As a rose gardener I’ve never taken to grass. I find it utterly boring to be honest. Whether it’s researching the various weeds and diseases my grass is being plagued by, or having to keep it watered, fertilized and mowed, I start yawning just thinking about it. This is why I was so excited to receive the book “Front Yard Gardens, Growing More Than Grass,” by Liz Primeau.

Basically, “Front Yard Gardens” is a 225 page book with glossy color photos that will inspire you to “grow more than grass” in your front yard. Chapter one discusses how Americans have ended up with only huge lawns for front yards. Chapter two covers the poor environmental impact lawns have on our ecosystem. In chapter three Liz Primeau shares her own front yard garden with you. She discusses the why and how of her garden installation, including full color photos and even an overhead design sketch of her property.

Once you’ve reached chapter four the basics of getting you started on your own front yard garden begin. Things such as neighborhood bylaws are discussed. For example, many neighborhoods with strict homeowner’s associations won’t allow you to convert more than a certain percentage of your lawn to flowerbeds. The rest of chapter four is spent on the various types of hardscaping, from deciding what to install to how to install it.

Liz Primeau now mentions that you need to decide the style of front yard garden you desire, taking into account your preferences and the style of your home. The rest of the chapters are then dedicated to the various styles of front yard gardens you can have, from cottage gardens to minimalist gardens. All situations are taken into account including water restrictions and tiny city plots.

The final chapters of “Front Yard Gardens,” are inspiring stories from neighbors whose gardens have made them come together as a community. There is also a tale of the occasional obstacle a gardener overcame to convince the community their front yard garden was a blessing and not a “mess.”

I really enjoyed this book as I’m simply not a fan of grass. The majority of my front yard is filled with roses, evergreen shrubs, vines, bulbs and perennials. I’m always looking for new ways to change my front yard garden so it will accentuate my house and create beauty for my neighborhood. The full color photos in “Front Yard Gardens” really helped spark my imagination.

Whether you’re looking to create a front yard garden, convince a cranky neighbor that a front yard garden can be beautiful, or simply can’t decide on lawn versus perennials, this book will give you ideas and inspiration. The color photos and glossy pages are filled with beautiful stone walkways, blooming flowers and ideas to make your house shine. If you’d like to see more on “Front Yard Gardens, Growing More Than Grass,” Amazon has it for sale here: Front Yard Gardens