Feathering your nest for spring The nesting spirit is contagious. Who can sit still with a backyard full of birds zipping around collecting twigs and bits of string to weave into proper places for raising a family? The “get busy” signal comes through loud and clear. The rest of the animal kingdom groundhogs, grizzlies and grownups alike, some just waking up from their somnolent state and rubbing their sleepy eyes see all this frenetic activity and figure they too had better get busy. Even Sydney, our ever-industrious though misguided blue heeler puppy, has caught the nesting spirit this spring. With the tenacity of a bluejay and the work ethic of a robin, she is tireless in her efforts to improve her territory. For weeks she has been proudly carting in assorted bottles and cans, pieces of rubber hose, rug remnants, socks, plastic toy parts and other items too numerous to mention, to enhance her eclectic “nest.” (She even smuggled in a baby a soft-bodied doll from the two-year-old across the road which we made her return, of course, much to her chagrin.) If you’ve also caught spring fever, and your thoughts have turned to building, refurbishing or repairing your own nest, here are four books to help you keep pace with the woodpeckers. A warm and inviting place to start is with Creating the Not So Big House: Insights and Ideas for the New American Home, by Sarah Susanka. If you need inspiration before actually picking up a paintbrush or hammer, this visually impressive book with its sumptuous and soothing photographs will give you a good excuse to do a little more research from the couch before undertaking any projects. The follow-up text to Susanka’s influential book, The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live, Creating the Not So Big House showcases 25 very different, small to moderate-sized homes from across the country, from a tiny apartment in New York City to a hillside home in California, each sharing a combination of beautiful design and innovative use of space. If you’re interested in designing a dwelling that meets, not exceeds, your needs, this volume fits the bill. Floor plans for these homes are included, so you can visualize the whole layout. Creating the Not So Big House makes a great coffee-table book keep it in easy reach for inspiration, motivation or just to feed your artistic sensibilities.

If you’re already well ensconced in a house of 2,500 square feet or less, Better Homes ∧ Gardens Small House, Big Style, offers sound advice on decorating and remodeling to get the maximum from minimum space. Beginning with the basics, Small House opens with chapters on understanding space and identifying a style that’s right for your home. Then it’s on to bigger, hands-on issues like adding space and arranging furniture all to help you make the most of those precious square feet. With more than 200 photographs of beautiful interiors, Small House offers tips on everything from choosing the right colors and textures for rooms to working within a decorating budget. Examples of successfully remodeled homes are featured, including a 1930s cottage, a 1940s Cape Cod and a 1950s ranch, accompanied by detailed how-tos. Rich visuals and great organization complement Small House‘s clear text. The book is a must-have for anyone looking to give their small space a spring makeover.

If you’d rather live with clothes draped around the house than even look inside your dryer, if the only thing you know about air conditioning is that, come July, you’ve got to have it, or if the words, “the sink’s clogged” make your eyes glaze over and your knees knock, Home ∧ Garden Television’s Complete Fix-It will give you newfound confidence. Each section begins with an easy-to-grasp explanation of how the appliance or system works. There are plenty of realistic yet uncluttered illustrations, and the bulleted text is clear and concise. The book covers everything in a home from the sub-floor to the roof ridge and all the “fix-it” problems (replacing ceramic tile, lighting a pilot-light, weatherstripping windows and doors, etc.) between them. The volume opens with a chapter on tools and ends with one on home safety, making Complete Fix-It a great selection for the novice repair person, whether he or she owns their own home, rents or lives in an apartment. True to its name, Home Book: The Ultimate Guide to Repairs, Improvements ∧ Maintenance is the most exhaustive text in the group; it includes detailed sections about almost anything you can think of relating to the home foundations, furniture, cabinetry, lawns. Even fences and gates are covered in this ultimate home “encyclopedia.” It contains over 300 do-it-yourself projects with step-by-step instructions and over 3,000 sharp, pertinent photos or drawings to help illustrate the steps along the way. The Home Book even includes ways of “expanding your nest” converting unused space like a garage, attic or basement into usable storage areas or additional living quarters. With any or all of these books in your toolbox, you’ll find it easier to make your home into a more enjoyable haven this spring and for many springs to come.

A former realtor, Linda Stankard has built, renovated and remodeled several homes.

Robert Dash’s columns in the East Hampton Star have delighted readers for 12 years. He writes about gardening with an expert’s eye and his own unique ear for wit, exhibiting both the intensity required for planting a garden, but also the resilience required of anyone who undertakes such a potentially frustrating project. Notes from Madoo is a compilation of these columns. It is the perfect book for anyone who gardens, a harvest of images to sample as you contemplate plans for your own Madoo.

Dash’s columns often give very practical, yet simultaneously reverent, accounts of the plants he likes most, which he titles Plant Portraits. As he writes of the plume poppy, A wonder of a plant, nearly eight feet in height and, placed properly in the garden, of splendid effect. I like it opened up and do quite a bit of stem-stripping (hence, saffron hands) in order to see the fine silken sheen of its blue-green but nearly silver stem. The image of Dash staining his hands bright yellow in an attempt to make the plume poppy as majestic as possible inspires gardeners to put forth this kind of effort in their own gardens, even if their foliage is considerably more pedestrian.

But Dash does not restrict himself to accounts of even his most exotic plants. In a section called simply Fairies, he writes about the old folk tale that says that anyone who stands in a fairy ring of mushrooms and moss on Midsummer’s Eve will have countless wishes granted. Dash’s wishes are, of course, botanical, and he recalls that for different gardens he has tended over the years he has wished for such necessities as more level ground, better soil, a longer frost-free season, and simply rain.

But in the end, he concludes that it is better to take your chances and know the garden is your own, warts and all. For, as he writes, The voices would speak and I would heed them all and all good things would come to my garden. Or should I say their garden, for the garden would no longer be mine. I don’t think that I want a fairy-run, fairy managed garden. As a matter of fact, it is out of the question. Eliza R.

L. McGraw lives and writes in Nashville.

Mowed over If you’d prefer to spend your summer Saturdays lounging in a hammock rather than trudging behind a lawn mower, pick up a copy of The Landscape Revolution. Authors Andy and Sally Wasowski instruct homeowners on converting their yards from chemical-drenched, high-maintenance wastelands to attractive natural landscapes. The Wasowskis are wise and witty never preachy as they extol the advantages of native plants. The Landscape Revolution will lead you through the process of converting your yard and your neighbors to the natural approach. So join the revolution and park that mower!

Gifts with class that last Mother’s birthday? Nephew’s graduation? Second cousin twice removed’s wedding? If you need help selecting a gift for any occasion, you’ve come to the right place. What gift is always the right color, the right size, and the right price? Why, books, of course! If you are not aware that the hottest new television series is found on PBS, you are not in the know. Don’t despair, my friend; Workman Publishing has just the book for you. Carol Prisant’s Antiques Roadshow Primer ($28.95, 076111775X, paperback, $19.95, 0761116249) will bring you up to speed on all that’s essential in the world of antiques and collectibles. Included are sections that mention many of the show’s more curious finds, quick tips for spotting a fabulous piece, common items mistakenly thought to be valuable, and a glossary. And should the Roadshow make a stop in your hometown, Antiques Roadshow Primer is the perfect gift to prepare packrats for their treasure hunts. Don’t clean out the attic until you’ve read this book.

While antiques and collectibles go in and out of style, the concept of good manners is not beholden to seasons of change. With progress on both the social and technological fronts, however, there is always room for updates and improvement. Former White House staff coordinator Nancy Tuckerman and businesswoman Nancy Dunnan have updated and revised The Amy Vanderbilt Complete Book of Etiquette (Doubleday, $32, 0385413424) to accommodate today’s lifestyles, including correct protocol for cosmetic surgery and prenuptial agreements. Both authors have painstakingly rewritten this book considered by many to be the final answer to all etiquette questions in the spirit of its original author. While most consider etiquette books as engagement gifts, The Amy Vander- bilt Complete Book of Etiquette addresses an exhaustive number of issues and circumstances, making it an appropriate gift for any occasion or (even better) when there’s no occasion at all.

Very often, the difference between a moment lost and a moment captured hinges on whether a camera hastily catches it. When a photograph evokes more senses than merely sight and more memories than the image itself represents, indeed, the photograph has extended its intent. Pulitzer Prize-winning photographs fit this definition and for the first time ever, all are bound into one volume in Moments: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Photographs (Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers, $29.98, 1579120784). The Pulitzer Prize for photography was first awarded in 1942, so this collection is a wonderful visual record of the postwar era, with subjects ranging from Babe Ruth’s formal good-bye to famine in Rwanda. Highs, lows, sports, science Moments includes timelines and commentary to supplement larger features. Not all of the images are happy, not all of the images are sad; rather, the images are used to tell the story of the latter half of the 20th century. It’s a messy job, but then again, so is history.

However, if your giftee is more the tailored, designed type, perhaps you should consider purchasing Designing with Plants. A collaborative effort of designers Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury, the approach begins with basic elements to consider when designing your patch of earth: form, texture, and color are explained in detail, and photographic examples are included. From there, Oudolf and Kingsbury fill in the spaces, much like a child who has outlined a picture and is now ready to color it in. The authors explain how to combine the elements and customize with grasses, rhythm, and plant architecture. Don’t despair, all you who dare to color outside the lines: there’s even a section on breaking the rules. Also included are segments on mood reflection, year-round planting, and a directory. This book, while gorgeous enough to display, is very user-friendly for anyone interested in all that’s green and flowery. If, as a rule, April showers bring May flowers, why not try and orchestrate the blooms?

Perennials have taken the gardening community by storm for the past ten years, and interest in them does not appear to be declining. This is probably because unlike annuals, which must be planted yearly, perennials are planted only once and continue to get bigger and better as years pass. If you’re already interested in perennials but wonder which plants are best for your particular growing situation, 100 Favorite Perennials by Teri Dunn will help.

In addition to full-color photos, each entry contains the plant’s vital statistics: its bloom time, height, width, light requirements, hardiness range, and landscaping suggestions. There is also important information on choosing plants that will survive in your zone, a Hardiness Zone Map, basic perennial care, tips for buying healthy plants, planting potted and bareroot plants, and dividing perennials to increase your stock. If you prefer to purchase your plants through the mail, the author also provides a list of mail-order sources.

Because there are so many perennials available in garden centers and catalogues, choosing the right one for your yard can seem like an overwhelming task. 100 Favorite Perennials takes the uncertainty out of your first purchases by recommending the most dependable and easiest perennials to grow.

Reviewed by Pat Regel.

The world of herbs is both intriguing and somewhat daunting for new gardeners, but Terri Dunn’s 100 Favorite Herbs shows you how to begin with the best plants. This book offers a wide range of appealing herbs and offers information on whether or not you can grow a specific herb in your area. The author has chosen herbs that can be used as ornamental herbs, culinary herbs, herbs for crafts, and soothing herbs for teas and baths.

Each entry lists the ultimate size of the plant, description, bloom time, hardiness requirements, recommended uses, and culture tips. Full-color photos accompany each entry, as well as the basic techniques and terminology used in growing herbs. The author takes you from selecting your first plants, all the way through the harvesting process at the end of the growing season, but she doesn’t stop there. Many herb gardeners will be interested in Dunn’s tips on drying and storing herbs for winter use.

Whether you want to add a few culinary herbs to the vegetable garden or plant them as ornamentals along with your perennials, you’ll find the perfect herb for your needs in this book. Reviewed by Pat Regel.

Charles W. G. Smith’s The Big Book of Garden Secrets (Storey, $22.95, 1580170005) addresses all of the facets of gardening with which beginners and intermediate gardeners should be familiar. It includes advice on amending soil, making and using compost, plant propagation, cool and warm-season vegetables, landscaping, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden, and more.

As a new gardener, you’ll also be interested in the low-maintenance solutions and money-saving shortcuts that Smith offers for dozens of common gardening problems. In addition, there are helpful line-drawings, easy-to-follow instructions, a USDA Zone Map, and selected plant lists. Smith has served as horticulturist for the well-known White Flower Farm, is an instructor of vocational agriculture, and has written about gardening and environmental issues.

Reviewed by Pat Regel.

Perhaps you have a green thumb and could grow watermelons in the desert. Or maybe you couldn’t grow weeds alongside a country road. It doesn’t really matter. If you have kids, Beth Richardson’s Gardening with Children is a practical and fun book that will guide the novice and the experienced gardener in making gardening an enjoyable family experience.

Richardson, the mother of two boys, takes a realistic approach. She neither attempts to make children into miniature adult gardeners nor abdicates the garden to the kids. Rather, Richardson has adapted gardening practices for children for the purpose of creating an “adult-centered garden that included and celebrated children.” She writes, “I wanted to create a fabulous family garden, hoping my children would view gardening as a wondrous adventure and the garden as a playground and laboratory.” Think about what most kids love to do outside. Given the opportunity, they will usually get dirty and, if possible, wet. Gardening involves doing both of these things. It also encourages children to dream and use their imaginations, and provides a sense of responsibility and accomplishment.

The first section of Gardening with Children walks gardeners through the practical steps of planning, preparing, and planting a garden. The book contains easy-to-understand instructions and warnings, along with clear charts, diagrams, and pictures to illustrate the author’s points. At the end of the book, Richardson includes a USDA Hardiness Zone Map to help gardeners select what to plant, as well as a resource list for further assistance.

The second section suggests ways to make gardening fun for children. For example, there’s the pizza garden, which is not only used to grow many of the ingredients needed to make pizza, but which is also planted in the shape of a pizza. Several recipes using items from the garden are provided, as are ideas for family projects such as making a scarecrow.

As a parent and a corporate attorney, Richardson has a realistic understanding of what families can manage and what they will enjoy. In this book for parents and other caregivers, she also seems to know that getting dirty together in the garden grows lots more than summer vegetables.

Review by Jeff Stephens.

This book, part of an excellent series, is for those who have adapted to the Western principles of gardening. The Home Landscaping Series promises to make your particular gardening situation easier because it’s created to suit your regional needs, and it is one of the best this reviewer has ever seen. In Home Landscaping Series: Mid-Atlantic Region by Roger Holmes and Rita Buchanan, many of the questions you have about gardening in your region are answered by offering: beautiful garden designs, illustrations, and photos as well as expert plant selections created by a team of landscape professionals in the region; detailed descriptions of plants used in the designs, as well as advice on their selection and care; step-by-step instructions for garden projects such as paths, walls, patios, fences, trellises, arbors, and small ponds.

All of the books in this series are perfect for first-time home owners and novice gardeners, but more experienced gardeners will find them useful as well. These books consider far more than just winter hardiness zones when making plant recommendations. They address the full range of growing conditions in each region of the United States. In addition to the Mid-Atlantic Region, other books in the series address the Northeast Region (including Southeast Canada); the Southeast Region; and the Great Lakes Region (including Southern Canada). Keep the entire series on your bookshelves . . . you never know when you’ll be moving.

Reviewed by Pat Regel.

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese approach to creating an environment that promotes prosperity, health, and happiness. The idea isn’t exclusively related to gardening, but to all aspects of life. In The Feng Shui Garden, Gill Hale and Sue Minter explain how you can apply the principles of Feng Shui to a garden, patio, balcony, or backyard in order to revitalize their space in a natural way.

The book offers color photos of actual Feng Shui gardens and clear instructions for the novice on the beginning basics principles of Chi, Yin and Yang, Lo Shu, and Bagua. You’ll learn how to choose an optimal garden site and shape; create balanced window boxes, roof gardens, and terraces; and place garden paths and statuary.

The Feng Shui Garden is an excellent alternative for beginner and advanced gardeners who are seeking methods and philosophies of gardening other than those traditionally Western.

Reviewed by Pat Regel.