April 2011, Issue 15
Book Review
Page 15
One such tip is: "The garden surroundings are almost as important as the garden itself. Add a few fences or walls as natural boundaries."
The book is very well written, although the two English authors plead that they are miniaturists, not "proper gardeners." Regardless of their disclaimer, their understanding of garden design principals will help everyone from amateur to master miniaturists create fabulous gardens to match their houses or even a stand-alone garden scene!
One of the points they stress is to match your garden to your structure.
"If you are building a garden to accompany an existing dolls' house then you will need to match the period styles, and this aspect of planning and design is just as important when building a stand-alone garden too, although you will have more scope for choice."
They advise making a list of all the different things you would like to include before beginning to assemble any materials or plants. And they warn some elements may have to be sacrificed to create the best garden. But that's okay; you can always make another garden with those items that don't work in your scheme!
Custom Dolls, Houses & Miniatures / CDHM