The No-Garden Gardener: Container Gardening on Balconies, Decks, Patios and Porches

Patricia Morley is professor emeritus of English and Canadian studies at
Concordia University and the author of Margaret Laurence: The Long
Journey Home and As Though Life Mattered: Leo Kennedy’s Story.

The lighthearted tone of this knowledgeable guide to gardening on
balconies, decks, and patios and in other restricted areas is found in
the punning title of the first chapter, “Amazing Space,” and in the
language throughout. Gentle slang and a good sense of humor make it a
thorough, practical, and reader-friendly handbook.

The authors cover all the essentials: design, choice of containers,
planting, maintenance, and even composting. Advice extends to plant
choice, outdoor furniture, and “moveable feasts”: herbs and
vegetables that can be moved indoors in autumn. Unfortunately there are
no illustrations.

Von Baeyer and Shields are obviously gardeners who practise what they
preach. The No-Garden Gardener provides an amusing companion to anyone
gardening in a small space.