Rain Gardens: Managing Water Sustainably in the Garden and Designed Landscape

This book is not meant for those who are well versed in rain gardens looking to learn more about them, however it does provide many good references and precedents to expand some basic knowledge and styles in design. Studied stormwater management in Berlin for several months visiting and using a few sites that were listed in the book in my study. Highly recommended if you are interested in stormwater management on any level in my opinion though.

Let me first state that this is an excellent book. However, it is really a book about taking things to the next level. If you are looking for solid how-to information about installing a rain garden in your back yard, you might be disappointed. Landscape architects, designers and accomplished amateurs with advanced skill sets looking to handle water both innovatively and creatively will delight in this book. I did ... but then I already have three rain gardens in my own landscape and teach how-to classes on installing them. If the concept of rain gardens intrigues you and you are looking for the basics on a DIY level, the free, downloadable rain garden manual from the University of Wisconsin is still the best source of that information, as of January 2008. This book has a decidedly European flavor to it. And why shouldn't it? It is written by a couple of Brits. Although I am hard-pressed to see how some of the models given in the book will pass muster with the Americans with Disabilities Act, codes and other regulatory bodies, they should indeed stimulate the mind. The examples (of which there are many) also include public and even larger municipal installations. I find this a good thing for Americans to be exposed to. The Europeans are far ahead of us in green thinking. Included are some examples of essentially, municipal civil engineering projects both implemented and functioning with panache. This is a book that I value having in my personal library. Someone looking for basic information may not.

Good reference book for both professionals in the horticulture field as well as just people who are interested in making a rain garden.

Excellent, beautiful and up-to-date illustrations and descriptions of solutions to water run-off and waste.

The book is too general for what I am need. I want information about engineering a functional small biorentention cell. I want to know how to use a soil test to determine how much pollution my rain garden will remove. I want to know how to calculate, or find software that will calculate the size of rain garden I will need to handle runoff from a suburban street. I love Timber Press, and this book will help me sell the idea of rain gardens with its pretty pictures, photos, and discussion. However, it will not help me build an actual functioning rain garden.

very informative and delivered as promised

A thorough treatment of all possible ways of dealing with storm water run-off, not just rain gardens. No detailed instructions on "how-to" which I had expected.

This would be an excellent textbook for several disciplines -- biology, microbiology, civil engineering, environmental sciences, urban planning and development, landscape design, gardeners, wildlife enthusiasts.... It provides a very thorough case for the need to reevaluate how our society irresponsibly handles water through standard systems of storm drains, retention ponds, etc. The concept of the "stormwater chain" is well-presented. Builders and designers will particularly benefit from these ideas that provide innovative "green" developments to an under-educated public. If more people and developments considered permeable paving and natural systems to reabsorb runoff, our environment would greatly benefit. If you are looking to design an environmentally-friendly building, absolutely consider these principles. Rain Gardens provides a very thorough approach to this topic and really does deal with water systems in a large scale well. I picked it up as I am interested in finding a natural approach to deal with our yard drainage issues. These concepts are addressed, but other more hands-on, how-to books out there may be more applicable to that type of project. This book is most useful for a very thorough and understanding of the value and many aspects of developing a responsible water system.

Explica como gestionar el agua, como funciona el ciclo del agua y otras cosas relacionadas con esto. La retención hídrica que ejercen las plantas, etc. Está bastante bien presentado y se puede comprender bien. Me gusta que utilice casos empíricos y los analice (con gráficos, planos, etc) ayuda a visualizar.

Useful reference book

one should take time to read what they are buying, this is all about the concept of rain gardens and it would seem that it is on a bigger scale than my garden, as i don't own a city park land. It has a lot of info but it wasn't what i needed to inspire me to put more than a pond in my garden.

I bought this book as I was looking for something on hanging wall gardens for my house. This is a more technical book on the use of design encompassing the art of capturing the best use of rain water. It is extremely interesting and no doubt many landscape gardeners will find this very useful. I found it fascinating and although it didn't quite fill what I was looking for I am not sorry I bought it.

Excellent and informative