mentioned in my last post I started having fun creating terrariums to help bring some green into the house. I thought I’d do a quick review of the two books I’m reading on the subject. I bought these books this winter and they have been the perfect antidote for the dreary winter months here in Maine. I’ve become fascinated (ok, a little obsessed) with the endless opportunities for making creative mini-gardens under glass. This is probably some sort of reaction I’m having to the fact that I no longer have a garden or yard to maintain. Terrariums are so much simpler to deal with. If you want to know more about these neat portable gardens, I’ve added some links to cool terrarium related websites on my new Resources page or you can visit my guest post at Goodwillnne.org
Book 1:
Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature Worlds
by Amy Bryant Aiello and Kate Bryant
Photographs by Kate Baldwin
Published by Timber Press 2011
This nice soft bound book with a modern design, presents 50 terrarium projects in easy to follow steps with intriguing photographs. The first chapter covers everything, from choosing a container, soil, plants and growing tips in a concise manner. Chapters 2 through 5 present the 50 projects organized by type of terrarium, (forest, beach, desert and fantasy). The arrangements challenge the commonly held perceptions of what a terrarium is and can be. The plants are used in imaginative new settings that made me reconsider my opinion of plants such as Begonia, Jade and Aloe.
*Photo Kate Baldwin from “Terrarium Craft” by Amy Bryant Aiello & Kate Bryant
This book encourages the reader to think about creating a collage with natural elements. These terrariums are not your average fish-bowl filled with ferns and moss. This is a modern, imaginative and incredibly artistic look at a very old craft.
*Photo Kate Baldwin from “Terrarium Craft” by Amy Aiello & Kate Bryant
The writing is clear and engaging and I’ve found myself picking this book up many times to read different sections and look at the photographs. Even though I may never follow any of the step by step examples of the beautifully photographed and clearly explained projects included in this book, I will definitely refer to it for inspiration and use as a reference guide. This book is a good value and worth the buy if you like to have easy to follow directions that are not your typical terrarium designs
Book 2:
The New Terrarium: Creating Beautiful Displays for Plants and Nature
by Tovah Martin
photographs by Kindra Clineff
Published by Clarkson/Potter Publishers 2009
A bright modern hard-cover book with amazing photographs “The New Terrarium” is an easy to read and understand guide to all things terrarium.
Book Cover photo by Kindra Clineff The New Terrarium Creating Beautiful Displays for Plants and Nature
Separated into 6 parts the book begins with an inspiring chapter discussing what terrariums are and how they impact our homes and lives.
Tovah Martin is a garden expert and author who often writes for magazines and appears on TV. She writes in a very friendly and relaxed style which draws you in with her enthusiasm for plants and nature. Her encouraging non-technical tone will help anyone who maybe put-off by the idea of reading a “gardening book”, enjoy the examples and ideas she shares.
Photo by Kindra Clineff from the New Terrarium by Tovah Martin
The remaining chapters cover in-depth discussions of the containers used for terrariums, how to choose plants, care for plants and finally several case studies which offer step by step instructions to create your own masterpieces. I really liked the idea of integrating the terrariums into our households by placing them on a side table near the couch and not tucked away in a corner somewhere. She offers good advice on learning to let go and enjoying terrariums, being creative and experimenting – in other words, don’t take it too seriously – have fun!
*Photo Kindra Clineff from The New Terrarium by Tovah Martin
This book is much more gardening and plant focused so I recommend it as a good reference guide.
Have you tried creating a Terrarium? Any good books or websites to recommend?
I’d love to hear about it so leave a message in the post section.
