General Garden Books

The co-author of Creating and Planting Garden Troughs, which received an AHS Book Award in 2000, Murfitt delves into the art of building rock gardens, from design and site preparation to planting and maintenance.

Malcolm McGregor in The Rock Garden, July 2005

...Rex is a disciple of "natural rock gardening" as is evidenced in his citing of Symons-Jeune's book as well as in his discussions about building rock gardens. His whole approach is based around the idea that there is no better way of learning about rocks and rock gardens than by looking at rocks and alpine plants in the wild. Spend time looking at rock outcrops, observe the way in which your site functions - how and when the sun falls on a particular area and so on.

Although the experienced gardener would find interest in this it is clearly to the person starting out that this book is most likely to appeal. And they could do a whole lot worse! It's rather like having an experienced gardener showing you the ropes, pointing out things which once stated may be obvious, but which are so easily overlooked. But I think there is more pleasure in it than that, in the wealth of knowledge and the years of experience and the wry voice with which these are deployed.

Melody Clarkson in Rock Garden Quarterly, Summer 2005

Where to begin? This question applies both to building a rock garden and to reading Rex Murfitt's all-inclusive book, Creating and Planting Alpine Gardens. Just scanning the chapters suggests that the rock garden enthusuast look no further to answer that question: Begin with Murfitt's first chapter. The enthusuast who already has planted a rock garden might begin with his chapters on the nature of soils or on growing alpines under glass. I found I could jump in anywhere and peruse a topic of interest quite satisfactorily. ... The amount of thought and the inclusion of every possible aspect of rock gardening that has gone into Creating and Planting Alpine Gardens certainly reflect the successes and failures of the author's own alpine gardening. He shares photos in black and white to illustrate text as well as some color plates of a few tantalizing plants none more striking to the alpine gardener than Sempervivum octopodes, stretched out in contentment on the cover, directing those wishing to grow alpine plants onto the gravelly path of success.

James Cox in Midwest Book Review's Internet Bookwatch Vol. 15, No. 3, March 2005

Award-winning rock gardener Rex Murfitt presents Creating And Planting Alpine Gardens: How To Build Small Rock Gardens And Work With Alpine Plants, a guide to the challenges and rewards of raising alpine plants, especially in lowland climates. Alpine plants evolved on high, windy sites and do not adapt well to hot summers or moist soil. To survive, they need top-quality drainage, good light, protected rock crevices, and gritty soil. Able to thrive in limited growing space, they can be raised in rock gardens, raised beds, containers, or other variations; Creating And Planting Alpine Gardens walks the reader through the details of what preparations to make, and what pitfalls to watch out for. Black-and-white photographs with some sections of inset color photographs illustrate this hands-on, easy-to-use guide for gardeners at all levels of experience.

Madeline Caliendo in Washington Gardener, May/June 2005

...Through this 284-page guide, Murfitt walks us step-by-step through the process of building an alpine rock garden in small spaces. Rock gardening enthusiasts and alpine plant lovers will certainly enjoy this book. So too will those who garden in small spaces, those who prefer more naturalistic landscapes, and those who cannot do "traditional" gardening due to mobility limitations. Murfitt demonstrates that rock gardening with alpines particularly in small spaces can be just as satisfying as "traditional" gardening and a lot less taxing on one's back and other body parts. ... So go ahead, try lowland rock gardening with alpines. Murfitt tells you everything you need to know to succeed.

Connie Krochmal in Bellaonline, July 2005

Garden fads come and go, but the tried-and-true never fails to satisfy the discerning gardener. That's really what makes alpine plants and rock gardens so fulfilling. These classics will never go out of style. Among the alpines is any number of wonderful succulents, which are suitable for rock gardens.

Now there's a delightful new guide by award winning author Rex Murfitt. It will help you create small rock gardens and grow alpines successfully. Now, Murfitt has written "Creating and Planting Alpine Gardens." This was also published by B.B. Mackey Books.

An alpine garden should blend into the landscape and look natural regardless of its size. This will be the result if readers use the author's time-tested tips on choosing and arranging rocks, and building rock gardens and beds. This title will be especially useful to novice gardens who are considering adding a rock garden to their landscape. More experienced rock gardeners and alpine plant enthusiasts are in for a treat as well.

Creating and Planting Alpine Gardens: How to Build Small Rock Gardens and Work With Alpine Plants, by Rex Murfitt. $22.50 USD. Softcover; color and bw photos; 284 pages; 7 x 10 inches; index; resource list; bibliography. Published by B. B. Mackey Books, 2005. ISBN 1-893443-07-8.

Topics include:

* building rock gardens * making raised beds

* soil and topdressing * alpine plants in containers

* rock gardens under glass * planting and maintenance

* plant entries for the most suitable alpine plants.

Rex Mufitt (co-author of Creating and Planting Garden Troughs) has been growing alpines and writing about them for years. In 2003 he was given the Carleton R. Worth Award by the North American Rock Garden Society for distinguished writing about rock gardening and rock plants. Having trained in England with masters of alpine gardening, he passes on classic information and technique in a most enjoyable and informative style.