The Feng Shui Garden (Paperback)

Regardless of experience or expertise this book is a catalyst of facts and ideas. By introducing the reader to the basic principles of feng shui, permaculture, organic gardening and planting times this book presents a broad perspective on garden design.

Clearly written and well illustrated the mix of the ancient Chinese discipline of feng shui sits comfortably along side examples of the English country garden, the Mediterranean balcony or the high-rise roof garden. The case studies and examples highlighted in the book look achievable, affordable and complement their environment.

Most of the book is dedicated to creating a garden following the feng shui principles of yin and yang, the five Chinese elements, the positive flow of energy, and the attributes and form of the four celestial animals.

The fact that the four celestial animals - the tiger, turtle, dragon and phoenix, may be a bit thin on the ground is simply explained as the form and attributes of these mystical beasts to the landscape and shapes around our gardens. Similarly the balance of the five Chinese elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water can be achieved through the element itself or the shape attributed to the element. It is also explained that the introduction of colour - green for wood, red for fire, yellow for earth, white for metal and blue for water can work just as well.

The yin and yang properties of light and shade, sound and stillness are also outlined as having their place in a feng shui garden. The presence of flowers, water features, statues, rockeries and paths can easily be identified however the seemingly 'invisible' entity - energy may not be so easily identifiable.

Feng shui practitioners believe that a positive flow of energy is essential to health, however where that earth energy is distorted 'geopathic stress' is created. To those of us who can identify ants' nests, a collection of bees or wasps' nests, or an abundance of elder, this could be an area of geopathic stress in our garden. In this fascinating section on energy Gill highlights the 'stress seekers and avoiders' of plant and animal life. She shows how to identify the positive flow of energy and maintain its smooth passage.

For the more dedicated gardener Gill highlights the need to maintain a healthy garden and the book includes a section on crop rotation, permaculture, organic gardening and biodynamics. There is also a six-page 'Moon and Companion Planting' guide.

In this book Gill Hale gives us a greater insight into garden design and the effects that our immediate environment has on us, and, more importantly the effects we have on our environment.