I read this Terrarium manuel in about five days due to wanting to create my first Terrarium. This book is a fine introduction to the spirit of designing, tending and caring for Terrariums. Stamped with ornate pictures of contemporary Terrariums, you'll find as an introduction and inspiration to beginning your own projects, it serves its purpose perfectly. It lists suitable plants to look out for, and provides ideas for housing your miniature worlds. It's a relaxed written overview of the whole Terrarium scene, admittedly it doesn't probe into more eccentric or historical aspects of creating these petite turfs but it certainly allows a plot of informatively written conversation about the subject that will surely send you on your merry way (Apart from Wardian Cases and Cloches of which she digs a little deeper into).

I enjoyed the language used by the author Tovah, especially when describing the various suitable plants, I found it specific enough to be able to possibly recognise some of the flora at my local nursery without having had to view a picture from the book, and her creative expression makes the whole process delectably inviting.

So from this book, I was inspired enough to visit my local Opportunity Shop, and select a few decadent cloches and tureen like items, pop up to my nursery and select a desirable summer bloom, and create a Terrarium which now sits for contemplative inspection whilst I do the washing up in the kitchen. ( )

Great ideas and photos! ( )

The strength of this book is in its beautiful photos that serve as inspiration and, simply, a sweet relief for my eyes in the midst of winter. In terms of hard cold facts about assembling and maintaining a terrarium? Eh, not so much. Go to the Kayatta book also in my library for that. And, beware--if this book is your sole source of information about keeping carnivorous plants in terraria, they will not last long.

Still, I will keep and enjoy it for its visuals and even its text on a high level. ( )