books

Indoor Plant Decor – Book Party, Review & Giveaways

by Rebecca Sweet
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To celebrate the release of Kylee Baumle and Jenny Peterson’s new book, Indoor Plant Decor, you’re all invited to participate in their cyber book party (complete, of course, with loads of prizes!) I’ll be honest, when I was asked to review and join this event I was a little nervous as I’m one of those [...]

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My impromptu succulent cutting tower

by Rebecca Sweet
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Last month I completely dismantled one of my favorite garden beds so we could finally finish painting the house.  Last fall we had our house painted, but I wouldn’t let them paint one remaining wall as my bougainvillea was in full bloom and there was no way I was about to cut it back prematurely! [...]

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New Garden App – Sunset Western Garden Book

by Rebecca Sweet
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I’m a huge fan of the latest edition of the Sunset Western Garden Book (read my review here), and to say I’m over the moon with excitement at the big news of their new garden app is an understatement. A few weeks ago I was honored to be invited to Sunset’s Headquarters where I was [...]

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Lawn Gone! Book Party, Review and Giveaways

by Rebecca Sweet
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To celebrate the release of Pam Penick’s new book, Lawn Gone! Low-Maintenance, Sustainable, Attractive Alternatives for Your Yard, you’re all invited to attend her Lawn Gone Book Party – with some very cool party prizes! Six garden blogging friends and I are hosting 7 great giveaways this week, all related to the theme of – [...]

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Kiss My Aster – Book Giveaway

by Rebecca Sweet
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For those of you looking for a totally different kind of gardening book – one that’s fun to use and that will definitely make you laugh out loud, all the while giving you down-to-earth practical advice then this book is for you. Seriously – Amanda is awesome. For those of you who aren’t familiar with [...]

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The Backyard Parables – Book Giveaway

by Rebecca Sweet
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For those of you who read my blog, you’re probably aware that I’m very photo-driven.  I can’t get seem to get enough beautiful garden photographs and have to use restraint when writing a new post.  I love taking them, I love looking at them, and they’re often the only way I know best how to [...]

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Why Grow That When You Can Grow This?

by Rebecca Sweet
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I’m thrilled to introduce one of the best books to hit the stands this year – Why Grow That, When You Can Grow This, by  my good friend Andrew Keys (Timberpress, 2012). Now you may be thinking “Oh – she’s clearly biased, no doubt, since she just said they’re good friends.”  Fair enough.  But if [...]

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Garden Designers Roundtable – Memory and Plants

by Rebecca Sweet
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We all tend to collect our memories somewhere – scrapbooks, journals, photo albums, memory quilts, recipes or family movies (just to name a few).  But for many of us, our gardens are what carry us through the years, bringing back fond memories through sight, scent, touch and taste. Personally, I can’t help but think of [...]

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The Layered Garden – Book Giveaway

by Rebecca Sweet
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You know when you see a book and you just know it’s gonna be good?  Well, that’s how I felt about The Layered Garden, by David L. Culp, and photographed by the talented Rob Cardillo.  And I knew I held a gem in my hands when I read the glowing forward, written by Lauren Springer [...]

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Landscaping for Privacy – Book Review

by Rebecca Sweet
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When meeting with new clients for the first time, the issue of privacy almost always tops their list of ‘must-haves’.  Whether gardening in sprawling estates or in tight residential quarters, gardeners everywhere crave a sense of tranquility, privacy and seclusion from their neighbors. Which is why I was thrilled to receive a copy of Landscaping for [...]

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Gift ideas for your mama

by Rebecca Sweet
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With Mother’s Day fast approaching, I’ve been giving a lot of thought about what to give my own mother.  My mom is an incredible gardener but can be pretty picky, so finding the perfect gift is always a bit challenging. Which means I’m always on the look out for something a little out of the [...]

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Breakfast at Sunset – another fabulous giveaway!

by Rebecca Sweet
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Last week I was invited to have breakfast at Sunset magazine’s headquarters, along with a few of my favorite fellow gardeners.  The event was to welcome the new Sunset Edible Garden Cookbook, which will be released next week, as well as to tour the grounds and the test garden. While of course I was thrilled [...]

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Harmony and Me

by Rebecca Sweet
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Many years ago I lived in San Luis Obispo, along the central coast of California, and loved visiting the tiny nearby town of Harmony.  And by tiny, I mean tiny! I found this photo the other day and it really struck home how much the word Harmony has been woven through my life since those [...]

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The New Sunset Western Garden Book – Book Review

by Rebecca Sweet
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I have been dying to get my hands on the 9th edition of the New Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (Oxmoor House, 2012. List Price $34.95). Well, it’s finally here and I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve been given a copy to review.  And as if that weren’t enough – Sunset is letting [...]

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The Heirloom Life Gardener – Book Review

by Rebecca Sweet
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A few weeks ago the folks at Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company asked if I’d like to review a copy of their new book The Heirloom Life Gardener, by Jere and Emilee Gettle (227 pages, Hyperion, 2011.  List Price $29.99) I was excited to read this book because even though I’m a passionate gardener and [...]

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Dr. Dirr’s Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs

by Rebecca Sweet
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Thanksgiving has come and gone, as has the turkey, the leftovers and the relatives. Having survived Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and now Cyber Monday, it seems to me the world is in a shopping frenzy.  Everyone is in a mad race to find the perfect gift for their loved ones and it’s pure mayhem [...]

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50 Beautiful Deer Resistant Plants – Book Review

by Rebecca Sweet
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50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants  The Prettiest Annuals, Perennials, Bulbs, and Shrubs that Deer Don’t Eat Written by Ruth Rogers Clausen Photography by Alan L. Detrick (Timberpress) I usually don’t review many books, but when a title comes up that I deal with on a daily basis I’ll make an exception!  Deer are one of the [...]

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The Latest from the Garden Up! Promotion Trail

by Rebecca Sweet

I’m so excited to be giving my very first radio interview this Saturday morning (April 2nd) at 8:15 am (that’s A.M. folks)! And not just any ol’ radio interview, but with one of my favorite programs – Garden Life!   It’ll be broadcast throughout the country, so check here for stations near you!    (And [...]

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Vertical Gardening & Garden Up! Cyber Book Party

by Rebecca Sweet

Ta Da!  Today is the official launch of our book Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Spaces. To celebrate, Susan and I are hosting a cyber book party, complete with door prizes and party favors – and you’re all invited! Of course, two blogs isn’t much of a party, and if you’ve [...]

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