Once again Stephanie Donaldson offers inspirational ideas for the garden in this attractively produced book. Understanding that not everyone has green fingers or knows where to begin, she starts by guiding the reader step-by-step through the basics of growing plants in containers, from planting up to aftercare. And for more experienced gardeners who may be feeling jaded with the same old plant combinations for hanging baskets and window boxes, she offers an eclectic and unusual range of planting schemes for containers as standard as window boxes to the more unusual welly boots and metal watering cans. Young gardeners too are not ignored with a special section aimed specifically at them, trying to induce them outside into the garden with a range of novel ideas all easily achieved by young fingers. From traditional pastel baskets to hotter nasturtium planters, diminutive alpines and towering sunflowers, water features and herb boxes, winter cheer and spring bulbs, all superbly photographed and clearly explained, this is a book to be browsed through and acted upon. - Lucy Watson
