Pocket Gardening by Marjorie Harris

This is an exciting book I got for my birthday, subtitled "A Guide to Gardening in Impossible Places", which sums up pretty much every outdoor space I've ever had the privilege of renting. She doesn't make you feel the least bit ashamed of trying to pretend your wee balcony is a garden and gives loads of helpful tips on what sort of pots to use, how to set them up, what sort of soil mix to use, how to create compost in your apartment. There are nice inspiring colour photos included so you can see how otherpeople have made the most of their mpossible spaces.

Her tone is like that of a gruff, practical aunt (another of my sources of gardening info) which encourages you to form your own opinions on what you do and don't like and this seems to be the key to creative gardening.

"Gardeners are by nature greedy creatures. We who have little space want more. I certainly do. A few years ago, to alleviate my frustration about having such a small front garden, I decided to put in an extension - a pocket garden. With son wielding a sledgehammer in tow, I guided the hacking out of seven squares of sidewalk."

Her instructions are clear and firm, and her attitude so forthright, you can't help but be convinced she knows her stuff and you can only benefit by reading on. And there is something wildly optimistic about knowing you have instructions on how to put a fountain on even the smallest balcony - suddenly, anything is possible.

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