My design thoughts in fall always turn to hardscape, and one thing I've learned over the years is that you really need an artful stone mason if you want your garden to be a very special and unique place. Stone can be mighty, imposing, comforting, calming, functional, and also a work of art.
I already have a lot of books on stone, because if you're not a mason yourself, you need to see a lot of gardens and many images to really
understand the unlimited assets of stone and the uncommon effects it can add to any design.
I haven't yet come across any one book that says it all, but here's another that'll give you great ideas and expand your design horizons. In his latest book, Stone Primer (Storey Publishing, 2007), author and stonemason Charles McRaven explains how to select the right kind of stone, how to move it, how to build with it, how to make it look like there's no mortar between the joints. He profiles several of this country's noted stone artisans, from Elizabeth Nisos of Mountain Masonry in Charlottesville, VA to Kevin Fife of Northfield, NH and Andrew Pighills of Killingworth, CT.
McRaven details the construction techniques for patios, bridges, curved walls, stone benches, waterfalls, and much more. So even if you're not planning to build anything yourself, you'll at least gain an understanding of how any stone project should come together. There's also an entire section on stone carving, from a simple pool carved out of a boulder with a small stone grinder to a striking stone sculpture by John Jayson Sonnier of Washington, DC, who specializes in works with horticultural themes.
(click on image to purchase book)
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