However, in this book, the
boundaries of our interest have been limited to small miniatures,
i.e., those which can be contained within the lips of an egg-cup
or up to a large trough. For this extensive field of size, style and
variety let us hereafter in this book use the made-up word
"Minigarden" to cover the entire general field.
THE RANGE AND USES OF MINIGARDENS
Minigardens can be grown in bowls, pots, trays, dishes, sinks,
troughs, window-boxes, pans, or weather-worn rock on slabs, etc.
They can provide centre-pieces of highly decorative and almost
magnetic attraction in homes, clubs, waiting-rooms, lounges,
foyers, restaurants, shop windows and display centres.
Radio's gardening expert, Roy Hay, speaking of the sink
garden in the Town Garden of the British Broadcasting Corporation, has described it as an admirable way in which to display,
plant, and safeguard choice alpines.
All the leading landscape
gardening experts thoroughly appreciate the several uses of sink
gardens, not only nor especially for their individual charms, but
to use for "awkward" positions, to cover or camouflage drainage
pits, etc. Sink and trough gardens, raised on bricks, blocks or
pedestals can be placed to enhance a court, terrace or lawn in
the larger garden; to transform the smallest of backyard courts ;
to glorify a roof garden or balcony; or, as a window-box, to
"lend enchantment to the view". To ground-less flat-dwellers,
minigardens are indeed a benison. Many folks allergic to normal
gardening have become minigardeners of almost fanatical enthusiasm.
Apart from the other pleasures it affords, this hobby
is also most accommodating in time and cost and in helping to
produce the final result.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
This book is written (as well as for the knowledgeable) for
those without any previous knowledge or experience. As well
as being a handbook it is something of a reference book also,
in which considerable experience and knowledge is crystallized.
It contains all the information you will need to produce lovely
minigardens.
To get the best out of this book, it is suggested that you read
all the way through first. This will give you an over-all picture
of the scope involved and you will find that nearly every chapter
is inter-related with others. Then you can turn back and study
more carefully those sections according to the direction in which
your particular interests will tend.
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