Every garden offers opportunities to innovate and reflect personal interests, or as shown in H. Ralph Schumacher’s book, to be idiosyncratic. This lavishly illustrated guide offers inspirational ideas from both Philadelphia area gardens and the author’s own garden for developing distinctive features for any garden. Some of the topics covered include topography, color schemes, seasonal changes, focal points, using art in the garden, plant selection, and creating themes in the garden.The text and accompanying illustrations trace the evolution of the author’s garden since 1967, when he purchased his home. A jungle gym used by his young children transitions into a frame for a climbing vine. Personal touches, including a handmade weathervane and terracotta jar, as well as various bird feeders and a sundial, enliven the landscape. The author includes ideas and objects picked up on his travels and demonstrate how to successfully incorporate themes from other cultures into one’s own unique garden. He documents how the landscape in his own garden changes with the seasons.Writing in a conversational, accessible style, Schumacher’s book is the perfect companion on a delightful journey into the world of creating memorable, distinctive gardens.