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mrsthrift's review
3.0
I know I might have a problem with my terrarium obsession, but I make no apologies. I just love keeping plants in glass. I waited almost patiently for the public library to finish all their acquisition processes with this book so I could read it first. While I didn't learn anything new from this book, and I recommend some of the old 1970s terrarium books for more in-depth how-to's and plant recommendations, I felt like this book was perfectly adequate in jump-starting someone's interest in keeping plants in glass. There are a lot of beautiful and inspirational photographs of several styles of both modern & vintage terrarium, cloches, and wardian cases. If I owned this book, I would probably spend hours flipping through the pages and caressing the beautiful pics. There is a really, really adorable gardening gnome in the "seasonal" section (he is on the "spring" page).
kirstena's review
4.0
I picked up a glass terrarium this spring for free at a swap, and have already killed one plant in it.
I decided a book on the topic would be a good idea. They're unusually not that easy to find. I grabbed this one at the library, and was very pleased with it. It's perfect for someone who knows nothing about terrariums (like what plants will and won't live within one) and it gives lots of fun ideas for creative usage.
I'm currently looking for an orchid to put in my terrarium; the perfect place for a plant I thought I could never own because they're dangerous to pets.
I decided a book on the topic would be a good idea. They're unusually not that easy to find. I grabbed this one at the library, and was very pleased with it. It's perfect for someone who knows nothing about terrariums (like what plants will and won't live within one) and it gives lots of fun ideas for creative usage.
I'm currently looking for an orchid to put in my terrarium; the perfect place for a plant I thought I could never own because they're dangerous to pets.
toad_maiden's review
3.0
Good, solid starter information and beautiful pictures. These are definitely more traditional terrariums, and there are fewer projects, but this is an excellent reference.
rupertowen's review
5.0
I read this Terrarium manuel in about five days due to wanting to create my first Terrarium. This book is a fine introduction to the spirit of designing, tending and caring for Terrariums. Stamped with ornate pictures of contemporary Terrariums, you'll find as an introduction and inspiration to beginning your own projects, it serves its purpose perfectly. It lists suitable plants to look out for, and provides ideas for housing your miniature worlds. It's a relaxed written overview of the whole Terrarium scene, admittedly it doesn't probe into more eccentric or historical aspects of creating these petite turfs but it certainly allows a plot of informatively written conversation about the subject that will surely send you on your merry way (Apart from Wardian Cases and Cloches of which she digs a little deeper into).
I enjoyed the language used by the author Tovah, especially when describing the various suitable plants, I found it specific enough to be able to possibly recognise some of the flora at my local nursery without having had to view a picture from the book, and her creative expression makes the whole process delectably inviting.
So from this book, I was inspired enough to visit my local Opportunity Shop, and select a few decadent cloches and tureen like items, pop up to my nursery and select a desirable summer bloom, and create a Terrarium which now sits for contemplative inspection whilst I do the washing up in the kitchen.
I enjoyed the language used by the author Tovah, especially when describing the various suitable plants, I found it specific enough to be able to possibly recognise some of the flora at my local nursery without having had to view a picture from the book, and her creative expression makes the whole process delectably inviting.
So from this book, I was inspired enough to visit my local Opportunity Shop, and select a few decadent cloches and tureen like items, pop up to my nursery and select a desirable summer bloom, and create a Terrarium which now sits for contemplative inspection whilst I do the washing up in the kitchen.
takethyme's review
4.0
ter·rar·i·um [tuh-rair-ee-uhm]
1. a glass container, chiefly or wholly enclosed, for growing and displaying plants.
2. a glass container, often a globe, in which plants are grown.
No one is certain when terrariums first began. Ms. Martin points out that the concept was probably in use during the 1600's. In 1830, by accident, Dr. Nathaniel Ward took it a step further when he slipped a moth pupa in a glass bottle and plugged it with a cork. Little did he know at the time but a fern started to grow in the enclosed environment. Roughly six months later this fern plus a tuft of grass were healthy and he hadn't done anything to encourage their growth. By 1841 he had published his findings, presented a scientific paper and started to develop more elaborate glass homes or 'Wardian cases' as they would become known.
Very popular with the Victorian people at the time, this fad took off by leaps and bounds. Fast forward to the 1970's and a resurgence of this special form of gardening became popular again. Terrariums, tye-dying, and macrame were some of the 'crafts' people worked on. But we were limited in what we thought we could make. When you refer to any of the older books on this subject they always showed a definitive amount of ideas.
Okay, so what you can see by reading the definitions above, copied directly from a dictionary, is that one statement refers to glass containers that are sealed and the second one just says glass containers in which plants are grown....nothing about that they have to be enclosed.
What I enjoyed about THE NEW TERRARIUM was just that...it gave you NEW ideas for terrariums. It stretched the boundaries to include plants in open containers that could not survive a humid environment. It showed you how to use a simple plant and pot with a glass cover. Nothing elaborate but a great idea for a beginner. In a nutshell, you are not limited to coming up with new ideas. Is the book perfect? No. But I have personally used this as a reference for building thirteen terrariums, all of them unique.
Lastly, a special thanks should be given to the photographer, Kindra Clineff, for some awesome pictures. They are clear, concise and colorful. Without these fantastic images the book would only be half as good.
1. a glass container, chiefly or wholly enclosed, for growing and displaying plants.
2. a glass container, often a globe, in which plants are grown.
No one is certain when terrariums first began. Ms. Martin points out that the concept was probably in use during the 1600's. In 1830, by accident, Dr. Nathaniel Ward took it a step further when he slipped a moth pupa in a glass bottle and plugged it with a cork. Little did he know at the time but a fern started to grow in the enclosed environment. Roughly six months later this fern plus a tuft of grass were healthy and he hadn't done anything to encourage their growth. By 1841 he had published his findings, presented a scientific paper and started to develop more elaborate glass homes or 'Wardian cases' as they would become known.
Very popular with the Victorian people at the time, this fad took off by leaps and bounds. Fast forward to the 1970's and a resurgence of this special form of gardening became popular again. Terrariums, tye-dying, and macrame were some of the 'crafts' people worked on. But we were limited in what we thought we could make. When you refer to any of the older books on this subject they always showed a definitive amount of ideas.
Okay, so what you can see by reading the definitions above, copied directly from a dictionary, is that one statement refers to glass containers that are sealed and the second one just says glass containers in which plants are grown....nothing about that they have to be enclosed.
What I enjoyed about THE NEW TERRARIUM was just that...it gave you NEW ideas for terrariums. It stretched the boundaries to include plants in open containers that could not survive a humid environment. It showed you how to use a simple plant and pot with a glass cover. Nothing elaborate but a great idea for a beginner. In a nutshell, you are not limited to coming up with new ideas. Is the book perfect? No. But I have personally used this as a reference for building thirteen terrariums, all of them unique.
Lastly, a special thanks should be given to the photographer, Kindra Clineff, for some awesome pictures. They are clear, concise and colorful. Without these fantastic images the book would only be half as good.
lisas's review against another edition
4.0
My first study-guide for terrariums... I rounded up on the stars simply for the gorgeous photography.
It was encouraging to read that a terrarium can be as simple as a cloche placed over a tropical plant in a pot. I've always coveted an orchid, but knew it wouldn't thrive in our high desert climate, and now I'm encouraged to try.
The list of appropriate plants and the planting instructions were very helpful, but I wish their supplier list at the end wasn't restricted to only CT and MA stores. And Target.
It was encouraging to read that a terrarium can be as simple as a cloche placed over a tropical plant in a pot. I've always coveted an orchid, but knew it wouldn't thrive in our high desert climate, and now I'm encouraged to try.
The list of appropriate plants and the planting instructions were very helpful, but I wish their supplier list at the end wasn't restricted to only CT and MA stores. And Target.
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